SENATOR PENNY WONG
LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY IN THE SENATE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA

BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
MEMBER FOR GORTON

PAT CONROY MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE PACIFIC
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING ON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
MEMBER FOR SHORTLAND

Labor is deeply concerned by reports of a new security agreement between the Government of the Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China.

Such an agreement would have serious implications for Australia and for our shared region.

It also raises serious questions about the Morrison Government’s Pacific Step up.

Australia should be the partner of choice for our Pacific partners to address shared challenges.

The Morrison Government needs to explain the implications of the reported arrangement and how it plans to respond.

Labor is seeking a briefing on these matters.

Labor respects the right of the people and the Government of the Solomons to make sovereign decisions about its security.

The Pacific family has shown we can provide effective and sustainable support to the Solomon Islands in times of need – and we hope to see this continue.

Authorised by Paul Erickson, ALP, Canberra.