That, dear reader, is Slugcatcher’s early entry in the competition he is launching for a new East Timorese national anthem.

The better educated of you will recognise the lyrics as being written by John Paul Young, but the Slug is hopeful that he will not mind such a lovely ditty being picked up by the chaps in Dili who appear to have developed a sudden love for things Australian.

Weekend reports even suggest that soon this new-found love will even produce a deal on the disputed seabed boundary which separates the two countries.

And then, miracle of miracles, all will be forgiven and forgotten, and out of the ocean will arise the Sunrise gas project.

It is at this point that the Slug pauses, pinches himself, and asks is this the same country which a few days ago was applauding loudly as virulent anti-Australian television advertisements were being run?

Is this the same country which, once rescued from its Indonesian oppressors, bit the friendly hand of Australia, made outrageous claims for gas royalties to which it was not entitled, cried poor, and accused Australia of trying to keep it in poverty?

Yep, same place. So what’s changed that has brought about this sudden outpouring of friendly talk and a willingness to settle on a seabed deal?

In a few words – Scott Reef and Brecknock.

For anyone unfamiliar with what they’re watching, the game goes like this. Until last year, Woodside Petroleum and partners thought they had a deal to develop the Sunrise gas project which lies between Australia and East Timor.

Argument developed over the seabed boundary, who gets the royalties and even where the gas should be landed for processing into LNG. At some stage, advisers to the government of East Timor said “play hard ball and the soft Aussies will cave in”.

Oh boy, was that dud advice, and was that hand over-played – and may even to this day remain over-played.

Woodside, appalled at what was happening and concerned about making an investment in an unstable environment, walked.

This point is crucial, because even today the East Timorese don’t seem to get it – so The Slug repeats it: “Woodside walked”.

Then the company delivered a potential message. It said it would prefer to focus on Brecknock and Scott Reef which lie in Australian waters, and it might think about coming back to Sunrise sometime in the future.

Oh, thought the chaps in Dili, they actually have other gas reserves. Well, let’s pretend that we didn’t mean everything we said, sorry about the abusive TV commercials, let’s do a quick deal on the seabed boundary and all is forgotten.

Not likely. Woodside may do some stupid things from time to time (don’t we all) but it is hardly likely to come rushing back to the Sunrise project just because there’s a sudden outbreak of love in the air.

The Slug reckons that Don Voelte and his team will want to see something more concrete than a promise to be nice in the future. They will also be looking about the potential for the East Timorese to do something silly after Woodside commits a few billion of its shareholders dollars.

No, dear reader, much damage has been done by the game of Dili hard ball. Pleasant noises may in the wind, and compromise is being talked about – and then there is the hidden message in John Paul Young’s lyrics.

What message you ask. Well, for an answer, go to verse five of Love is in the Air, and look for the magical Sunrise link: It goes like this –

“Love is in the Air

in the rising of the sun…”

Who said The Slug was no good at reading sheep’s entrails and tea leaves!