Election 2022: China fears eased, but can Josh bowl over voters?
A busy day on the hustings took Josh Frydenberg to the bowling green, while Foreign Minister Marise Payne has won assurances on the China security deal with the Solomon Islands.
Federal Election
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Scott Morrison says Foreign Minister Marise Payne has won key assurances on the China security deal with the Solomon Islands, as he has vowed to press ahead with controversial religious freedom laws.
New polls also shows the state that delivered a ‘miracle’ victory for Mr Morrison three years ago is turning on the PM, while former Labor leader Bill Shorten revealed he’s been hit by Covid.
News of Mr Shorten’s health woes two weeks out from the election came as Anthony Albanese backed away from a Labor promise to deliver free rapid antigen tests.
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has copped swift backlash from his Liberal colleagues, branded ‘treacherous’ and facing calls for his expulsion from the party after he encouraged voters to flip to independents.
Mr Morrison is continuing his western offensive where he is seeking to align himself with Labor’s popular WA Premier Mark McGowan.
Cost of living has emerged as the number one issue facing voters, according to a new survey which shows support for the Coalition has dropped, but so has that for Labor.
The other key issue for 60 per cent of those surveyed was fixing the aged care system.Confidential Liberal Party research has also revealed the number of ‘soft’ undecided voters has grown to 27 per cent, meaning the election is still very much up for grabs.
The PM announced $30 million for a major aquatic centre and a $20m tourism plan to attract more wine, spirit and beer events.
He also urged local leaders not to associate Mr McGowan with his federal counterpart Mr Albanese.“Anthony Albanese is no Mark McGowan. Federal Labor is not State Labor,” he said.
Follow our live coverage from the Saturday campaign trail below.
FRYDENBERG TAKES TO THE BOWLING GREEN
Two weeks out from polling day, not even cold and drizzle could halt the campaigning in the tight political battle for Kooyong.
A busy day on the hustings took Josh Frydenberg to Hawthorn Bowls Club as the Treasurer turned up the charm offensive to hold on to his seat.
“We heard earlier in the day that Josh might be floating around,” former club president Oliver Roberts said.
Members cheered on the Treasurer as he had a spin on the green, with Mr Roberts thanking Mr Frydenberg for helping secure a grant for the club.
Danny Lasky, 91, has played at the club for 30 years and greeted the Treasurer,
“It was a pleasure to finally meet him, a very nice surprise,” Mr Lasky said.
“He is a smart guy and knows what he is talking about.”
Earlier that day, Mr Frydenberg‘s re-election bid took him to Xavier Maytime fair, a Mother’s Day lunch at Kew Football Club and Berridale Netball.
He also toured another bowls club at Ashburton to support fellow Liberal MP Katie Allan.
Although they did not cross paths on Saturday, his chief opponent Dr Monique Ryan and her supporters were also out making their pitch for voters to deliver a major political upset.
Swarms of volunteers for the so-called teal independent were spotted on Glenferrie Rd in Hawthorn.
Mr Frydenberg said he had been out meeting with locals asking about the issues of the day following the debate with Dr Ryan on Thursday.
“I was pleased to have the opportunity to outline our policies but also to have a spot light turned on their lack of policy and detail and the fact they have no tax position,” he said.
“No national position on security and defence and no costing for their climate target and no plan to reach it.
“The feedback has been very positive.”
But Mr Frydenberg said it was going to be a close contest.
Yesterday former Treasurer Peter Costello backed Josh Frydenberg for the seat.
“I’ve known Josh Frydenbergy for over 20 years as the member for Kooyong,’ he told the Sunday Herald Sun.
PAYNE MEETS WITH COUNTERPART ON CHINA DEAL
Australia will remain the Solomon Islands’ security partner of choice after a long awaited meeting between Foreign Minister Marise Payne and her counterpart in Brisbane, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
Both the PM and Trade Minister Dan Tehan said the meeting had been ‘very productive’.
It is the first time Ms Payne has met with Jeremiah Manele since the Pacific nation signed a security pact with China.
The China deal has sparked a political firestorm for the Morrison government with the Opposition accusing the PM and Ms Payne of failing do enough to prevent the deal going ahead.
Labor’s Foreign Affairs spokesman Penny Wong has accused the PM of failing to ‘pick up the phone’ and speak with his counterpart.
Senator Payne said she had been given assurances from the Solomon Islands that it would not be used as a military base for the Chinese.
Mr Morrison has previously reported the same assurances.
