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PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI _____________ MINUTES of Proceedings of Parliament at Suva on Monday, Twenty-ninth Day of August, 2022 1.

The House met at 9.30 a.m. pursuant to adjournment.

2.

Hon.

Speaker took the Chair and read the Prayer.

3.

MEMBERS PRESENT All Honourable Members were present except for the Hon.

Semi Koroilavesau, Hon.

Ro Teimumu Kepa, Hon.

Salote Radrodro and Hon.

Adi Litia Qionibaravi.

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 Friday, 29 July 2022 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, those in the public gallery and those watching the live broadcast of the proceedings.

1 6.
PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AND CERTAIN DOCUMENTS The following reports were tabled and referred accordingly to the relevant Standing Committees – (a) Standing Committee on Social Affairs iTaukei Trust Fund Board – Annual Report 2020; Fiji Airports – Annual Report 2020; (i) (ii) (iii) Ministry of Local Government – Annual Report 2018-2019; (iv) Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations – 01 August 2016 – 31 July 2017 Annual Report; (v) Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations – 2017- 2018 Annual Report; and (vi) Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation – Annual Report for the Period 1st August 2018 to 31st July 2019.
(b) Standing Committee on Natural Resources (i) Ministry of Waterways – 2017-2018 Annual Report.

7.

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS OF COMMITTEES (a) Standing Committee on Public Accounts The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts the Hon.

Alvick Maharaj tabled the Committee’s review findings on the Report of the Auditor- General of the Republic of Fiji on the Municipal Councils for 2018-2019 and the 2019-2020 Audit Reports.
The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts moved a motion without notice pursuant to Standing Order 121(5) that a debate on the content of the report is initiated at a future sitting.

The motion was seconded and agreed to unanimously.

(b) Standing Committee on Economic Affairs The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs the Hon.

Vijay Nath tabled the Committee’s Review Report of the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji 2018 Annual Report.
The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs moved a motion without notice pursuant to Standing Order 121(5) that a debate on the content of the report is initiated at a future sitting.

The motion was seconded and agreed to unanimously.

(c) Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights the Hon.
Alvick Maharaj tabled the Committee’s review report on the Office of the Prime Minister and Department of Immigration Annual Report 2018-2019.

2 The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights moved a motion without notice pursuant to Standing Order 121(5) that a debate on the content of the report is initiated at a future sitting.

The motion was seconded and agreed to unanimously.

8.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Hon.


Speaker informed all Honourable Members that there were no Ministerial Statements.

9.

MOTION BY THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR ECONOMY, CIVIL SERVICE, COMMUNICATIONS, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Hon.
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service, Communications, Housing and Community Development moved a motion pursuant to Standing Order 51 – (a) (b) (c) (d) That the Fiji Development Bank (Amendment) Bill 2022 be considered by Parliament without delay; That the Bill must pass through one stage at a single Sitting of Parliament; That the Bill must not be referred to a Standing Committee or other Committee of Parliament; and That the Bill must be debated and voted upon by Parliament on Thursday, (1 September 2022), with the right of reply given to him as the Member moving the motion.
Motion seconded.

Motion debated.

Question put.

Motion agreed to unanimously.

10.

MOTION BY THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR ECONOMY, CIVIL SERVICE, COMMUNICATIONS, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Hon.
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service, Communications, Housing and Community Development moved a motion pursuant to Standing Order 51 – (a) (b) (c) (d) That the Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Bill 2022 be considered by Parliament without delay; That the Bill must pass through one stage at a single Sitting of Parliament; That the Bill must not be referred to a Standing Committee or other Committee of Parliament; and That the Bill must be debated and voted upon by Parliament on Thursday, (1 September 2022), with the right of reply given to him as the Member moving the motion.
3 Motion seconded.

Motion debated.

Question put.

Votes cast – Yes No Not Voted – – – 27 14 8 Motion agreed to.

11.

