Address By His Excellency the Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Gulkula, Northeast Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia 1 August 2026
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Dili, 28 July 2026 – The Governments of Australia and Timor-Leste have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s economic and institutional reform agenda through the second phase of the Partnership for Inclusive Prosperity (PROSIVU), following the program’s annual Steering Committee meeting, co-chaired by the Minister of Finance, Santina Viegas Cardoso, and the Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Caitlin Wilson, on 28 July 2026.
Building on the achievements of Phase One (2022–2026), PROSIVU Phase Two (2026–2028) will continue its partnership with the Government of Timor-Leste to support Timor-Leste’s objectives to strengthen public institutions, improve economic governance, modernise public administration, enhance public financial management and support Timor-Leste’s deeper regional integration through ASEAN. Together, these reforms aim to create more economic opportunities, strengthen public services and ensure that public resources deliver lasting benefits for the people of Timor-Leste.
Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Her Excellency Ms. Caitlin Wilson, said the second phase of PROSIVU reflects the enduring partnership between Australia and Timor-Leste and their shared commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s long-term development priorities.
“Australia and Timor-Leste share a strong and enduring partnership, grounded in our commitment to a peaceful, stable, prosperous and resilient future. Through PROSIVU Phase Two, we will continue working together to strengthen institutions, expand economic opportunity and support inclusive development that benefits all Timorese people.”
The Australian Government will also continue supporting reforms that strengthen Timor-Leste’s business environment through investment and trade promotion, tourism development, online business registration and economic reform coordination. Phase Two will additionally support women’s economic empowerment, disability-inclusive services and improved digital connectivity. A key priority remains helping Timor-Leste to realise the benefits of ASEAN membership through implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community Roadmap, meeting ASEAN standards and commitments, attracting investment and trade, and delivering English language training for government officials.
Australia’s partnership with the Ministry of Finance continues to strengthen public financial management to ensure that public resources are deployed to help grow the Timorese economy, support jobs and improve public services. Our work together is also supporting civil service reform through strategic assistance to the Civil Service Commission, enhancing systems and supporting the development of a Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Strategy for the Timor-Leste public service.
Timor-Leste’s Minister of Finance, Her Excellency Ms. Santina Viegas Cardoso, thanked the Government of Australia for its continued partnership and said:
“On behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste, I thank the Government of Australia for its commitment to this work. I am confident that, with continued collaboration and clear priorities, Phase Two will deliver tangible benefits for the Timorese people.”End
Today, July 31st, 2026, the Government submitted to the National Parliament a draft Law Proposal seeking legislative authorisation to approve a comprehensive cybersecurity legislative package, covering crimes and criminal proceedings in the digital sphere, and establishing the legal framework for national cyberspace. The proposal, approved by the Council of Ministers on July 22nd, was presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, and then submitted to the National Parliament by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
The initiative aims to provide Timor-Leste with a modern and coherent legal framework to address growing threats in cyberspace, strengthening the State’s capacity to prevent, investigate, combat, and suppress cybercrime; protect critical infrastructure; and promote a safer digital environment for citizens, businesses, and institutions. The explanatory memorandum accompanying the proposal highlights the growing dependence on digital technologies and the increasing risks associated with cyberattacks, computer fraud, data breaches, the dissemination of illegal content, and other forms of crime committed in the digital environment.
The proposed legislative authorisation will enable the Government to adopt a set of laws that includes the National Cybersecurity Strategy, the legal framework for national cyberspace security, the framework for digital services, and the criminal and criminal procedural framework applicable to crimes committed in the digital environment, including rules on the collection, preservation, and use of electronic evidence.
Under the requested authorisation, the Government will be able to define new types of crimes committed in the digital environment, establish specific procedural mechanisms for the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrime, regulate the collection and preservation of digital evidence, define the responsibilities of digital service providers and the mechanisms for notifying, removing, or blocking illegal content, strengthen international cooperation on cybercrime, establish a whistleblower protection system with a particular focus on the online safety of minors, and establish a national framework for governance, monitoring, prevention, response, and coordination in the area of cybersecurity.
The proposal also provides for the establishment of rules on the protection of personal data and privacy, the chain of custody for digital evidence, procedural safeguards, and judicial oversight of measures that restrict rights, as well as the creation of a national cybersecurity authority and mechanisms for cooperation between national and international entities. The measures also cover the protection of critical infrastructure, the regulation of the obligations of digital service providers, awareness campaigns and institutional capacity-building, and a specific whistleblower protection regime for cybercrime.
Through this initiative, the Government aims to ensure that Timor-Leste has a legal framework aligned with international best practice, capable of strengthening national cyberspace security, protecting citizens’ rights, and supporting the secure development of the economy and digital services.
