FROM THE HIGH COMMISSIONER’S DESK – ROD HILTON
As the year concludes, I want to reflect on what the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership has achieved in 2024, delivering on Solomon Islands priorities across all sectors and all provinces.
OUR PEOPLE
Our close and enduring partnership starts at the top, with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy all visiting Solomon Islands this year to enhance our cooperation.
We were honoured that Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele visited Australia on his first official international visit, followed up by numerous Solomon Islands Ministers, growing our partnership from strength to strength through mutual respect and open dialogue.
We strengthened leadership capabilities within the Solomon Islands Government by supporting over 200 senior officials complete professional development in Australia.
ELECTIONS
Australia supported Solomon Islands’ first joint elections in April with SBD 137 million in funding for technical and operational assistance, and election observation.
We provided logistics support to deliver 23 metric tonnes of election material through more than 20 Australian Defence Force (ADF) flights.
At the request of the Solomon Islands Government, we also supported the RSIPF conduct a safe election by deploying more than 400 ADF and Australian Federal Police (AFP) personnel – a truly collective effort.
HEALTH
Our partnership invested heavily in health, including:
- providing SBD 32.9 million for essential health services across Solomon Islands
- providing SBD 9.1 million for life-saving medical supplies
- completing a SBD 14.8 million scabies mass drug administration program
- delivering the last of four new biomolecular laboratories in Temotu, Choiseul, Western, and Guadalcanal Provinces.
- We also committed SBD 140 million to a new four-year health program focused on provincial service delivery starting in 2025.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Australia remains Solomon Islands’ largest infrastructure partner, delivering over 500 projects worth more than SBD 5 billion in five years. In 2024, we:
- delivered emergency roadworks on Malaita South Road
- completed construction of Seghe Airfield with Solomon Islands and New Zealand
- began construction of the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre
- built six mobile towers in Malaita, Isabel, and Western Provinces
- refurbished Tulagi Market and extended Honiara Central Market
- constructed five bus shelters in Honiara.
- These high-quality projects used local supplies and workforce, ensured community involvement, and are climate resilient.
JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Australia is creating jobs for Solomon Islanders, including through skills development and’TVET qualifications.
To date 7,900 workers have participated in Australia’s PALM scheme, while our continued support for Our Telekom’s M-Selen is helping workers remit money for their families and communities.
Australia is partnering with over 50 businesses, including in the cocoa, coconut, seaweed and tourism sectors.
This includes supporting businesses to make delicious chocolates, highly sought-after soaps and oils, and the country’s first ever locally produced chocolate drink.
EDUCATION
This year we offered a record-breaking 100 Australia Awards scholarships (up from 35 in 2023) and signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Solomon Islands National University to enhance research, teaching, and links with Australian universities.
Australia delivered 15 new education infrastructure projects worth nearly SBD 30 million, benefiting 3,500 students across 4 provinces. We also distributed 93,000 textbooks to schools across the country. A new eight-year SBD 235 million education program will build schools and strengthen local teacher training from 2025.
GENDER
Australia committed SBD 49 million over 3 years to enhance women’s business and leadership skills. We continued funding frontline services including the Safenet referral network, Family Support Centre, Seif Pleis and Christian Care Centre, to assist victims/survivors of gender-based violence.
SECURITY, LAW AND JUSTICE
The Solomons’ International Assistance Force concluded after deploying 1,600 personnel to
support the RSIPF since 2021. Operation Render Safe removed over 3,000 unexploded bombs from World War Two.
Under our Defence Cooperation Program, we conducted three Exercise Coastwatchers and trained 450 RSIPF and government officers. Infrastructure upgrades included Aola Wharf (SBD 120 million), a whole-of-government facility for the Western Border Outpost, and construction commenced on Eastern Border Outpost.
The SBD 18 million Border Management System and SBD 10.5 million Customs and Excise Division uplift will improve border systems, complementing the Australian Border Force training and mentoring of local immigration and customs officers.
Our cybersecurity assistance supported a secure national election, and we are supporting the Solomon Islands ICT Unit develop its Solomon Islands Computer Emergency Response
Team in 2025.
Our law and justice programs trained 700 law and justice officials, reprinted all of Solomon Islands 224 laws, supported travel to help courts hear cases across the country, and handed over a new armoury for Correctional Services Solomon Islands.
MEDIA
The Solomon Islands-Australia Media Sector Partnership committed SBD 11 million over four years to support a free and vibrant media sector. The first major activity saw outlets receive a mobile journalism kit to support digital transformation.
SPORT
Our PacificAus Sports program sponsored major sporting events, including bringing Australia’s Futsalroos and Subway Joeys, to Honiara.
An SBD400,000 contribution supported Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation and Oceania Rugby to host the region’s premiere rugby 7s tournament in Honiara for the first time in December.
We also delivered accredited sports training for coaches, umpires, and officials. Through the Team Up program, we partnered with six sports organisations to include more women and people with disabilities in grassroots sports.
BIOSECURITY
Australia’s Biosecurity Development Partnership provided export pathway training to help
agricultural exports meet Australian standards because we are a key market for Solomon
Islands agricultural products.
We also helped strengthen pest and disease surveillance, including nationwide surveys, to help Biosecurity Solomon Islands safeguard food security.
CLIMATE AND DISASTER RESPONSE
Australia scaled up support with new renewable energy partnerships for rural communities in
four provinces and a three-year resilience-building partnership in East Malaita.
Australia enhanced disaster preparedness by constructing a new Provincial Emergency Operations Centre in Taro and committing to a national humanitarian warehouse.
We also provided training and equipment to the National Disaster Management Office and Solomon Islands Meteorological Services so that they can help communities in times of need.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
The Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership touches the lives of people in every province and every sector of Solomon Islands and has accomplished so much.
I’ve just named a few of the many things we’ve achieved together this year.
Australia is honoured to be Solomon Islands’ nambawan partner.
Merry Christmas, Hapi Nui Yia, an God Blessim iumi evriwan!
Lukim iu bak neks yia!
