Foreign Policy Expert Says the Mission to Solomons Should be Reviewed

A leading foreign policy expert at Australia's Lowy Institute says the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands should be reviewed.

Radio Australia reports Director of the institute's Global Issues Programme, Michael Fullilove, believes the new government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd must take a more sustainable view of its Pacific policy.

Mr. Fullilove says RAMSI needs an audit to demonstrate its long-term effectiveness.

He says a new government brings the opportunity to do an audit and to look at missions like RAMSI - which is highly expensive in terms of people and money.

He says the Rudd government has to make clear what Australia is doing in the Solomon Islands, what the end game is and how Australia can make RAMSI better so that they can improve things in a sustainable way in the Solomon Islands.