AT the request of the Solomon Islands Government, Defence Australia (Australian Defence Force – ADF) has distributed over 90 percent of all election materials from Honiara to provincial capitals ahead of the Joint Elections on 17 April.
The ADF has been working closely with the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission to ensure the safe delivery of ballot materials across the country.
Since 3 April the ADF has completed seven flights over four days utilising the C-27J aircraft to transport materials. This included flights from Honiara to Kirakira, Gizo, Lata, Taro and Auki.
On 2 April, the ADF also transported over one million ballot papers from Adelaide to Honiara.
ADF will next support SIEC after the election counting and results are finalised to return ballots and election materials back to Honiara.
The ADF’s logistics support for the Joint Elections began back in July 2023, with the delivery of 150 voter registration kits from Brisbane to Honiara for use in the nationwide voter registration update.
Brigadier Giles Cornelia, Commander of the ADF 7th Brigade responsible for the visiting ADF contingent, said over 300 ADF personnel were deployed to the Solomon Islands in support of the Joint Elections. He said the ADF personnel deployed were looking forward to supporting the Solomon Islands deliver safe and secure Joint Elections.
Colonel Bywater, Australian Defence Adviser for the Solomon Islands, said the ADF has a proud history of supporting elections in the Solomon Islands.
“It is credit to the close partnership between the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission and the ADF and many months of planning which has resulted in such a highly successful logistics operation,” Colonel Bywater said.
