Australia&nbsp;Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday there was "great concern" across the Pacific after the Solomon Islands confirmed it was creating a security partnership with&nbsp;China.

The Pacific island nation on Friday said it was expanding ties with&nbsp;China&nbsp;to combat security threats and ensure a safe environment for investment as it diversifies security relations.

A potential&nbsp;China&nbsp;security pact with&nbsp;Solomon&nbsp;Island has sparked concerns among US&nbsp;allies&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;and New Zealand about Chinese influence a region where they have for decades held strong sway.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australias-great-barrier-reef-suffers-sixth-mass-bleaching-event-465452">Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers sixth mass bleaching event</a>

Asked by reporters in Sydney about the matter, Morrison said "there is great concern across the Pacific family because we are in constant contact with our Pacific family".

"I will be in further discussions with leaders&nbsp;over&nbsp;the course of this weekend, there was a meeting yesterday with our head of mission and Prime Minister (Manasseh) Sogavare," he said.

Morrison said Sogavare on Friday indicated to Canberra that he appreciated&nbsp;Australia's ongoing support for the Solomon&nbsp;Islands.

"We are the&nbsp;Solomon&nbsp;Islands' single largest development partner, daylight second, third, fourth," Morrison said.

Australia&nbsp;has previously expressed concern about the impact on regional security of military cooperation between&nbsp;China&nbsp;and the Solomon&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;after a draft document outlining the proposed cooperation was leaked this week.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unsettling-influences-australia-reacts-sharply-to-chinese-military-moves-in-solomon-islands-465323">&nbsp;Unsettling influences: Australia reacts sharply to Chinese military moves in Solomon Islands&nbsp;</a>

On Thursday, a&nbsp;Solomon&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;official told Reuters a security&nbsp;deal&nbsp;with&nbsp;China&nbsp;covering the military would be sent to its cabinet for consideration. The&nbsp;Solomons has already signed a policing&nbsp;deal&nbsp;with&nbsp;China.

Solomon&nbsp;Islands, a small island nation around 2,000 km (1,240 miles) northeast of&nbsp;Australia, switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taiwan in 2019, signalling&nbsp;China's growing influence in the Pacific.

Washington last month said it would open an embassy in nation's the capital Honiara amid fears&nbsp;China&nbsp;was seeking to strengthen military relations there.

Watch |&nbsp;Australia bears brunt of climate change, authorities confirm mass bleaching event

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-bears-brunt-of-climate-change-authorities-confirm-mass-bleaching-event-465531/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday there was "great concern" across the Pacific after the Solomon Islands confirmed it was creating a security partnership with China.

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday there was "great concern" across the Pacific after the Solomon Islands confirmed it was creating a security partnership with China. The Pacific island nation on Friday said it was expanding ties with China to combat security threats and ensure a safe environment for investment as it diversifies security relations. A potential China security pact with Solomon Island has sparked concerns among US allies Australia and New Zealand about Chinese influence a region where they have for decades held strong sway. Also read | Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers sixth mass bleaching event Asked by reporters in Sydney about the matter, Morrison said "there is great concern across the Pacific family because we are in constant contact with our Pacific family". "I will be in further discussions with leaders over the course of this weekend, there was a meeting yesterday with our head of mission and Prime Minister (Manasseh) Sogavare," he said. Morrison said Sogavare on Friday indicated to Canberra that he appreciated Australia's ongoing support for the Solomon Islands. "We are the Solomon Islands' single largest development partner, daylight second, third, fourth," Morrison said. Australia has previously expressed concern about the impact on regional security of military cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands after a draft document outlining the proposed cooperation was leaked this week. Also read | Unsettling influences: Australia reacts sharply to Chinese military moves in Solomon Islands On Thursday, a Solomon Islands official told Reuters a security deal with China covering the military would be sent to its cabinet for consideration. The Solomons has already signed a policing deal with China. Solomon Islands, a small island nation around 2,000 km (1,240 miles) northeast of Australia, switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taiwan in 2019, signalling China's growing influence in the Pacific. Washington last month said it would open an embassy in nation's the capital Honiara amid fears China was seeking to strengthen military relations there. Watch | Australia bears brunt of climate change, authorities confirm mass bleaching event

'Great concern' over China-Solomon Islands deal: Australian PM Scott Morrison

Young activists take climate protest to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s residence

Australian <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-pm-visits-firefighters-after-stirring-controversy-for-hawaii-vacation-269526">Prime Minister Scott Morrison</a> lashed out at "reckless and job-destroying" calls to introduce cuts in coal industry as the country struggles with wildfires.

"I am not going to write off the jobs of thousands of Australians by walking away from traditional industries," PM Morrison told Australia's Seven Network, while reiterating the same line to other news channels.

Australia has been hit by catastrophic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bushfires-hit-emergency-level-on-sydneys-outskirts-one-dead-in-south-australia-269445">bushfires across New South Wales</a> with blazes around Sydney burning to emergency levels.

