Federal Election 2022: Penny Wong vows Solomon Islands visit

Senator Penny Wong has indicated when she will visit the Solomon Islands if an Albanese Government emerges, and how she would change things in the Pacific region.

Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong has indicated she will visit the Solomon Islands within the first six months of an Albanese Government.

The South Australian Senator, who will likely become foreign minister should Labor win on May 21, also wouldn’t rule out installing a former Labor politician into the vacant High Commissioner role in the UK.

When asked on Saturday if she would visit the Solomon Islands within the first three or six months of an Albanese government, Senator Wong said: “I would have hoped much earlier than those time frames”.

“I think you should anticipate a lot more energy and resources in relation to both South East Asia and the Pacific,” she said.

“You should anticipate … when other leaders and foreign ministers wish to engage, you should anticipate we will do so early.”

Senator Penny Wong, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. Picture David Clark

The Solomon Islands, located 1700km from Cairns, has been a major focus point of the election campaign after the country signed a wide-ranging security deal with China.

Meanwhile, Senator Wong wouldn’t rule out appointing a former Labor politician as High Commissioner to the UK, with the role now vacant after former LNP senator George Brandis departed the job last month.

“We will put people in who can do the job,” she said.

The Senator said there needed to be a mix of career diplomats and politicians in high-profile diplomatic postings, as she accused the Morrison government of overseeing an “avalanche of jobs for the boys”.

Former Liberal leader Alexander Downer held the post prior to Mr Brandis, while former South Australia Labor premier Mike Rann was appointed to the job during the Gillard government.

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