China has previously said the deal would involve its forces helping to maintain social order, combat natural disasters and ensure national security.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has rejected speculation a naval base could be established.
"Australia has been consistent and clear in stating our respect for Solomon Islands' sovereign decision-making," Senator Payne said.
"However, we have reiterated our deep concerns about the security agreement with China, including the lack of transparency," she said.
"I again welcomed Prime Minister Sogavare's assurance that Solomon Islands will not be used for a foreign military base."
Mr Tehan told the ABC on Saturday that the meeting had been "very productive" and the ministers agreed Australia remained Solomon Islands' security partner of choice.
Mr Morrison said he was pleased Senator Payne had been able to take up the opportunity to meet with her counterpart.
"That meeting proved to be a very positive meeting, one that reinforced again Australia's role as the primary security partner, and also reassured once again that the Solomon Islands are not considering, and would not support, the establishment of a naval presence for the Chinese government in the Solomon Islands," Mr Morrison said.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said it was ‘about time’ the meeting took place.
But he said given the government was in caretaker mode, he expected that Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong would have been invited.
QLD MAY NOT DELIVER PM SECOND MIRACLE
A swing away from Mr Morrison in Queensland, the state that delivered his ‘miracle’ victory three years ago, could deliver Anthony Albanese government.
Labor and Coalition strategists say polling indicated support falling away from the Morrison government in the Sunshine State, where it has 23 of Queensland’s 30 federal seats.
The numbers show as many as four seats could swing from blue to red after the May 21 election.
The Liberal-held seat of Brisbane is the most vulnerable, aided by growing support for the Greens.
This has also put the blue-ribbon electorate of Ryan in danger.
Both sides concede that the Cairns-based seat of Leichhardt, held by veteran Liberal MP Warren Entsch, is “in play” along with the outer Brisbane seat of Longman, which has changed hands four times in the past two decades.
Preferences from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party could prove critical to the Coalition holding Longman and the targeted central Queensland seat of Flynn.
ALBO TURNS TO COMEDY IN TAKING ON PM
Albanese has laughed off a rocky few days – declaring Scott Morrison was no Mick Jagger – during a speech filled with one liners which had the party faithful in stitches.
The Opposition Leader, visiting Bass in Northern Tasmania, delivered an energetic speech on Saturday to launch Labor’s state campaign.
“Scott Morrison says that it's better the devil you know … But the truth is that only the Rolling Stones ever got away with asking us to have sympathy for the devil,” he said.
“And he’s certainly not Jagger or Richards.”
On action on climate change Mr Albanese said there was a “lead weight” around the government – Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.
“You can sort of commit a mistake maybe by making Barnaby Joyce Deputy Prime Minister once,” he said.
“But seriously, do you really need a sequel? “That's what we got.”
He said the Labor would embrace green energy and develop renewable energy, describing the Coalition as “numpties”.
Mr Albanese’s warm-up act, Labor’s Health spokesman Mark Butler joined in on the stand-up acts – asking the party faithful to imagine the Prime Minister’s hands in their mouths.
“He says you should think about him the same way you think about your dentist … imagine, if that image of him washing that woman's hair wasn't already enough to make you spit out your cornflakes, to put his hands in your mouth,” he said.
“The reason Australians could not imagine going to Scott Morrison the dentist has nothing to do with his questionable likability ratings is because we're all pretty sure he'd take out the wrong tooth.”
Mr Albanese visited the Launceston Mother’s Day markets before the event.
MORRISON VOWS TO PRESS ON WITH RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LAWS
Mr Morrison has refused to provide a timeline for when he would move forward with the protection of gay and trans students after vowing to legislate his prized religious freedom laws if re-elected.
The contentious religious discrimination legislation would provide protections for people of religious faith, including in schools and hospitals.
Speaking in Perth, Mr Morrison confirmed the bill was a priority but would not provide a timeline for the passage of amendments to the sex discrimination act to ensure LGBTQ students are protected from discrimination.
“They’re separate issues,” he said at a winery in the seat of Hasluck, adding he would “deal with RDA first”.
Pressed further on why he considered it a separate issue and for a timeline Mr Morrion responded: “Let’s see what happens at the election.”
“Our commitment was to go forward with the RDA. We will go forward with the RDA in its own right.”
Advisers sought to later clarify the Coalition was committed to both the RDA and SDA legislation as a priority, but insisted its passage would depend on the final make up of the parliament.
The Prime Minister’s comments could further inflame internal divisions within the party over the bill.
