Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for, I think, the first foreign affairs question in this parliament. I appreciate his interest in Solomon Islands. Obviously, it's a matter of record what occurred in relation to the Solomon Islands under the previous government. I'm asked about electoral assistance. I would make the point—and he may not be aware of this—that Australia has actually been providing electoral assistance to Solomon Islands for many years, on the proprieties of both governments, so obviously the question goes to: when did the Australian government become aware of capacity to engage in an election?

I would make the point that Australia has, in fact, been providing assistance for the democratic processes in Solomon Islands for years. We are already partnering with the Solomon Islands electoral office to support electoral reform and administration, through both the Australian Electoral Commission's program and the UNDP's program, aimed at strengthening the electoral cycle in Solomon Islands. Australia has always taken the view that democracy, democratic processes and democracy matter. I would reiterate the standing offer the Australian government has to support the Solomon Islands next election, whether held in 2023 or 2024. Obviously, as I've made clear publicly, the timing of the election is entirely a matter for the government and parliament of Solomon Islands. I would assume that my colleague Senator Birmingham would share the view that democracy matters, that democratic conventions are important and that Australia's support for democratic processes through the Pacific, including Solomon Islands, is a matter for bipartisan support.