Australia news LIVE: AI data centre boom could drive up electricity prices, climate advocates warn; Unions, government back minimum wage increase as business groups warn of high costs

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has said he has only briefly reviewed a contentious security pact between his country and China, signed by his predecessor, which he campaigned against prior to his election.

“I’ve had to remove certain people from key positions. I haven’t been afforded a copy, even of that agreement, until a day before I left, so I haven’t had a good look at it. I’ve had a look at it, I’ll be honest with you, but I haven’t had a good look at it,” Wale told journalists in Canberra this morning.

“I’ve been praying and fasting about it, but of course you know cabinet will need to have a look at these things. There is a non-disclosure clause in it, so I couldn’t show it to you right away, but we, we are going to be reviewing, as we are reviewing other security agreements that we have with many other countries,” he said.

The statement comes as his government and Australia announce a “comprehensive treaty” and a desire to make Australia the nation’s preferred security partner in the region.

Albanese also announced a $35 million package to support the Pacific nation’s recovery from April’s Cyclone Maila, and “deal with” ongoing energy issues.