Australia's assistance to Solomon Islands is genuine

The Acting Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Alison Duncan, has said her country has a genuine wish to be seen as a good international citizen in its assistance to Solomon Islands.

Ms Duncan was speaking before the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee which is reviewing the Solomon Islands Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI.

She said Australia takes its international responsibility seriously.

Ms Duncan says her country has the luxury of being a reasonably wealthy country.

She says for that reason Australian citizens who vote in elections demand Australians use some of that wealth to assist neighbours and friends.

Ms Duncan says Australian don't like to sit by and watch their neighbours and friends turn into a failed state.

She says Australia does have its own interest at heart.

"It's in Australia's interest that all of our neighbours including Solomon Islands are peaceful, stable and prosperous. There are a number of reasons for that. Basically you will understand your self having lived through the days of difficulties in Bougainvillea. It wasn't good for the school Islands to have problems in Bougainville. Gangs came across the border, violence and lawlessness came across the border and that's not good the Solomon Islands."

Source: SIBC