On Saturday, one person was killed due to the fire even as several major roads around Sydney remained shut ahead of Christmas.

"What we won't do is engage in reckless and job-destroying and economy-crunching targets which are being sought," PM Morrison told Australia's Channel 9 amid the wildfire controversy.

Reports said at least hundred fires were still raging across New South Wales last week of which six were characterised as "emergency level" with several thousand emergency personnel working across the state.

Two firefighters had died last week after truck was struck by a falling tree as it travelled the fire taking the death toll in New South Wales to eight.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, police have warned people not to travel by roads during the day during to soaring temperatures.

In South Australia, authorities said one person was found dead, another was injured and several homes destroyed by a fire in the Adelaide Hills. In Victoria, authorities said 142 fires had started in the state since last Friday, with two burning at an emergency level on Saturday afternoon.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lashed out at "reckless and job-destroying" calls to introduce cuts in coal industry as the country struggles with wildfires.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lashed out at "reckless and job-destroying" calls to introduce cuts in coal industry as the country struggles with wildfires. "I am not going to write off the jobs of thousands of Australians by walking away from traditional industries," PM Morrison told Australia's Seven Network, while reiterating the same line to other news channels. Australia has been hit by catastrophic bushfires across New South Wales with blazes around Sydney burning to emergency levels. On Saturday, one person was killed due to the fire even as several major roads around Sydney remained shut ahead of Christmas. "What we won't do is engage in reckless and job-destroying and economy-crunching targets which are being sought," PM Morrison told Australia's Channel 9 amid the wildfire controversy. Reports said at least hundred fires were still raging across New South Wales last week of which six were characterised as "emergency level" with several thousand emergency personnel working across the state. Two firefighters had died last week after truck was struck by a falling tree as it travelled the fire taking the death toll in New South Wales to eight. Meanwhile, police have warned people not to travel by roads during the day during to soaring temperatures. In South Australia, authorities said one person was found dead, another was injured and several homes destroyed by a fire in the Adelaide Hills. In Victoria, authorities said 142 fires had started in the state since last Friday, with two burning at an emergency level on Saturday afternoon.

Australian PM Scott Morrison hits out at 'reckless' calls to cut coal industry

Australia will offer farmers hurt by drought up to A$1 billion ($688.10 million) in cheap loans, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday (November 7), as the government seeks to curb rising discontent from rural voters.

Australia offers drought ravaged farmers up to $688 million in cheap loans

A 24-year-old woman who struck Australian<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-pm-promises-migration-cut-refugee-freeze-if-re-elected-214043&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjvoNWf8YjiAhXEto8KHWq2BUUQFjAFegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0b2DyIGQ1h0yInY09Y352e"> Prime Minister Scott Morrison</a> with an egg on Tuesday as he campaigned for a May 18 general election has been charged with assault, police said.

Security guards pounced on the protester, who was wearing a beanie and casual clothes and dragged her away moments after the attack.

"The prime minister was attending an event at Albury Entertainment Centre when a woman approached him from behind and allegedly struck him with an egg to the back of his head," New South Wales police said in a statement.

Police, who initially said the woman was 25, said they had been arrested her but they did not identify her nor give any details about her motive.

The woman told reporters moments after the incident that her action "speaks for itself" and she referred to Manus Island, in Papua New Guinea, where Australia has long detained refugees, according to a reporter with the Australian newspaper.

She was charged with common assault and <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wallet-ness-wadia-sentenced-to-2-year-jail-term-in-japan-for-drugs-possession-214822&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiE6dbC8YjiAhUHiXAKHUW3D7MQFjAEegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3LI2qefQudR4M6FOkPZrtM">drug possession </a>after police found cannabis on her. The woman was released on bail and ordered to appear in court on May 27.

Morrison rubbed his head briefly after being grazed by the egg, which did not break, and then helped an elderly woman who was pushed to the floor in the scuffle, television images showed.&nbsp;

No injuries were reported, the police said."We will stand up to thuggery whether it`s these cowardly activists who have no respect for anyone, or militant unionists standing over small businesses and their employees on work sites," Morrison tweeted after the incident. Later, he joked when asked about it, saying he did not want to "over-egg" it.

"Just because you have a difference of view to someone, doesn`t mean you have to engage in these sorts of ugly types of protests ... We have to learn to disagree better," he told reporters, referring also to recent protests by vegans against farmers. Opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten called the protester`s action unacceptable. "This is appalling and disgraceful behaviour," he told reporters.

The incident occurred during a visit by the prime minister to Albury, a New South Wales constituency where an independent candidate is the bookmakers` favourite as rural voters desert the government.

In March, a teenager smashed an egg onto the head of a controversial right-wing Australian lawmaker who had blamed New Zealand`s mosque shootings on its immigration programme.

A 24-year-old woman who struck Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with an egg on Tuesday as he campaigned for a May 18 general election has been charged with assault, police said.

