Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694867595677.pdf (Fiji)
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI _____________ of Proceedings of Parliament at Suva on Friday, Sixteenth day of July, 2021 MINUTES 1.

The House met at 7.30 p.m. pursuant to adjournment.

2.

Hon.

Speaker took the Chair and read the Prayer.

3.

MEMBERS PRESENT All Members were present except for the Hon.

Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.

4.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES The Leader of the Government in Parliament the Hon.
Inia Seruiratu, moved that the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Monday, 7 June 2021 as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed.

Motion seconded.

Question put.

Motion agreed to unanimously.

5.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIR Hon.

Speaker welcomed all Honourable Members for the delivery of the 2021– 2022 National Budget Address by the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications the Hon.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Hon.


Speaker also welcomed all those watching the live proceedings on television and the internet from the comfort of their homes.

The Hon.

Speaker advised that the National Budget Address and the subsequent Budget Debates were significant events in the Parliament calendar and were essential and vital for Parliament to fulfil its constitutional obligation.

1 The Hon.

Speaker also conveyed the unanimous decision of the Business Committee to exempt the Hon.
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy from the ordinary speaking time limitations for the delivery of the Budget Address.

6.

FIRST READING OF THE 2021–2022 APPROPRIATION BILL 2021 (BILL NO.

7 OF 2021) The Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications the Hon.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum moved that pursuant to Standing Orders 99 and 84(1), the 2021–2022 Appropriation Bill 2021 (Bill No.

7 of 2021) be read a first time.

The motion was subsequently seconded.

The Hon.


Speaker called on the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications the Hon.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to deliver the National Budget Address.

A Bill for an Act to appropriate a sum of three billion, two hundred and sixty-six million, six hundred and ninety-nine thousand, seven hundred and twenty-seven dollars for the ordinary services of Government for the year ending 31 July 2022 (Bill No.

7 of 2021).

The Hon.


Speaker informed Honourable Members that in accordance with Standing Order 84(1), the 2021–2022 Appropriation Bill 2021 had been read for the first time and in accordance with Standing Order 99(3), the Bill would be listed on the Order Paper for second reading on a future sitting day.

7.

CONSEQUENTIAL BILLS Pursuant to Standing Order 51, the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications the Hon.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum moved that the following consequential Bills for the 2021–2022 National Budget be considered by Parliament without delay – (a) Customs (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; (b) Customs Tariff (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; (c) (d) Value Added Tax (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; Environment and Climate Adaptation Levy (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; (e) Gambling Turnover Tax (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) Fiji National Provident Fund (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; Employment Relations (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; Tertiary Scholarships and Loans (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; State Lands (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; iTaukei Land Trust (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; (k) Biosecurity (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; 2 (l) Fruit Export and Marketing (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; (m) Medicinal Products (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; (n) (o) (p) International Financial Organisations (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; Tax Administration (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021; and Income Tax (Budget Amendment) Bill 2021.
Pursuant to the Standing Orders, that the Consequential Bills – (a) must pass through one stage at a single sitting of Parliament; (b) must not be referred to a Standing Committee or other Committees of Parliament; (c) must be debated and voted upon by Parliament immediately after the vote on the 2021–2022 Appropriation Bill 2021; and (d) that the time for the debate be limited to ensure that the Consequential Bills tabled today are debated and voted upon in the sitting of Parliament beginning on Monday, 26 July 2021.
Motion seconded.

Motion debated.

Question put.

Motion agreed to unanimously.

8.

ADJOURNMENT The Leader of the Government in Parliament the Hon.

Inia Seruiratu moved that Parliament adjourns until Monday, 26 July 2021 at 9.30 a.m. Motion seconded.

Question put.

Motion agreed to unanimously.

Hon.


Speaker urged all Honourable Members and all those watching from home to adhere to all the COVID-safe measures and protocols in place nationwide including the protection and maintaining of work bubbles and household bubbles.

Hon.

Speaker thanked the Hon.


Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications for delivering the 2021–2022 National Budget Address and also thanked all the Honourable Members and all those watching from home.

3 The Hon.

Speaker adjourned Parliament until Monday, 26 July 2021 at 9.30 a.m. Parliament adjourned at 10.47 p.m. Speaker of Parliament Secretary-General to Parliament 16th July, 2021.

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