Richard Farmer's Daily Email Briefing

Timely insights into politics every weekday.

FREE trial

ACCESS BACK ISSUES
HERE

NEWS AND VIEWS
Australia

Other Countries

We're Doing Well in the Solomons?

Friday, 12th May, 2006

Australia 's foreign aid organisation AusAID gives itself praise in this year's Budget Papers for the work it has done in the Solomon Islands .

In a country where the chosen Minister for Police is awaiting trial for starting riots that deposed a Prime Minister, I particularly liked the AusAID reference to the notion that a "law and justice program unit in the Ministry of Police, National Security, Justice and Legal Affairs is assuming responsibility for the management of Australia's assistance to the sector." We should get value for money there!

About the same value as delivered by "recent Australian assistance for Parliamentary reform, electoral reform and a nationwide civic education program" that "serves as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Parliament and democratic accountability." But never fear. " Australia has assisted the Solomon Islands Government target corruption".

Goodness knows what Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty could have been talking about this week when he said: "It remains to be seen, for example, the large number of cash transactions, that took place after the 18th and 19th of April violence in the Solomon Islands, and where that money was transferred to and from."

He couldn't have been suggesting corruption could he?

For a previous comment on AusAID's work in the Solomon Islands see The Sorry Failure in the Solomons

the chosen Minister for Police is awaiting trial for starting riots that deposed a Prime Minister