By BEN BILUA
THE late arrival of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara has sparked mixed reactions from leaders and ordinary Solomon Islanders alike.
The forum officially opened on Monday this week, with leaders from across the Pacific already engaged in dialogues and side meetings.
Mr Albanese arrived two days later, raising eyebrows and prompting questions about Australia’s priorities in its relationship with the region.
Observers say the late arrival was not just a matter of scheduling but symbolically undermined the spirit of unity and respect that the Forum seeks to foster.
For some, it sent a message that Australia, often described as a “traditional partner” of the Pacific, views the gathering as secondary to its own domestic and foreign policy interests.
“This show is disrespectful not only to the host country but also to Pacific leaders who have been dedicating their time since the official opening,” one regional commentator told this paper.
“It reinforces the perception that Australia comes to the table when it suits them, not when the Pacific needs them.”
Critics argue that Australia’s approach reflects a pattern of pursuing its own strategic goals in the region rather than addressing Pacific-led priorities.
Examples frequently raised include the country’s management of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme, where reports of exploitative conditions and human rights violations have emerged.
Australia’s broader security posture in the Pacific is also under scrutiny. On Tuesday this week, Vanuatu refused to sign a proposed security and development agreement with Canberra, citing concerns that such a deal could limit its ability to access infrastructure funding and partnerships from other countries, including China.
Media reports suggested that the Vanuatu agreement was one of two major security pacts Australia had hoped to secure this month, as part of a wider strategy to counter Beijing’s growing influence in the Pacific.
With PM Albanese now in Honiara, attention has turned to his closed-door meetings with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.
Analysts expect Australia to quietly lobby for stronger alignment against China’s presence in the region.
This comes against the backdrop of Solomon Islands’ own controversial security agreement with Beijing in 2022, which strained ties with Canberra and prompted Australia to recalibrate its Pacific engagement.
While some view the Australian leader’s visit as an opportunity to reset relations, others remain wary.
For Solomon Islanders, the timing of his arrival and the weight of past grievances raise questions about whether Australia is truly committed to listening to the Pacific or simply using the Forum as a stage for its geopolitical agenda.
As the Forum continues, the test for Australia will be whether it can move beyond power politics and demonstrate genuine respect for Pacific priorities such as climate change, resilience, and sustainable development or whether its actions will continue to feed perceptions of a partner out of step with the region it claims to stand beside.
