Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

Solomons says Australian offer to fund election 'inappropriate'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Sep 2022 14:00
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Solomon Islands government accuses Australia of attempting to "influence how Members of Parliament vote" in elections.

  • x
  • Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (C) is seeking to delay the 2023 election citing budgetary concerns William WEST AFP/File.
    Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare is seeking to delay the 2023 election citing budgetary concerns (AFP)

The Solomon Islands rejected on Tuesday an Australian offer to fund its next election as "inappropriate", dismissing Canberra's latest effort to strengthen ties with the Pacific nation over its growing concern over the island's rapprochement from Beijing.

In a statement, the Solomons government accused Australia of trying "to influence how Members of Parliament will vote" on an upcoming bill that would delay national polls by seven months.      

It comes after Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare signed a historic security treaty with Beijing in April, causing significant diplomatic jockeying between China, the US, and its allies, notably Australia.

During an interview for ABC radio on Tuesday morning, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the funding offer.

Read next: Solomon Islands foreign navy ban applies to 'all countries'

With the vote on an election delay due as early as Thursday, the Solomons government took umbrage at the timing, saying it "was in the process of replying when the Australian Foreign Minister made an announcement to the Australian media."

Because of the hefty costs, Sogavare has advocated that the election should be postponed until after the Pacific Games in 2023.

'Historical commitment' 

Related News

Solomon Islands' new prime minister vows friendly China relations

Solomon Islands PM asserts decline of US hegemony in Pacific

The Solomons government said it received Wong's offer on September 1 and would respond formally after the election bill was resolved.

While Australia's offer was not disclosed, Sogavare's Secretary Jimmie Rogers had warned the Solomons state TV that the election would cost more than US$49 million. Wong claimed in an interview on Tuesday that Australia's offer was in response to appeals for assistance from the Solomon Islands opposition.

"(It) reflects our longstanding and historical commitment to supporting democracy and democratic processes in Solomon Islands," she said.      

Read next: Foreign base would make Solomon Islands military target: PM

The bill to delay the election was "domestically controversial", Wong added, "(but) that's ultimately a matter for their parliament to resolve."

She tried to dispel suggestions that the funding was unusual, exposing further what she called Australian support for recent Papua New Guinea elections.

The Australian government upgraded its travel advice for the Solomon Islands last week, advising residents to exercise "a high degree of caution due to the possibility of further civil unrest" ahead of the vote on the election delay.         

Sogavare is likely to visit Australia soon, though details are still being worked out. He recently accused Western media organizations in the Solomons of "spreading anti-China sentiment."

Sogavare's office threatened to ban or deport reporters for "disrespectful and demeaning" coverage, accusing some foreign media of trying to "engineer regime change."

Read next: Australia to 're-engage' on Pacific, Albanese feeling 'very positive'

  • Manasseh Sogavare
  • Solomon Islands
  • Australia

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS