Joint statement:
- Prime Minister, The Hon Scott Morrison MP
- Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Solomon Islands is part of our Pacific family and is among our closest neighbours.
We have been watching the ongoing protests in Honiara with concern. We continue to call for calm, for an end to any further violence and emphasise the importance of resolving tensions peacefully.
Australia has received a formal request for assistance from the Solomon Islands Government under our 2017 Bilateral Security Treaty. Australia has agreed to provide assistance to Solomon Islands in line with our Treaty arrangement.
A Royal Australian Air Force aircraft has departed Canberra this evening to provide airlift for members of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in support of the Australian Government response to the request for assistance.
On 26 November, approximately 40 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel from Army’s 3rd Brigade, 6th Brigade and 17th Brigade will depart Townsville for Honiara.
A further ADF aircraft will also depart Canberra tomorrow with additional DFAT officials and AFP members.
The AFP and ADF elements will support the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in helping to stabilise the situation.
The ADF will also deploy a Navy vessel to the Solomon Islands to support the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force with maritime security.
This deployment expands upon our longstanding bilateral security relationship, underpinned by strong cooperation between police, border and defence agencies in Australia and Solomon Islands.
The Australian Government is committed to a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The Australian High Commission in Honiara remains operational. Australians in Solomon Islands in need of assistance should contact the High Commission or for 24 hour emergency consular assistance contact DFAT’s Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 and monitor smartraveller.gov.au.