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The 25th episode of the “Government Page” TV show will air on Friday, July 31st, at 8:00 p.m., on Radio and Television of Timor-Leste (RTTL) and on the government’s official social media accounts and platforms. The guest on this episode is the Secretary of State for Equality (SEI), Elvina de Sousa Carvalho, who will present the Government’s priorities and ongoing efforts to promote gender equality, strengthen women’s empowerment, and prevent and combat violence.
During the interview, the Secretary of State will discuss the main priorities of the Secretariat of State for Equality, including the implementation of public policies that promote equal opportunities for women and men, strengthen social inclusion, and ensure greater participation by women in political, economic, and social life.
The TV Show will also highlight the Government’s policies and institutional mechanisms to prevent and combat gender-based violence, strengthen support services for victims, and promote public awareness campaigns aimed at eliminating discrimination and fostering a culture of equality and respect.
Other key topics of discussion will address progress in reducing gender inequality, the challenges that remain, and the importance of cooperation among government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, and local communities to promote gender equality throughout the country.
The Secretariat of State will also share the Secretariat’s vision and priorities for the coming years, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to building a more inclusive society in which women, men, girls, and boys have equal rights, opportunities, and protection under the law.
The “Government Page” TV show is an initiative of the Office of the Government Spokesperson, led by Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in partnership with RTTL and the national media. The program aims to strengthen government transparency and ensure citizens’ access to the Executive’s main actions and decisions. The program features Nélia Chaves as host and Ika Moniz as executive producer. Technical support is provided by the media teams of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the office of the government official being interviewed.
The Government invites the entire population to tune in to this episode of the “Government Page” TV show on Friday, July 31st, 2026, at 8:00 p.m., on RTTL and on social media.
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 29th, 2026
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the Government’s proposed resolution, presented by the President of the Civil Service Commission, Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, to suspend recruitment of civil servants and public administration employees, as well as the hiring of “temporary workers”.
The aim of this draft Government Resolution is to limit the continued growth of the public administration—which has occurred without a rigorous selection process and has been based solely on actual needs—because this has resulted in a considerable increase in budgetary expenditure.
This draft Government Resolution provides for exceptions to hiring for Ministerial Offices, to merit-based selection processes for management and leadership positions, and to career tracks or professional groups with vacancies and budgets approved in the previous year, as well as for university faculty and healthcare professionals, justified by staff shortages.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes, on the public subsidy programme for media outlets.
The purpose of the draft Decree-Law is to strengthen the sector’s sustainability, ensure the free flow of information, and promote pluralism and diversity of opinion.
This is a government initiative designed to support media organisations on objective, transparent, and non-discriminatory criteria, without compromising their editorial independence or freedom of information and of the press.
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The Council of Ministers, following a proposal from the Minister of Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes, decided to approve the Framework Program for Cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal in the Field of Defence for the period 2025–2028.
This Framework Cooperation Program aims to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal, promoting political and strategic dialogue and the development of the institutional, technical, and operational capabilities of the National Defence and FALINTIL—Timor-Leste Defence Forces (F-FDTL). The Programme provides for training, education, and professional development initiatives for personnel in Timor-Leste and Portugal, as well as the strengthening of good governance in the defence sector and the operational capabilities of the naval, land, and air components.
The Program also covers cooperation in strategic areas such as military health, maritime security and state authority at sea, participation in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, crisis management and response to natural disasters, as well as in the fields of cyber defence, information technology, cartography, hydrography, oceanography, the defence industry, climate change, and the “Women, Peace, and Security” agenda. It also provides for deepening political dialogue on maritime security and for promoting trilateral cooperation initiatives with other states or with international, regional, and subregional organisations.
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The Council of Ministers, also upon a proposal by the Minister of Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes, decided to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Portuguese Ministry of Defence on the Portuguese capacity-building mission in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
This Memorandum of Understanding aims to strengthen and deepen bilateral defence cooperation by consolidating and expanding the temporary advisory missions provided for in the Framework Program for Defence Cooperation, and by promoting training, education, and development initiatives that enhance the operational capabilities of the National Defence and FALINTIL — the Timor-Leste Defence Forces (F-FDTL).
The Memorandum also establishes a framework for cooperation to develop the F-FDTL’s capabilities in strategic areas, specifically in military higher education, military health, command and control, military situational awareness, and the employment of naval, land, and air components, as well as to strengthen capabilities in materiel, equipment, and infrastructure, in accordance with the priorities defined by both Parties. The instrument also provides for the implementation of other capacity-building initiatives that may be agreed between the two States, in line with the common objectives of modernisation and institutional development in the defence sector.
