The PM answered toe criticism of why he, or someone more senior
did to go to Honiora. He said they had been following the
matter for some time.
For security reasons he could not say more.
My bet is they were monitoring from the start and knew it was all
sewn up.

Both the leader of the Opposition and Penny Wong both
gave their reasons quite clearly as to why they
blamed the PM for not doing more on the China Solomon
Islands pact. And even Julie Bishop commented that
Marise Payne should have flown out to try to persuade
the deal not be signed. However - it's been signed
done and dusted. We can only hope that things will
remain stable and that we shall continue to have good
relations with the Solomon Islands.

Hi Bazz,

I agree with you on this China - Solomon Island pact.
I doubt if things could have been changed by anyone.

Better to handle it the way it was rather than have the
PM or someone go and have the paper waved in their face.

Bazz,

Peter Jennings of the ASPI said something along those lines. It was a done deal, and there was no point in sending the Foreign Minister.

Mind you, I would not send Marise Payne to collect the eggs. A less inspiring politician could not be found. She was a crap defence minister, and is now a crap foreign minister. She must have something on Morrison to be where she is.

Has the Darwin Harbour stuff-up increased any possible threat from China ?