Australian authorities have apologised over a breach of dignity for the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo.

Mr Lilo was asked to undergo several rounds of screenings, including an explosives check, while passing through the Brisbane airport. The Solomon PM and his delegation were on their way to a service in memory of the gross mistreatment of Solomon Islanders during Australia’s colonial history.

It is understood a small stand-off resulted from the PM refusing to undergo the explosive check. Airport authorities have since said he should have been exempt.

“When the lady approached me, I confronted her...because I have gone through the normal checking process,” Mr Lilo said, “my protocol officers had to react and tell the immigration officers in Brisbane that they are approaching the prime minister and such a search is ridiculous.”

Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Matt Anderson, said: “The Australian Government takes very seriously its obligations and responsibilities under international and domestic law to protect foreign dignitaries from harassment or impairment of their dignity... Australia attaches great importance to its relationship with Solomon Islands and is strongly committed to close government, business and people-to people links.”

The Solomon Islands delegation is in Australia to attend a memorial for the horrendous historical practice of ‘blackbirding’.