Why the Pacific nations must all pitch in to help in the Solomon Islands

The deployment of defence force personnel is permitted by the legislation initially passed when a former government sent our defence force to Vanuatu, at the request of the government of Father Walter Lini, to put down a rebellion at the time of Independence. This legislation remains in operation.

The government strongly supports the regional initiative, which began with requests to member countries by the government of the Solomon Islands. We are awaiting the approval of the Solomon Islands Parliament, now is session. The approval will include necessary legal and other protection for regional police and defence force personnel.

We acknowledge the enormous financial commitment being made by the Australian government, as well as the commitment of Australian police and defence force personnel who will provide leadership for the regional force being assembled.

Australia has already increased its aid commitment to the Solomon Islands, and will be meeting the full cost of our commitment, and that of other island nations.

Australia has been strongly supported by New Zealand, and I thank both governments for their commitment, and for working with the Forum, and the Solomons government to ensure maximum regional participation.

It is vital that this be a regional initiative. The greater the contribution by island nations, such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga, the better.

It must also have a strong law and order focus. That is why the greatest possible involvement of police force personnel is vital. The role of defence force members from Australia, New Zealand, and other nations, including Papua New Guinea, needs to be planned and managed with great care.

The regional response is entirely consistent with the Biketawa Declaration of Forum Members, which, among other provisions, endorsed the kind of response we have made to a request from the democratic government of a member country. That is why the force will not be formalised until the invitation by the Solomon Islands government is endorsed by the Solomon Islands Parliament.

Significantly, the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting stressed that any such initiative in the future must be addressed, collectively, by regional member countries, and not by any one country, or small group of countries.

I was particularly keen to ensure the forum process became central to any future requests, and forum nations unanimously endorsed this requirement.

The Pacific Islands Forum, often unfairly criticised in the past, has demonstrated it has an important regional role to play. Our region will be stronger and more secure as it does so.

Despite evidence that the worst elements in the Solomon Islands are talking about peace, it cannot be assumed the regional force will not encounter danger when it is deployed. The situation has been dangerous for some years, and previous peace agreements and peace efforts have been less than successful.