Labor welcomes the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on jurisdictional competencein the dispute between Australia and Timor-Leste.

Labor believes the maritime boundary dispute with Timor-Leste has strained our bilateral relations and has gone on too long.

Labor is committed to multilateralism and a rules-based international system. We believe all nations benefit from abiding by international norms. If we want to insist that other nations play by the rules, we should adhere to them.

Thats why Labor committed in February this year to reaching a binding international resolution with Timor-Leste,eitherthrough bilateral negotiation or international arbitration.

In light of this ruling, we callon the Government to now settle this dispute infair and permanent terms; it is in both our national interests to do so.

There has now been more than 40 years of uncertainty over this maritime border.

The TurnbullGovernment should stop delaying and commit to an international process of dispute resolution.