‘If there is a shadow of doubt, you are out’: PM Wale issues hardline corruption warning

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has warned that any public official suspected of corruption or misuse of funds will be removed from office.

The warning comes as the former opposition leader moves to clean up government in Honiara.

Wale made the comments during an address to a packed Solomon Islands community meeting in South Auckland on Sunday night. It is also his first official visit to New Zealand as Prime Minister.

He said he had already begun removing officials from government and more would follow.

“I have terminated some people,” Wale said. “I will terminate some more, too. Money and power don't do nothing. Out. Don't deserve to serve people so nice. Money, perhaps there's a shadow of doubt on you. Out.”

He said his government would take a hard line on corruption and misuse of public money, particularly in the country’s resource sectors.

Solomons Prime Minister Matthew Wale delivered a blunt anti-corruption message to the Auckland diaspora, warning that officials suspected of wrongdoing will be removed from office. Photo/PMN Solomons

“We want to use it for the good, not for steal, not for bribe bribe [correuption/bribery], not for wrongdoing which spoil you as a country and the people.

"The corruption in our country, you must fight it. So, you know, those logging companies, they do raping and pillaging of our resources for so long. Not anymore. We're going to come down hard on them.”

Alongside his anti-corruption push, Wale pointed to major challenges in education, saying many families are struggling with the high cost of sending children to technical schools and universities.

He said in some cases parents were paying “four to five times their annual salary” to access education.

Wale also made a direct appeal to skilled Solomon Islanders living in New Zealand to consider returning home to help rebuild the country.

“When we've done some of these things, it will attract some of you back,” he said. “Because we will need. All our brains must come back. Our talent must come back.

"All that experience must be brought back home to continue this project of building Solomon Islands to become truly King Solomon's place.”

The Prime Minister’s domestic message comes alongside a wider reset in foreign policy with Wale signalling closer engagement with Australia and Aotearoa after years of tension over regional security arrangements.

Speaking with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Sione Tekiteki senior academic and former Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat official said Wale’s early diplomatic visits were a clear signal of intent.

Listen to Sione Tekiteki's full interview below.

“Australia and New Zealand are first countries on his visitation agenda so that obviously is quite a strong indication,” Tekiteki said.

“I think his current stance is probably something that Australia and New Zealand would welcome... I think it's just about managing current anxieties as they currently are and looking to provide more reassurance to Australia and New Zealand.”

Tekiteki said regional powers would be watching closely as the new government in Honiara reshapes its approach to security partnership including its long-term stance on China.

Wale is expected to travel to Christchurch this week for meetings with community leaders there before holding formal talks with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters.