Australia is negotiating a security deal with Solomon Islands that would see a permanent federal police presence in the country.
An Australian-led regional peacekeeping mission - known as RAMSI - will end next June, after it was deployed 14-years ago to end years of violent ethnic tensions that claimed hundreds of lives.
The Australian broadcaster, SBS, said the country's Pacific Minister, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells told a forum in Brisbane that while RAMSI is leaving, Australia plans to stay.
Ms Fierravanti-Wells said the details were still being finalised, but a contingent of Australian Federal Police would stay in the country to work with their Solomon Islands couterparts.
Australia has spent more than US$1.8 billion on the peacekeeping mission since 2003.
