And the Comm collects very little Offshore PRT anyway because Woodside and others have cut deals whereby they don't pay any PRT until they have recovered their initial investments with interest.
For example Shell doesn't pay tax until 2026; some 30 years after its original investment and 15 years post revenue stream.
Given that the Comm Government earns bugger all PRRT , then one has to assume that the Howard Government was primarily acting deviously in the interests of Woodside and the associated Multinational Oil Companies and against the interests of East Timor.
PRRT= Petroleum Resource Renta; Tax which only applies to offshore resource exploitation; onshore is the responsibility of the States.
