New poll calls for fairness for East Timor

More than half those surveyed in a new poll favour setting Australia's maritime boundary with East Timor to give the new nation a greater share of oil and gas reserves.

The study conducted by ReachTEL for the left-leaning Australia Institute found 56.5 per cent of 10,271 respondents backed setting the boundary according to international law.

Currently there's no permanent maritime boundary between Australia and East Timor, with resources, worth an estimated $53 million, shared under allocated 2002 and 2006 treaties.

That splits revenue from one oilfield 50-50 and another 90-10 in East Timor's favour.

The Australia Institute says setting the boundary according to international law would give East Timor a greater share of Timor Sea oil and gas.

The boundary issue is currently under conciliation in The Hague.

The poll found 17 per cent of respondents said no to setting the boundary in accordance with current international law while 26.6 per cent didn't know.

Australia Institute executive director Ben Oquist said this polling suggested most people wanted Timor-Leste to have a fair go with regards to resources in the Timor Sea.

""The government should heed the public mood on this issue and enter future negotiations with a new spirit of amity and respect for international law," he said in a statement.