CANBERRA / HONIARA — Australia and Solomon Islands have reached an in-principle agreement on a landmark bilateral treaty, with a leaked message indicating Canberra is prepared to commit more than A$980 million in additional funding, ABC News reported.
A text from Australia’s High Commissioner Jeffrey Roach to Deputy Prime Minister Francis Sade — verified by ABC — said there had been “terrific progress” and that Australia would contribute an additional A$280 million over the next two years and a further A$700 million after that. The package cited by ABC includes about A$142 million for Prime Minister Matthew Wale’s free-education policy and about A$47.8 million for visa and security requests. Sources told ABC negotiations are “substantively concluded,” with possible signing dates in the coming weeks after Wale survived a leadership challenge Monday.
The Sydney Morning Herald separately reported Albanese’s government moving to fast-track the pact after the failed push to oust Wale, who has prioritized deeper ties with Australia while reviewing Solomon Islands’ security arrangements with China.
Sources: ABC News; Sydney Morning Herald.
