Xanana Gusmao was on Tuesday asked whether he thought Australia would support Greater Sunrise gas being processed in his country rather than Darwin.
"I have confidence the current government of Australia is more open-minded than the (previous government)" Mr Gusmao told the Global Citizen Now conference at Melbourne.
The prime minister avoided calling out the Morrison government, saying with a laugh: "I didn't want to mention names. This is the diplomatic way to say that ... but yes."
East Timor was still working towards the project's realisation and trying to overcome legislative problems, Mr Gusmao said.
He said he was in talks with Woodside Energy chief executive Meg O'Neill, as the Southeast Asian nation tried to finalise a joint venture agreement with the Australian company.
East Timor is looking to start producing natural gas from its Greater Sunrise fields in 2030 in a move critical to its economy.
The Timorese government wants the gas piped to a site on its southern coast, while Woodside, which controls a third of the project, wants it sent to an established processing hub in Darwin.
The choice of location has been the subject of years of dispute.
Humanitarian aid agencies and faith-based charities on Tuesday used the Global Citizen Now conference to urge Australian leaders to help prevent global catastrophes by building up developing nations' disaster preparedness, economic strength and a safer climate.
The campaign calls for Australia to double its Humanitarian Emergency Fund to $300 million to help poorer nations better respond to crises and an extra $350 million to prepare them for looming disasters and protracted humanitarian crises.
It also wants Australia's foreign aid budget expanded to 0.37 per cent of gross national income by 2027 and a bipartisan commitment for that to eventually reach 0.5 per cent.
Campaign spokesman Tim Costello said doing nothing would result in challenges becoming crises, which then morphed into catastrophes.
"Investing to create a safer world for all can put the world back on the path to progress, peace and prosperity," he said.
Australia benefited more than most when poor countries became prosperous, stable and less prone to violence and disease outbreaks, campaign spokeswoman Jessica Mackenzie said.
Ten of Australia's top 15 export markets are nations once provided with foreign aid.
In the 2022/23 financial year, Australia provided more than $4.5 billion in its overall foreign aid program.
The campaign launched with a panel discussion at the Global Citizen Now conference.
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