The promise to amend the SDA to protect LGBTQ students from the discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity was first made during the Wentworth by-election in 2018.
Five Liberal MPs sensationally crossed the floor to vote against the government in February to protect LGBTQ students in a late night sitting of parliament.
Mr Morrison ultimately shelved the legislation in the Senate after key Senator Andrew Bragg informed the government of his intention to also cross the floor.
Meanwhile, on a tour of the venue Mr Morrison stopped to taste some of the Sandalford winery’s collection.
He admitted he did not identify the notes in the red wine and would leave that to the experts.
But he did stop, swirl his glass, and told reporters: “I just know what I like”. “And so do the Australian people.”
LABOR BACKS AWAY FROM FREE RATS
Rapid Antigen Tests won’t be provided under an Albanese Government despite the Labor leader previously urging the Commonwealth to foot the bill.
Mr Albanese said the “times have changed” with supply of the tests catching up with demand.
He said Labor’s calls were made at a time when the government was urging people to buy them from pharmacies and concession card holders had struggled to access stock.
“At the time there was an urgent need to get RATs out to people, people were struggling,” he said.
“Now of course we have supply – it's like the supply of vaccines.
“The government was too slow – the government was too slow to order vaccines and it was too slow to organise rapid antigen tests.”
Shadow Health spokesman Mark Butler in January said free RATs was “not something we should be debating in May in an election campaign”.
The RATS discussion comes as former leader Bill Shorten today confirmed he had Covid.
Have tested positive for COVID. Never good timing for anyone so will be in iso for a week and then free for final week of the campaign.
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) May 7, 2022
A good reminder to take care of ourselves and one another, distance where you can, open the windows and do regular RATs.
Meanwhile, Mr Albanese has declined to confirm reports Labor’s budget deficits would run $10bn higher than the Coalition over four years.
Reports in News Corp papers today revealed Labor was focused on “quality spending” which would increase the deficits by $10bn more than those forecast by the Coalition.
Mr Albanese on Saturday in Tasmania declined to confirm the report.
“We’ll release all of our costings, all of our costings in the usual way that Oppositions have done for a very long time,” he said.
“I don't know what it's based on … it’s certainly not based upon comments from the finance shadow minister or the shadow Treasurer.”
PM’S BID TO SCORE WITH WA VOTERS
After sparring with Labor state premiers for two years Scott Morrison is seeking to align himself with a major rival as he sandbags West Australian seats and unveils a $20 million tourism sweetener.
Wine, spirit and craft beer producers across Australia would be able to attract more visitors under the Coalition election pledge to fund more events and tourism infrastructure to be announced by the Prime Minister on Saturday.
Mr Morrison has been campaigning in Perth, where Labor hopes to piggyback off the popularity of WA Premier Mark McGowan and flip up to three seats, which would get them significantly closer to forming government.
The Prime Minister began the day at Shelvock Park, in Perth's northern suburbs, committing an additional $1.6m towards the construction of a Vietnamese Cultural Centre in WA.
It builds upon a $750,000 promise the Coalition made in 2019. Mr Morrison received a rock star welcome from the crowd as WA Senator Dean Smith led players and family members of the West Nam football club in a round of cheers and applause.
He told the crowd of bemused children that Australia did multiculturalism "better than any other country" – once again likening the nation to a rope with "many strands that come together".
The Prime Minister did his best to keep the young kids engaged as he continued talking about his plan for Australia before asking the children if they could show him "how good they are" at soccer.
It's the third code the Prime Minister has tried his hand at this week.
But he couldn't get too far without being mobbed by the crowd for a selfie.
Donned in a West Nam supporter scarf and hat, he watched on as the kids showed off their penalty shots before giving it a go himself.
Unfortunately for him, the young goaler blocked both of his attempts at goals.
Mr Morrison will be hoping he doesn't suffer the same fortune in Cowan in two weeks time.
The Liberals will be hoping they can topple Labor's Anne Aly – who holds the seat on a wafer thin 0.9 per cent margin – and replace her with Vince Conolloy, who had his seat abolished by an AEC redistribution.
In a speech to more than 600 Perth business and community leaders on Friday, Mr Morrison urged the room not to associate Mr McGowan with his federal counterpart Anthony Albanese.
“Anthony Albanese is no Mark McGowan. Federal Labor is not State Labor,” he said.
Mr Morrison and Mr McGowan repeatedly butted heads over border closures during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Prime Minister later softening his stance when it became apparent WA’s tough measures were popular locally.
