Australia should establish and fund a centre for parliamentary democracy in the Pacific

The hysterical reaction from the Solomons Island Prime Minister to an eminently reasonable proposal by Foreign Minister Penny Wong to fund parliamentary elections next year proves to me that we need to toughen up the need for parliamentary democracy in our region.

Whether we link development assistance to the maintenance of democracy or provide incentives to strengthen it, the issue is that democracy is under threat in at least one country, the Solomon Islands. And others, under the influence of China, may be tempted to follow.

The proposal by Minister Wong corrects a recent bad policy decision to help fund the Pacific Games in the SI next year - even though China is already funding just about all the infrastructure associated with the Games. The Games are a lost cause - China will influence them lock stock and barrel.

What is disappointing is the response from the federal opposition to the Minister's announcement. The Opposition appears to have learnt zero from its regional policy failures when it comes to our region.

To attack the Minister for releasing details of her offer before the SI replied to it defies comprehension.

When it comes to Sogavare we are dealing with a tin pot stooge of the People's Republic of China.

It may well be, and reasonably, that the Minister announced the offer to try and put pressure on Sogavare to accept it.

Why Simon Birmingham chose to attack the Minister for being discourteous to Sogavare just defies comprehension.

What the SI reaction simply confirms is that it has no intention to hold parliamentary elections when they are due next year. It is as straight forward as that.

We should not be cowed by Sogavare's erratic response to an offer that was simply designed to help the SI honour the national constitution and hold elections when they are due.

We can be assured absolutely that China would be discouraging Sogavare from holding elections when the China influence over the government and the economy would be the number one issue.

This experience brings to mind a proposal I have been exploring for some time.

Democracy in our region, and especially full parliamentary democracy, has underpinned the overall success of our regional neighbours since they gained independence.

Foremost among them is Papua New Guinea where parliamentary democracy has survived a flawed series of key processes in the recent national elections. When you have close to 5,000 candidates seeking election it's a healthy sign...flaws and all.

The PNG National Parliament has met and fulfilled its constitutional duty to elect a Prime Minister- on this occasion with an overwhelming majority.

The parliament of Vanuatu is in some turmoil after being dissolved by the President - a decision subject to a court challenge. Fiji is due to hold national elections in the coming months, elections that will be watched closely to ensure they are transparent and fair.

What our pro-active Foreign Minister should be considering is taking some practical steps to strengthen democracy in our region. A robust parliamentary democracy is a great bulwark against China-style totalitarian government.

Australia should consider establishing, and initially funding, a Centre for Parliamentary Democracy in the Pacific.

Its objectives can be straight forward - principally to educate the people of the region, and the parliamentary members and political parties of the region, on the importance of strengthening and defending parliamentary democracy.

I fear that in some of our regional neighbours there has been a serious erosion in public confidence in parliamentary democracy. It must not be taken for granted.

What we are witnessing in the Solomon Islands is a drift towards a dictatorship, probably encouraged by China which seeks to control every aspect of public life in the Solomon Islands.

And the turmoil during the PNG National elections has at the very least shaken public confidence, even if post-election developments have been more encouraging.

A well-funded and staffed centre to promote parliamentary democracy is a contribution China could not even try to emulate. Australia needs to take a lead and seek the support of countries like New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom.

These are tumultuous times in key areas of the Pacific.

Upholding genuine and effective parliamentary democracy should be our number one response.

Returning to the Solomon Islands, I just wonder whether the current efforts of the Australian Government to engage with Sogavare are worth it.

I for one doubt it. We ought to be prioritising support for countries interested in upholding democracy despite China's incentives...and on strengthening it.