Australia Pledges Extra $103 Million in Aid to the Solomons Despite Its Pro-Beijing TiesAustralia’s diplomatic representative to the Solomon Islands has announced an extra $US103 million in aid to the Pacific country as part of an ongoing diplomatic offensive against Beijing’s influence with the Sogavare government.
Australian High Commissioner Lachlan Strahan said the package will include support for health, education, governance, elections among several other initiatives, reported RNZ on Oct. 31.
There will also be an allocation for the Tina River Hydropower Transmission System, which will be funded through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility, and an allocation for the Pacific Games 2023.
“Currently, there are more than 3,700 Solomon Islander workers in Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. In this Budget, the Australian government is improving and expanding the PALM scheme, creating greater opportunities for Solomon Islander workers,” he said, in comments obtained by RNZ....
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