A 24-year-old woman who struck Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with an egg on Tuesday as he campaigned for a May 18 general election has been charged with assault, police said. Security guards pounced on the protester, who was wearing a beanie and casual clothes and dragged her away moments after the attack. "The prime minister was attending an event at Albury Entertainment Centre when a woman approached him from behind and allegedly struck him with an egg to the back of his head," New South Wales police said in a statement. Police, who initially said the woman was 25, said they had been arrested her but they did not identify her nor give any details about her motive. The woman told reporters moments after the incident that her action "speaks for itself" and she referred to Manus Island, in Papua New Guinea, where Australia has long detained refugees, according to a reporter with the Australian newspaper. She was charged with common assault and drug possession after police found cannabis on her. The woman was released on bail and ordered to appear in court on May 27. Morrison rubbed his head briefly after being grazed by the egg, which did not break, and then helped an elderly woman who was pushed to the floor in the scuffle, television images showed. No injuries were reported, the police said."We will stand up to thuggery whether it`s these cowardly activists who have no respect for anyone, or militant unionists standing over small businesses and their employees on work sites," Morrison tweeted after the incident. Later, he joked when asked about it, saying he did not want to "over-egg" it. "Just because you have a difference of view to someone, doesn`t mean you have to engage in these sorts of ugly types of protests ... We have to learn to disagree better," he told reporters, referring also to recent protests by vegans against farmers. Opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten called the protester`s action unacceptable. "This is appalling and disgraceful behaviour," he told reporters. The incident occurred during a visit by the prime minister to Albury, a New South Wales constituency where an independent candidate is the bookmakers` favourite as rural voters desert the government. In March, a teenager smashed an egg onto the head of a controversial right-wing Australian lawmaker who had blamed New Zealand`s mosque shootings on its immigration programme.

Protester charged in Australia for striking PM with an egg

More than a decade after vowing to "close the gap" between indigenous Australians and the rest of the country, the government on Thursday admitted it was still falling far short.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that only two of seven government targets to improve the wealth, health and wellbeing of the first Australians were being met.

Efforts to improve early education and rates of high school qualifications were on track, but targets in other areas — including boosting employment and increasing life expectancy — were falling behind.

"I want Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to have the same opportunities as all other children growing up in Australia," Morrison told parliament.&nbsp;

"But this is not true for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia today. It's never been true. And I don't know when it will be true. And that is the truth we must confront again today," he said in parliament.

Aboriginal Australians make up about three per cent of the total national population of 25 million, but remain the country's most disadvantaged community.

The unemployment rate for Aboriginal Australians is three to four times higher than the national average.

Suicide rates for Aboriginal children are five times higher than for the rest of the population according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Thursday's report marks eleven years since former prime minister Kevin Rudd made a historic apology to Aboriginal people for centuries of injustice.

Morrison said while the "Closing the Gap" initiative will continue to take action across the broad range of issues, he would place an immediate focus on education.&nbsp;

The prime minister pledged several new initiatives, including cancelling student debt for teachers who spend four years in remote communities.&nbsp;

"Education is the key to skills. It is the key to jobs. It is the key to building enterprises — and giving young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians the opportunity to create their futures," he said.

"It's the key to a good life. If you can't read, if you can't write, there is no possible way you can share in the prosperity of Australia."

More than a decade after vowing to "close the gap" between indigenous Australians and the rest of the country, the government on Thursday admitted it was still falling far short.

More than a decade after vowing to "close the gap" between indigenous Australians and the rest of the country, the government on Thursday admitted it was still falling far short. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that only two of seven government targets to improve the wealth, health and wellbeing of the first Australians were being met. Efforts to improve early education and rates of high school qualifications were on track, but targets in other areas — including boosting employment and increasing life expectancy — were falling behind. "I want Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to have the same opportunities as all other children growing up in Australia," Morrison told parliament. "But this is not true for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia today. It's never been true. And I don't know when it will be true. And that is the truth we must confront again today," he said in parliament. Aboriginal Australians make up about three per cent of the total national population of 25 million, but remain the country's most disadvantaged community. The unemployment rate for Aboriginal Australians is three to four times higher than the national average. Suicide rates for Aboriginal children are five times higher than for the rest of the population according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Thursday's report marks eleven years since former prime minister Kevin Rudd made a historic apology to Aboriginal people for centuries of injustice. Morrison said while the "Closing the Gap" initiative will continue to take action across the broad range of issues, he would place an immediate focus on education. The prime minister pledged several new initiatives, including cancelling student debt for teachers who spend four years in remote communities. "Education is the key to skills. It is the key to jobs. It is the key to building enterprises — and giving young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians the opportunity to create their futures," he said. "It's the key to a good life. If you can't read, if you can't write, there is no possible way you can share in the prosperity of Australia."

Australia admits 'failing' to improve Aboriginal lives

Prince Harry helps raise Invictus flag atop Sydney Harbour Bridge