Scott Morrison has not spoken to Solomon Islands prime minister since calling election

Scott Morrison says Australia remains ‘Solomon Islands’ primary security partner’ despite its finalisation of security deal with China. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPA

Scott Morrison has not spoken with the prime minister of Solomon Islands since the Australian election campaign began but insists he wants to put the countries’ relationship back on a positive footing.

The Australian prime minister made the remarks on Wednesday, a day after his Pacific island counterpart Manasseh Sogavare launched a thinly veiled criticism of some politicians’ language about Solomon Islands in the wake of the controversial security agreement with China.