The Hon Peter Dutton MP
8 Apr 22
Release details
Release type
Related ministers and contacts
The Hon Peter Dutton MP
Minister for Defence
Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Women
Senator the Hon Zed Seselja
Minister for International Development and the Pacific
Media contacts
David Wroe (Minister Payne’s office): +61 429 531 143
Nicole Chant (Minister Dutton’s office): +61 0419 850 222
Cassandra Choake (Minister Seselja’s Office): +61 427 839 164
Release content
14 February 2022
Joint media release:
- Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne
- Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator the Hon Zed Seselja
Australia has today deployed two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-27J Spartan cargo aircraft to Solomon Islands to deliver medical and other essential supplies to provinces experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The C-27Js, which will deploy in response to a request from the Solomon Islands Government, will also be used to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers and emergency food aid to the provinces hardest hit by the pandemic.
The aircraft will also support the delivery of six Australian-supplied ‘bricks’ of medical equipment and consumables to be distributed in provincial hospitals.
The deployment will be undertaken in close partnership with the Solomon Islands Government.
The 15 cubic metre “bricks”, currently being assembled in Brisbane, contain oxygen equipment and consumables, medication and PPE specifically designed to provide care to those unwell with COVID-19.
An Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) deployed to Solomon Islands last month, continues to work in partnership with Health officials in Honiara to meet critical health needs.
The deployment of the C-27Js complements Australia’s support efforts to date, which include the provision of 300,800 AstraZeneca vaccine doses, and 19 tonnes of emergency medical supplies – including 100 oxygen concentrators.