Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong has acknowledged Australia has not been "as good a partner as we would have liked" to Pacific nations as she visited the Solomon Islands and met with new Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.
Senator Wong becomes the second minister to visit the pacific nation in recent weeks after defence minister Richard Marles in May, as the federal government seeks to improve relations after Mr Manele took over from Manasseh Sogavare, who signed a security pact with China in what was considered a shock for the region.
Speaking from Honiara, Senator Wong told the ABC: "One thing I would say is we know that in the past Australia has not been as good a partner, as involved a partner, as we would have liked – and we saw that under previous governments."
"Well, we are serious about making sure we continue the same momentum you have seen since we were elected to office in our engagement with the Pacific, respectful, listening, acting on their priorities," she said.
Speaking to reporters in Honiara earlier in the day, Senator Wong said Australia can see "your development, your security, your stability, that matters to us".
"We want a Pacific Island region where all of us can make our own decisions, can exercise our sovereignty without fear, and we can all grow and live together peacefully. That's what we want and that's what we seek to offer," she said.
The Solomons, under former PM Sogavare, shocked Australia and the United States when it signed a security pact with Beijing in 2022. It opened the door for a Chinese presence on the island, which included police.
Accusations that Australia had taken the nations in the region for granted, with Mr Sogavare arguing comments from some politicians in Australia meant "we are treated as kindergarten students walking around with Colt .45s in our hands and therefore need to be supervised".
Despite Prime Minister Manele being less forthright in his support for China, he is unlikely to reverse the Solomons position, reaffirming his support for the "one-China" principle earlier this week and expressing his "deep appreciation to the Chinese government".
There have also been accusations of disrespect, with former Environment Minister Melissa Price reportedly telling former Kiribati President Anote Tong: "I know why you're here. It is for the cash. For the Pacific, it is always about the cash. I have my cheque book here. How much do you want?"
In 2015, Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott were caught laughing on a hot mic about water lapping at the door of Pacific nations.
Senator Wong told the ABC it was important to be responsive to each county's priorities.
"Certainly, with PNG and Tuvalu and also Fiji, you have seen an approach Australia is taking, where…we do want to be better and more involved members of the Pacific family and that will mean different things with different countries," she said.
"And so, it's for Solomon Islands to consider how it wants to approach the engagement and look at how the relationship can grow as we move forward."
She said Australia was up for a broader and deeper relationship with the Solomon Islands.
"We are already the number one development partner, but we understand that this government has priorities in terms of how it wishes to navigate its challenges, and has an economic agenda, it has substantial fiscal issues to deal with," Senator Wong said.
"It has a desire, as we do, to see its people engage in meaningful, well-paid work that is high-skilled. So obviously, these are the sorts of things Australia can work with Solomon Islands on."
