The federal opposition has backed Australia's provision of guns to the Solomon Islands, saying the support is about more than weapons.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said Australia needed to honour its commitment to the Solomons and help Honiara boost the reliability of its police force.
The federal police donation to the Pacific nation included 60 MK18 rifles and 13 vehicles, along with specialist training for officers.
Senator Birmingham said the $1.3 million gift worked towards Australia's commitment to being Honiara's security partner of choice.
He said Australia had to ensure it wasn't only providing weapons - "but that we work closely to ensure the professionalism, the appropriate conduct and the skills and ability to operate as a high-quality police force".
"And in doing so ... it is effective in terms of ensuring security and peace and also effective in terms of its ethics and conduct," Senator Birmingham told ABC radio.
Solomons' opposition leader Matthew Wale has criticised the move, questioning whether the weapons could be used to quash civil unrest.
He warned the donation was being driven by Australian anxieties over the co-operation of Chinese and Solomons police.
"Obviously we do not have external threats so why the introduction of these high-powered guns?" he said in a statement on social media.
"Or are we on the pathway of being militarised again?"
Senator Birmingham responded to the comment, saying he welcomed robust democracy in the Solomons but it was Australia's job to engage with the government of the day.