Continuing his western defensive, Mr Morrison will announce the Coalition would invest $15m in the sector by providing up to $100,000 in matched funding for small to medium-sized wineries, distilleries and beer producers for the construction or upgrade of cellar door or tourism-associated facilities such as restaurants, tour facilities and viewing platforms.
An additional $5 million will be provided through the Wine, Spirits and Craft Breweries Tourism Events program to provide up to $100,000 to tourism and local government organisations to create new events and experiences to attract tourists and showcase wineries, distilleries and craft beer makers.
Mr Morrison said he was “opening Australia’s cellar doors to the world for more of our wine, spirit and craft beer producers”.
“Tourism is key to our plan and this funding will help bring in more tourists to local businesses, meaning more people touring our breweries and wineries, more people buying products and ultimately businesses employing more people,” he said.
“Australia is a global tourism leader for our beaches, parks, wildlife, Indigenous culture and our cities, and there are huge opportunities for our wineries and distilleries to take advantage of the planeloads of tourists looking for a new experience as we emerge from Covid lockdowns.
Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said the Coalition’s long-term plan was to “grow and strengthen the tourism sector” by putting “modernisation, diversification and collaboration at its core”
“More than 60 per cent of distilleries are in rural and regional Australia and Australian wineries spread across 65 regions, so these programs will support regional Australia to diversify their tourism offerings, which is a key plank of our long-term tourism strategy,” he said.
Key to Mr Morrison’s bid to hold onto marginal Perth seats including Swan, Pearce and Hasluck is by highlighting the Coalition’s commitment to the Defence industry.
The Prime Minister unveiled a $1 billion investment already factored into the 2021-22 budget for “Project Greyfin” support the SAS based in Perth over the next decade.
He also visited the Labor-held marginal seat of Cowan, to announce a $108m funding package for defence industry manufacturing training.
In Swan, he kicked an AFL football around with local children in a park.
TURNCOAT TURNBULL FACES PUSH FOR EXPULSION
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull faces a push to expel him from the Liberal party after he encouraged voters to turn their backs on traditional Coalition MPs and choose independents.
In a speech to the Washington Harvard Club, Mr Turnbull said “even if the members of a political party cannot escape from the thrall of the dominant faction, their traditional supporters in the electorate can do so by voting for an independent who has a real chance of success”.
He faced swift backlash from colleagues who distanced themselves from him and labelled his comments ‘disappointing’.
Former Victorian Liberal premier Jeff Kennett on Friday called on the former prime minister to resign from the party, accusing him of undermining the people who provided him with his opportunity.
“Although Malcolm Turnbull is a wealthy man, he is the poorest in human spirit,” Mr Kennett tweeted on Friday night.
“Alone without friends in Australia, except the ABC, he lives abroad and endlessly undermines the people who gave him the opportunity to serve as PM.
NSW Liberal senator Hollie Hughes said the party’s state executive could expel Mr Turnbull for endorsing independent candidates running against the government, saying his conduct was “beyond a joke”.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg – who is fighting for his political life against teal independent Monique Ryan – said it was ‘deeply disappointing’ while former Liberal Party president Richard Alston said ‘treachery is his (Mr Turnbull’s) middle name, no doubt humiliated by being widely regarded as our worst ever Liberal PM’.
SURVEY REVEALS KEY ISSUES FOR VOTERS
A survey of more than 3500 voters has identified reducing the cost of living as the number one issue among both Coalition and Labor supporters.
The other key issue to emerge was fixing the aged care system, while dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic rated lower.
The Australian National University’s Centre for Social Research and Methods poll surveyed 3587 people between April 11 and 26, questioning them on 22 different policies.
Almost 65% of voters gave reducing the cost of living as the top priority. Among Coalition voters it was 60.8 per cent while for Labor voters it was even higher on 68.8 per cent.
Fixing the aged care system was important for 60% of voters. Less than a third said fixing the budget was a top priority.
Only about a quarter rated issues of immigration and addressing issues around race as being a priority.
More than half (54.4 per cent) rated strengthening the economy as import, while 53.6 per cent said reducing the cost of health care was a key issue.
Tackling global climate change was important for 52.8 per cent of those surveyed, while dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic was the top priority for just 36.5%.
Among those surveyed, only 31.2 per cent said they would vote for the Coalition, down from 31.7 per cent in January.
But Labor had a bigger drop in support with 34.3 per cent saying they would vote for Anthony Albanese, compared to 36.3 per cent in January.
