Labor questions why it wasn’t invited to meet with Solomons minister | Anthony Galloway
Labor has asked why it wasn’t invited to meet with the Solomon Islands’ foreign minister, given the government is in caretaker mode.The meeting took place after a security deal was signed between China and the Solomon Islands.
Australia fears the deal could pave the way for a permanent Chinese military presence in the Solomons and Prime Minister Scott Morrison has criticised the Chinese government forA spokesperson for Payne said in Friday night’s meeting she reiterated that Australia had been “consistent and clear in stating our respect for Solomon Islands’ sovereign decision-making”.
“She again welcomed Prime Minister Sogavare’s assurance that Solomon Islands will not be used for a foreign military base.”Campaigning in Tasmania, Albanese said it was “good” that Payne had met with her counterpart but that it would have been appropriate for Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, to be invited a long as well, considering the government is in caretaker mode.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison with his Solomon Islands counterpart Manasseh Sogavare in 2019. Morrison was this year advised not to pick up the phone to him.This was due to Sogavare’s history of negative attitudes towards Australia and the assessment that no intervention was going to persuade him not to sign the deal with Beijing.
“It was not our plan for her to visit the Solomon Islands, that’s what was being suggested to me and that’s not what has occurred,” he said.
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