Labor has accused the Morrison government of taking its eye off the ball in the Pacific, as the Solomon Islands negotiates a security deal with China.
The United States is understood to be so concerned about the impending deal, which could involve Chinese warships being based in the Solomons, it is sending senior security adviser Kurt Campbell to the Pacific island nation in coming weeks.
A Chinese foreign minister spokesman last week said the security cooperation is to "protect people's life and property safety and has no military undertones".
Two top Australian intelligence officials, Australian Secret Intelligence Service boss Paul Symon and Office of National Intelligence director-general Andrew Shearer met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the situation required significant attention.
"Why wasn't a minister dispatched to the Solomons?" he told reporters in Tasmania on Tuesday.
"Australia needs to step up. Not just in a title, we need to step up in reality and develop those relationships with the Solomons and other nations in the Indo-Pacific."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Mr Sogavare had assured Australia he would not allow a Chinese military base.
"He has made that very clear," Mr Morrison said.
"And we're continuing to press on the issue of possible rotation of vessels ... that might seek to go to Solomon Islands.
"(But) at the same time we must always respect the fact that Solomon Islands are a sovereign country. They're not a state of Australia. They're not under Australia's control or direction."
He noted the Solomon Islands was the first international destination he visited following the 2019 election.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who recently met with her US counterpart Antony Blinken, said the US was well aware of the importance of the region, recently pledging to establish an embassy in Honiara.
"I know from my conversations with the Secretary of State there's more to come in that regard," she said.
Australia is the Solomon Islands' largest bilateral development partner, contributing over $156 million in aid in 2021/22.