But there was a slight increase in support for the Greens, up from 14.2 per cent in January to 16.2 per cent in April.
Check out our special report on how the parties line up on the key issues here
CAN ‘SOFT VOTERS’ DELIVER SCO-MO A SECOND MIRACLE?
Confidential Liberal Party research has revealed the federal election is still very much up for grabs with more than 1 in 4 voters undecided.
The number of “soft” voters set to determine the outcome of the May 21 election spiked in the past week, overturning the trend of past elections and reaching a campaign high of 27 per cent, The Australian reports.
The softening of voter sentiment toward the major parties in the fourth week of the campaign, as reported by campaign strategists, suggests the election was still up for grabs and would be decided by a growing number of ambivalent voters in the final two weeks of the campaign.
With pre-polling due to open on Monday, both Labor and the Coalition are engaged in hand-to-hand marginal seat combat to secure a persistently high number of voters considered to be those who could potentially switch their vote.
Both camps are now holding back on multimillion-dollar advertising blitzes for the final week of the campaign in a bid to swing the soft vote their way.
They would need to shift strongly the Coalition’s way if Mr Morrison is to pull off a second “miracle” victory, with Labor holding a 53-47 per cent two-party-preferred lead in the latest Newspoll. A senior Liberal Party source told The Weekend Australian that Coalition research showed that the number of “soft” voters had jumped between week three and four of the campaign from 23 per cent to 27 per cent.
ALBO SAYS WE MUST BE MORE SELF SUFFICIENT
Anthony Albanese has pledged lift Australia’s self sufficiency, announcing a raft of manufacturing and green energy measures on his visit to the northern Tasmania seat of Bass, which he hopes to win off Liberal Bridget Archer.
The Labor leader noted Australia ranks last in the OECD in manufacturing and self sufficiency “We need to do much better … we need to be able to stand on our own two feet,” he said.
“We need to be more self reliant,” he said.
Mr Albanese announced a George Town hydrogen plant which would power the state’s trucks and buses with green energy.
PLIBERSEK DENIES UNHAPPINESS OVER ALBO
Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek has tried to laugh off suggestions she's been sidelined, saying she's "lost track" of where she has visited during the campaign.
Ms Plibersek also said there was "absolutely not" any internal unhappiness about Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese's performance during the campaign, after a series of high-profile brainfades.
Ms Plibersek was in Darwin on Saturday announcing $10m for CareFlight and new urgent care clinics in the Northern Territory.
When asked whether she had been benched by the current Labor leadership, the former minister under the Rudd and Gillard governments said she had been visible throughout the campaign.
"Here I am in beautiful Darwin, and then yesterday I was in fantastic Alice Springs," she said.
"I've visited – I've kind of lost track – but well over 20 marginal seats, I've done dozens of press conferences like this announcing policies."
Commentators noted her absence during the early weeks of the campaign, leading to speculation she had been sidelined by Mr Albanese.
Ms Plibersek also weighed in on debate over her leader's performance, following a series of gaffes.
Mr Albanese was unable to outline Labor's NDIS policies nor say what the cash rate and unemployment rate was.
When asked about any internal concern about Mr Albanese's gaffes, Ms Plibersek said "absolutely not".
"We are proud of the fantastic job Anthony's doing, articulating his plan for a stronger economy and a fairer society," she said.
Ms Plibersek then launched an extraordinary attack on the Prime Minister, saying she had mainly seen Scott Morrison "washing people's hair and doing a pretty average job of cooking macarons and curries".
"We've got a prime minister that wants to avoid scrutiny," she said. "He wants a photo opportunity and then he wants to take off before he gets any questions from journalists."
ALBO QUIZZED OVER 11 YEAR OLD TWEET
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has agreed it was inappropriate for Labor MP Brian Mitchell to make fun of women's bladders but insists his comments were made "well before" he was a member of parliament.
Mr Albanese was asked whether it was appropriate for the Member of Lyons, who was elected to the seat in 2016, to make a joke about women not being able to hold onto their bladders.
"We're celebrating Mother's Day tomorrow. Studies suggest up to about 50 per cent of women after giving birth experience (urinary) incontinence, it's a major issue among women," 7 News reporter Jennifer Bechwati told Mr Albanese.
"How is it appropriate for your member for Lyons Brian Mitchell to tweet: 'If this debate doesn't wrap up soon, we're going to need mops. Women don't do well holding on'."
