This Friday will mark the 20 year anniversary of East Timorese independence from Indonesia, an achievement that Australia contributed to by deploying 5000 soldiers to the effort. But relations between Australia and Timor-Leste have been strained over the years by negotiations over the control of lucrative oil and gas fields that lie in the Timor Sea. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is travelling to the region this week to celebrate the anniversary, and a Treaty creating permanent maritime boundaries, showing that bilateral relations might be back on track.Miche

Michael Leach, Professor of Politics and International Relations at Swinburne University spoke to The Daily about the complex relationship between Australia and Timor-Leste.