12 December 2014
Australia looks forward to working with the new government
It has been a great privilege – and actually quite a bit of fun - to watch the democratic process in Solomon Islands over the last month.
From observing the polling stations on election day, to watching the coalitions come together at the various hotels, to being at Parliament House for the announcement of the new Prime Minister, to seeing Prime Minister Sogavare sworn in at Government House, it’s all been a wonderful expression of democracy in action. And judging by the reaction of Solomon Islanders, the outcome has been a fair reflection of the will of the people.
I would like to congratulate all the participants in this grand process: winning and losing candidates, the polling officials who made it possible, and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers who kept everyone safe and well.
I would also like to offer my very warm congratulations to your new Prime Minister, Honourable Manasseh Sogavare.
Over the course of my first year in the Solomons, I’ve been able to spend quite a bit of time with Mr Sogavare, often over lunch or dinner. We’ve shared many conversations about the opportunities and challenges facing Solomon Islands. And indeed we often find ourselves in strong agreement on what’s needed to build a stronger, more prosperous Solomon Islands. So it was a great pleasure for me to call on Prime Minister Sogavare yesterday in his office, both to formally congratulate him and to start a conversation about how we can work together to build a better future for Solomon Islands.
But even though I was able to meet with and congratulate Prime Minister Sogavare less than 48 hours after he was sworn in, I was actually beaten to it by my own Prime Minister! On Wednesday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott had telephoned Prime Minister Sogavare to offer Australia’s congratulations. That is a great mark of the respect, and the binding ties, between Solomon Islands and Australia.
All members of the government will soon take up challenging new roles. I wish them, and their families, well. My own mother’s family contained several politicians and I’ve worked closely with many people in politics, so I know well that families make tremendous sacrifices to support political careers.
Our collective focus now shifts to Parliament, and the important debates and inquiries that will happen there. The Opposition will have their role to play too, and I also wish them well.
In conclusion…well done to Solomon Islands on a successful democratic process!