The comments suggested a 2011 debate at ALP national conference was going on for so long, some women might lose control of their bladders. "I hadn't seen that tweet, when was it from?" Mr Albanese replied.
"2011. Still not appropriate right?" Ms Bechwati responded.
"No, of course it's not appropriate, of course it's not appropriate," Mr Albanese said.
"But that's at a time well before he was a member of parliament. I'm sure that Mr Mitchell regrets that and it's not appropriate."
Sky News reported the Tasmanian Labor MP deleted his Twitter account after news.com.au brought some of his bizarre Facebook and Twitter posts to light.
In one Facebook post, Mr Mitchell suggested Labor frontbencher Ed Husic was adept at "massaging boobies".
Mr Mitchell has since apologised for his "insensitive" comments.
NEWS TO CANVASS VIEWS AT PRE-POLL BOOTHS
From the Top End to Tasmania, News Corp’s team of local reporters will be canvassing thousands of voters across 80 pre-poll booths to get an early take on who’s likely to lead our country.
Election experts are expecting a record early voter turnout, prompting the Australian Electoral Commission to add more pre-poll booths and officers.
In 2019, more than four million Australians chose to lodge their vote early ahead of Scott Morrison’s miracle election win — a 57% jump on the previous election.
PM ANNOUNCES $30M FOR AQUATIC CENTRE
Mr Morrison has likened his candidate for Pearce to a video game character as he announced a $30m commitment to build an aquatic centre on Perth's north coast.
Linda Aitkin is hoping to replace a retiring Christian Porter, who represented the seat since 2013.
Speaking to the small gathering at the Landing Alkimos, Mr Morrison asked the crowd if they had ever played a video game.
"You get on and. you've got to pick your character," he said.
"You've got to work out what sort of car they drive and what sort of helmet they wear and all of that. Has anyone done that before? I've done that before."
He said Ms Aitkin had the qualities he believed were important to being a strong candidate – such as her 44 year marriage and running a small business – and highlighted the importance of family in building communities.
But he stopped short of which video game character he thought his candidate would be.
The Prime Minister didn't stay long at the morning tea, just enough time for a short speech and to meet a couple of supporters before being whisked away for his next announcement.
PM DENIES ‘RED LINE’ COMMENT FALLOUT
Fears an inflammatory war-of-words in the wake of a secret security pact with Beijing has provided the Solomon Islands cover to invite Chinese boots on the ground have been dismissed by Mr Morrison.
The Prime Minister has denied his comments about the establishment of a Chinese military base in the Pacific nation would be a “red line” for Australia had paved the way for his Solomon Islands counterpart Manasseh Sogavare to invite Beijing to send security personnel to his country.
Prominent Solomons opposition MP Peter Kenilorea Jr has told media Mr Sogavare is likely to install a “strongarm” Chinese force to cement his hold on power.
But Mr Morrison said Australia’s commitment to Solomons’ security and its own remained unchanged.
“We’ve made very clear, as we always have, about what Australia’s national security interests are,” he said.
“We’ve also always been very clear about the very high levels of support that we’ve always provided to the people of Solomons Island and the Solomon Islands Government.”
Mr Morrison criticised the “secret” security arrangement between the Solomons and China, and said he would “never step back” from protecting Australia’s national interest.
“When it comes to dealing with the coercion that we see from the Chinese Government, whether here in our region in the south west Pacific, or anywhere else across the Indo-Pacific, there is no Government, there is no Prime Minister that has been more forward leaning in standing up to that coercion in face of the world,” he said.
Mr Sogavare this week launched an extraordinary tirade on the issue, telling the Solomons parliament Australia had effectively threatened to “invade” his country.
This lead to speculation Mr Sogavare was leveraging the stoush to justify strengthening security ties with Beijing, a move that is not universally supported within the Solomons.
LABOR SLAMMED FOR ‘DISGUSTING’ FACEBOOK POST
A promotional election Facebook post by the ALP featuring Senator Kimberley Kitching who suddenly died in March has been labelled as “disgusting”.
The social media post, which was posted by ALP’s verified Facebook page Victorian Labor on Friday evening, features an election photo of Anthony Albanese with Senator Kitching, Kristina Keneally and other MPs, with the caption “Here’s how you can help beat Morrison”.
Several commenters were quick to point out the tasteless nature of the post, questioning the integrity of the post.
“Disgusting Labor filth. Why post a photo containing poor Kimberley Kitching? You low life’s have no morals,” one user wrote.
Read the full story here.
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