FORDE MP Bert van Manen had a rare opportunity to be part of the Solomon Islands' general election last week when he helped to make sure they were run fairly and free of corruption.
Mr van Manen was asked to work with the Australian observation teams in the Solomon Islands by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, which he said was an honour.
"It was a real privilege and a real honour to go and do it and we were very much welcomed in the Solomon Islands," he said.
"The feedback that we got through the High Commission was that the Solomon Islands government was very appreciative of Australian MPs for coming over and monitoring the election and supporting the country in a very important time."
On election day last Wednesday Mr van Manen toured many of the voting booths in Honiara, the capital, and some in rural areas.
He said voting in the Solomon Islands was vastly different and an eye-opening experience.
"There are no people handing out how to vote cards, there are no corflutes, nobody is allowed there in party or candidate uniforms and there is no sausage sizzle or cake stall," Mr van Manen said.
"The people there were keen to vote and although it's not compulsory the booths we went to were over 90 per cent."
Mr van Manen also helped monitor the vote count the following day.
He said it was important for Australia to continue to play a role in the Solomon Islands' election process and he would welcome the chance to do it again.