MOTION BY THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR ECONOMY, CIVIL SERVICE, COMMUNICATIONS, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Hon.
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service, Communications, Housing and Community Development moved a motion pursuant to Standing Order 51 – (a) (b) (c) (d) That the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2022 be considered by Parliament without delay; That the Bill must pass through one stage at a single Sitting of Parliament; That the Bill must not be referred to a Standing Committee or other Committee of Parliament; and That the Bill must be debated and voted upon by Parliament on Thursday, (1 September 2022), with the right of reply given to him as the Member moving the motion.
Motion seconded.

Motion debated.

Question put.

Votes cast – Yes No Not Voted – – – 27 16 6 Motion agreed to.

12.

MOTION BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs the Hon.

Viam Pillay moved that Parliament debates the ‘Review of the Fiji Higher Education 4 Commission August 2016–July 2017 Annual Report’ which was tabled on 4 April 2022.

Motion seconded.

Motion debated.

Question put.

Motion agreed to unanimously.

13.


MOTION BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs the Hon.

Viam Pillay moved that Parliament debates the ‘Review of the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited 2018 and 2019 Annual Report’ which was tabled on 4 April 2022.

Motion seconded.

Motion debated.

Question put.

Motion agreed to unanimously.

14.


MOTION BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs the Hon.

Viam Pillay moved that Parliament debates the ‘Review of the Fiji National Sports Commission August 2019–July 2020 Annual Report’ which was tabled on 4 April 2022.

Motion seconded.

Motion debated.

Question put.

Motion agreed to unanimously.

15.


SUSPENSION MOTION BY THE LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT The Leader of the Government in Parliament the Hon.

Inia Seruiratu moved under Standing Order 6 that so much of Standing Order 23(1) be suspended to allow the House to sit beyond 4.30 p.m. to complete the remaining items listed on the Order Paper.

Motion seconded.

5 Motion debated.

Question put.

Motion agreed to unanimously.

16.


MOTION BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts the Hon.

Alvick Maharaj moved that Parliament debates the ‘Review of the 2016-2017 Financial Statements of Government and the 2016–2017 Agency Financial Statements of the Ministry of Economy’ which was tabled on 5 April 2022.

Motion seconded.

Motion debated.

Question put.

Motion agreed to unanimously.

17.


QUESTIONS 138/2022 Hon.

Lenora Qereqeretabua asked the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service, Communications, Housing and Community Development – Can the Minister inform Parliament if all staff at the Ba Mission Hospital will be automatically recruited or absorbed as employees in the new Ba Hospital managed by Aspen.

139/2022 Hon.
139/2022 Hon.

Alexander O’Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment – Can the Minister update Parliament on strategies and plans to expand commercial crop agriculture.

140/2022 141/2022 142/2022 Hon.


Ratu Tevita Navurelevu asked the Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing, Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management – Can the Minister inform Parliament what measures are in place to ensure that Police Officers are not involved in illicit drugs trade given recent suspensions of Police Officers facing drugs-related charges.

Hon.
Hon.

Alipate Nagata asked the Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, and Local Government – Can the Minister update Parliament on the progress of school rehabilitation in the North which is being funded by the Australian Government.

Hon.

Viliame Gavoka asked the Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport – Can the Minister update Parliament on the activities of Tourism Fiji given the progress in the recovery of the Tourism industry.

6 143/2022 144/2022 145/2022 Hon.


Vijay Nath asked the Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing, Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management – Can the Minister update Parliament on the UN reimbursement for our troops in UN peacekeeping missions.

Hon.

Mitieli Bulanauca asked the Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, and Local Government – Can the Minister update Parliament on the mandate of the Suva City Council with respect to the rural local authority activities in Kadavu.
Hon.

Veena Bhatnagar asked the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service, Communications, Housing and Community Development – Can the Minister update Parliament on the economic forecast for 2022.

The responses to the Oral and Supplementary Questions were provided by the respective Ministers.

18.

ADJOURNMENT Hon.


Speaker thanked all Honourable Members for their contributions and adjourned Parliament until Tuesday, 30 August 2022 at 9.30 a.m. Parliament adjourned at 6.10 p.m. Speaker of Parliament Secretary-General to Parliament 29th August, 2022.

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