Source: Prime Minister of Australia
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Well, it’s an absolute pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Wale and his delegation to Canberra for his first overseas visit. I apologise for the fact it’s a bit colder than it is in the Sollys. The Prime Minister’s decision to choose Australia for his first overseas visit reflects the closeness of our relationship and I congratulate him on the energy and vision he has brought to his first days in office. I was in the Solomons in September last year for the Pacific Islands Forum meeting and the visit highlighted to me the extraordinary depth and breadth of the Australian Solomon Islands relationship and our shared commitment to the region as members of the Pacific family. That visit also reaffirmed that we’re not immune from current geopolitical events. In times of global uncertainty, we look to each other because we’re stronger when we work together. Australia is committed to listening, engaging, with respect and supporting the priorities of the Solomon Islands Government.
Today, we’ve committed to elevate our bilateral relationship, at the request of the Solomon Islands. This will be agreed in a new comprehensive treaty underpinned by mutual trust, respect and open dialogue. This treaty will allow Australia and the Solomon Islands to confront global and regional challenges as partners. This is a significant body of work and we’ve asked our Foreign Ministers to lead and drive this forward. We’ve also agreed to move to the next phase of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Australian Federal Police Policing Partnership Program, building capability and strengthening policing cooperation. This builds on the Pacific Policing Initiative that we launched at the Pacific Islands Forum just a couple of years ago. And we welcome the Solomon Islands signature of this agreement of understanding, reinforcing our shared commitment to regional security.
We have also agreed on a package of support centred on recovery from Tropical Cyclone Maila and current energy issues, while looking ahead to the future of how we can support education and skills development. Free education has been identified as a priority of the Prime Minister and Australia is more than willing to support this initiative and to provide whatever assistance we can to make sure that this vision of the Prime Minister becomes a realisation. Australia and the Solomon Islands have a proud history of standing together and today we’ve had the opportunity to discuss with my senior Ministers, the senior Ministers from the Solomon Islands who are visiting as part of this delegation, as well Australia is committed to continuing to work to amplify Pacific voices and pursue shared solutions as a Pacific family. The Prime Minister and his Ministers will Meet with one on one with a range of our Ministers. And tonight I look forward to hosting the Prime Minister and Mrs Wale as well at the lodge together, myself and Jodie, along with our Ministers. That will be a very pleasant evening, I’m sure with the Prime Minister’s side. Now I invite the Prime Minister to make some remarks before we take some questions. Prime Minister.
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