The Wire

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has thrown his country into diplomatic turmoil with the controversial expulsion of the Australian appointed high commissioner Patrick Cole. Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer has officially spoken out against the move, emphasising the importance of Australia’s continued involvement in getting the country back onto it’s feet. Bruce Haigh, former diplomat to Indonesia thinks that the Solomon Island Prime Minister is pushing towards a deeper Australian integration into the local community and culture. Meanwhile, Dr Satish Chand, director of the pacific public policy at ANU says Australia will need to stay in the region for a while longer yet