Foreign Minister Marise Payne has met with her Solomon Islands counterpart for the first time since the Pacific nation signed a controversial security pact with China. Key points: Marise Payne met with Solomon Islands counterpart Jeremiah Manele in Brisbane on Friday night Trade Minister Dan Tehan says the countries agreed Australia remained Solomon Islands' security partner of choice The federal …
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected accusations that the Coalition has bungled a key security relationship, after Solomon Islands shrugged off warnings from Australia and signed a new pact with China. Key points: Australia's Minister for the Pacific was sent to Solomon Islands last week to try to convince its government to walk away from the deal Shadow Foreign Minister …