Australian Federal Opposition accuse Downer of bully tactics over Solomons

The Australian Federal Opposition has accused the Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, of sounding like a schoolyard bully in relation to talks with his Solomon Islands counterpart.

Mr Downer yesterday had his first meeting with the Solomon Islands Foreign Minister since the country expelled Australia's High Commissioner.

He had a clear message about keeping the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) intact. "It was not acceptable to us or to the other members of the Pacific island family to have RAMSI salami sliced," Mr Downer said.

But the Opposition's foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd says he is concerned about the Minister's tone. "The easiest thing you can do in the world is to play the part of a schoolyard bully. The hard thing is to get this relationship back on an even keel," he said.

Mr Downer also insisted Australia would not allow RAMSI to be reorganised to cut out sections dealing with corruption.

Source: ABC News