PM Sogavare could well be the main problem to overcome re the SI situation; he has been described as a nasty left race-baiter, yapping about white supremacy. I don't think he is all that popular with the general population. The Chinese are not very popular with ordinary Solomon Islanders, either.

I think I'm ready to agree with you individual;
I've never been that keen on compulsory military service because I think it pushes us towards normalising ourselves as a war nation

(though I have been keen on an overhaul of work for the dole - double dole for full time work helping the government save money - the job you have when you don't have a job)

These kids today, many are becoming so hopeless before their life even begins.
They don't play outside or get dirty or play in the rain or ride their bikes in the street anymore, just sit in front of an ipad or a gaming console.
- Anything would be better than nothing.

It might be a far better proposition to have them preparing for some kind of year of physical activity and learning something useful, so long as it's not all war-minded.
- Something needs to change.

And yes we need to cut back on foreign aid, (I've always had this opinion) if we cant even help flood and bushfire victims, or people on hospital waiting lists in their time of need then why are we giving money away to other countries?

And many of the things you all say about the Solomon Islands / China / Sogavare probably do hold merit, but as you all know I'm just not keen on sanctions or liberal intervention.

I haven't forgotten Imelda Marcos and her famous shoe collection.

I think we've reached the stage where we need to draw the line on idealism. The state of affairs is as clear as it can possible get that we need to concentrate on saving our butts. Everyone else seems to be doing it but at our expense & that's what needs to stop.
Australia has given & compensated more than enough, it's time to look after our own.
Stop the one-way trail of Dollars across Australia's boarder. We're not getting value for our efforts & let others blatantly exploit us, courtesy of our greedy bureaucrats. The minor parties must clearly declare up front which major party they'll give their share of votes to.
We need a Govt that is not being sabotaged by opposition parties at every turn.
Becoming smarter rather than more stupid our population needs to give allegiance to the Nation & not to Religion, Race or political parties. Those who put Religion before faith & the common good can pack up & try their stunts elsewhere !
Australia has the resources to stand on its own two feet & to defend itself it requires de-dumbing in our education system & de-greeding in the corporate sector !

individual,

Yes. Time for Fortress Australia. Self-sufficiency in manufacturing and food. Much more spending on defence. No more immigration, except in extraordinary circumstances. Official cessation of multiculturalism - be Australian or leave. No more dealings with a Communist dictatorship after becoming self sufficient. Trade only with democracies. No association with the UN. Realise that our only friends are in the Anglosphere, some Commonwealth countries, and Japan. No more toadying to minorities, queers and aboriginal-'identifying' activists. Increased use of fossil fuels and other natural resources that we have been blessed with.

ttbn, we have around 40% of the worlds thorium and that's enough to power our nation until the universe ends in a great big black hole around 13.5 billion years from now. Coal? Max 700 years, and impossible to finance today!

We are also blessed with all the rare earths that we need for batteries we make here. And we do need to stop selling rocks to China then importing finished goods that come with the cost of two way transport there and back.

The S.I. P.M. is toadying up to The CCP as a means to hold on to his personal power, influence and wealth! And that is the short and long of it! And when we ordered nuclear subs, he saw that as his opportunity to ingratiate himself!?
Alan B.

Alan,

Yep. We just need politicians with brains and confidence. But, they are much rarer than our minerals.