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Following a proposal by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, the Council of Ministers decided to accept:
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Lastly, the Council of Ministers reviewed the Report on the participation of the Timor-Leste delegation in the 30th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Meeting, held on July 6th and 7th, 2026 in Seoul, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel. The meeting was particularly significant as it marked the first ASEAN–Republic of Korea Dialogue following Timor-Leste’s full accession to ASEAN, allowing the country to participate for the first time as the 11th member in defining the strategic priorities of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and in implementing the Action Plan for the period 2026–2030.
As part of the proceedings, Timor-Leste presented its national priorities under the ASEAN Integration Initiative, emphasising the need to reduce development disparities, strengthen institutional capacities, develop human capital, advance digital transformation, and prepare for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029. The Republic of Korea reiterated its commitment to supporting Timor-Leste through Official Development Assistance programmes, the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, and other initiatives aimed at institutional strengthening, human resource development, modernising digital infrastructure, the energy transition, sustainable development, and preparations for the future ASEAN Chairmanship.
The priorities presented by the Timorese delegation also highlighted the need to accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Integration Initiative, to strengthen the country’s preparedness for the digital economy and artificial intelligence, to promote technical and vocational training and the creation of employment opportunities for youth, as well as to strengthen climate resilience, energy security, and the institutional capacities necessary to hold the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029, in accordance with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
The dialogue also reinforced Timor-Leste’s role as an active and constructive partner in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, identifying new opportunities for cooperation in strategic areas such as governance and institutional strengthening, technical capacity building and human resources development, the digital economy, artificial intelligence and technological innovation, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and climate resilience. These initiatives align with the priorities of the 9th Constitutional Government and will help accelerate the country’s economic and social development, strengthen national competitiveness, and ensure Timor-Leste’s full and effective integration into ASEAN. END
Bobonaro, July 28th, 2026 — World Mangrove Day, celebrated annually on July 26th, highlights the vital ecological, economic, and social importance of mangrove ecosystems, particularly for climate resilience, marine protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry, together with the President of the Bobonaro Municipal Authority and the development partner Conservation International Timor-Leste — Kiwa RESTORE — celebrated the 4th World Mangrove Day with a range of programmes under the national theme: “Nature-Based Solutions—Protecting the mangrove ecosystem in accordance with local knowledge to improve lives.”
The event was attended by the Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino; the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forests, Marcos da Cruz; the Secretary of State for Forests, Fernandino da Costa; other members of Government; national and international development partners; diplomatic representatives; security and defence officials; municipal authorities and officials from Bobonaro’s administrative offices; community leaders; and local residents.
In his remarks, Vice Prime Minister Mariano Assanami Sabino emphasised the importance of restoring and protecting forests, noting that forests, water, and the sea are essential to sustaining people and wildlife. He also highlighted the economic potential of conserving natural resources, stating that well-managed ecosystems can generate income for local communities by attracting visitors and promoting local products.
The Vice Prime Minister asked the relevant ministries to work closely with local communities to ensure that conservation efforts extend beyond commemorative events and deliver lasting benefits to the population.
“I ask the ministries to cooperate with the community not only during the celebration but also to ensure that these efforts deliver real benefits,” he said.
The Secretary of State for Forests reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to protecting and restoring the mangrove ecosystem in Timor-Leste during the World Mangrove Day celebration in the hamlet of Sanirin, within the Balibó administrative post in the municipality of Bobonaro.
The Member of the Government emphasised that the 9th Constitutional Government continues to prioritise ecosystem restoration, mangrove rehabilitation, agroforestry, reforestation, and the development of the green economy as part of its national environmental agenda. He also called for closer collaboration among government institutions, local communities, development partners, the private sector, and young people to safeguard the country’s natural resources.
“I would also like to invite the youth of Timor-Leste to become Green Ambassadors. Young people are the leaders of ecological transformation. Through education, innovation, and forestry volunteer work, we can transform Timor-Leste into a green, resilient, and sustainable nation,” said the Secretary of State.
The celebration of the 4th World Mangrove Day in Balibó was organised through a collaboration among the Directorate-General of Forests, the Secretariat of State for Forests, Conservation International Timor-Leste, and several national and international partners committed to environmental conservation and sustainable development in Timor-Leste.
The Bee Malae Lagoon, a natural treasure of Bobonaro, lies in the hamlet of Sanirin, within the administrative post of Balibó, in the municipality of Bobonaro. This lagoon is one of the most important coastal wetlands in Timor-Leste. Covering approximately 3,000 hectares, it is renowned for its scenic beauty, extensive mangrove forest, and rich biodiversity, making it a valuable ecotourism destination and a key site for environmental conservation.
Address By His Excellency the Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Bebonuk, Dili, 28 July 2026