Wednesday, 16Th May 2018, with the Right of Reply Be Given to Me As the Member Moving This Motion
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PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD THURSDAY, 17TH MAY, 2018 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … … … 1578 Communications from the Chair … … … … … … … … 1578-1579 Presentation of Papers & Certain Documents … … … … … … 1579 Presentation of Reports of Committees … … … … … … … 1579-1584 Questions … … … … … … … … … … 1584-1605 Oral Question 1) Assistance to Sugarcane Farmers After Recent Flooding (Question No. 186/2018) 2) Amendment of the Omnibus Electronic Fare Ticketing Act 2014 (Question No. 187/2018) 3) Role of Fiji Hydrographic Unit (Question No. 188/2018) 4) Assistance to Fiji’s Minor Sporting Organisations (Question No. 189/2018) 5) Actions to Address Complaints from Hotel and Catering Industry (Question No. 190/2018) 6) Reduction of Teachers’ School Term Holidays (Question No. 191/2018) 7) Learning Pathways at Youth Training Centres (Question No. 192/2018) 8) Rural Households – Solar Home Systems (Question No. 193/2018) Written Questions 1) Companies Involved in Leasing/Selling Vehicles to Government (Question No. 194/2018) 2) Resolution to OHS Issues and Complaints (Question No. 195/2018) Ministerial Statements … … … … … … … … … 1605-1634 1) Commissioner of Police, UN Mission – Mrs. Vuniwaqa 2) Fiji Pine Limited 3) Cyclone Assistance Relief Effort (CARE) for Fiji Programme Fair Share of Mineral Royalties Bill 2018 … … … … … … 1634-1637 1708-1722 Online Safety Bill 2018 … … … … … … … … … 1637-1659 1660-1665 Suspension of Standing Orders … … … … … … … … 1659-1660 Information Bill 2016 … … … … … … … … 1666-1700 Community-Based Corrections Bill, 2016 … … … … … … 1700-1708 Review Report on the FHEC 2014 Annual Report … … … … … 1708-1722 Review Report on the FASANOC 2016 Annual Report … … … … … 1724-1726 WEDNESDAY, 16TH MAY, 2018 The Parliament resumed at 9.33 a.m., pursuant to adjournment. HONOURABLE SPEAKER took the Chair and read the Prayer. PRESENT All Honourable Members were present, except the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Sugar Industry and Foreign Affairs; the Honourable Minister Formatted: Font: Italic for Industry, Trade, Tourism and Lands and Mineral Resources; the Honourable Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation; the Honourable Assistant Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management; the Honourable Assistant Minister for Agriculture; and the Honourable A.T. Vadei. MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Madam Speaker, I beg to move: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Tuesday, 15th May, 2018 as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed. HON. A. SUDHAKAR.- Madam Speaker, I beg to second the motion. Question put. Motion agreed to. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIR Welcome HON. SPEAKER.- I welcome all Honourable Members to today’s sitting of Parliament. I also welcome members of the public joining us in the gallery and those watching proceedings on television, internet and listening to the radio. I hope you will enjoy today’s proceedings, as well as learn about the Parliamentary practices and procedures. Parliamentary Privileges For the information of all Honourable Members, I wish to reiterate that all Members of Parliament are protected by Parliamentary Privileges, pursuant to Standing Order 133, and Members would be aware of this. The Statement by the Acting Prime Minister and the Honourable Attorney-General on Monday’s sitting of Parliament against Mr. Sitiveni Rabuka is based on what actually happened, based on facts, and it was not allegations. 16th May, 2018 Presentation of Reports of Committees 1579 Commendation - Standing Committee Chairpersons & Members for Preparation of Reports Lastly, I would like to thank the Chairperson of the respective Committees and their Members for the tremendous work achieved to ensure that their Reports are tabled at this sitting of Parliament. Thank you, Honourable Members. PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AND CERTAIN DOCUMENTS COP23 Presidency Trust Fund First Semi Annual Report HON. A. SAYED-KHAIYUM.- Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 38, I present the COP23 Presidency Trust Fund First Semi Annual Report to Parliament. Madam Speaker, I have got it somewhere here but I cannot find it. I am sorry, it is here, so if I could just table that physically. I could have just handed the Secretary-General some other document and you would have thought that it is the document but I do not want to do that. It is here, so if I just hand it up later, but I want to present it to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Thank you, once it is found, you will then table it in Parliament and I refer the COP23 Presidency Trust Fund First Semi Annual Report to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. HON. A. SAYED-KHAIYUM.- Madam Speaker, actually there have been some confusion, we had sent the soft copy to the Secretariat and the copies are supposed to be put here, but that is all right, they are printing copies for you. If I could table the COP 23 Presidency Trust Fund First Semi Annual Report, please. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) Thank you. HON. SPEAKER.- I now call upon the Minister for Defence and National Security to table his Report. HON. RATU I. KUBUABOLA.- Thank you, Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Orders 38, I present the Fiji Police Force January to July 2016 Report to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) Under Standing Orders 38(2), I refer the Fiji Police Force January to July 2016 Report to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. PRESENTATION OF REPORTS OF COMMITTEES HON. SPEAKER.- I now call on the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence to present the Committee’s Report. 1580 Presentation of Reports of Committees 16th May, 2018 Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence - Review Report on Fiji Corrections Service 1st January to 31st July 2016 Report HON. LT. COL. N. RIKA.- Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present the Review Report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) 1st January to 31st July 2016 Report. The Standing Committee is established under Section 109(2)(e) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji. The purpose of the Review was to scrutinise the FCS 2016 Report, specifically on the department’s operations and administration. The FCS has moved from relying on punishment-based approaches to a more modern approach of rehabilitation of the incarcerated persons through the implementation of various Trade and Manufacturing Accounts (TMA) programmes that help build skills and knowledge which will assist them to reintegrate back into society upon release. Madam Speaker, the FCS direction is forward-looking with a vision strategically aligned to the then Government Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Development, Socio-Economic Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The positive impact of rehabilitation programmes for inmates are evident in all activities of the organisation. The Committee noted that the FCS has made the initiative to address the Sustainable Development Goal, namely the: 1. SDG 1 - No Poverty: The FCS has put in place rehabilitation programmes for inmates with the intention of instilling entrepreneurship skills to make them self-sufficient. Rehabilitation programmes such as: . Vegetable farming; . Crop farming; . Aquaculture (Tilapia farming); . Art Gallery; . Piggery; . Poultry; . Joinery; . Bakery; and . Garment. 2. SDG 2 - End Hunger: The FCS aims to achieve food security and improve nutrition through the promotion of sustainable agriculture. 3. SDG 5 - Gender Equality: The FCS is an equal-opportunity employer and currently within the service, there are good numbers of senior women officers that are placed with senior appointments in the organisation to make a difference. Madam Speaker, the Small Business Units (SBU) of the FCS, operating under the TMA is a prime focus in providing business skillsets to inmates that are selected in various field of work. This will enable inmates upon release to be productive and law-abiding citizens of the country. Madam Speaker, it is worth-noting that revenue collected through TMA in 2016 was $358,160.23 which had doubled from the 2015 Returns. Revenue collected through TMA in 2015 was $103,384.56, the variance TMA collected from 2015 1 January to 31st July is $254,775.67. 16th May, 2018 Presentation of Reports of Committees 1581 The FCS strives to operate seamlessly to maintain quality services to ensure that the deliveries of outcomes including key financial outputs are return of investment to Government. Madam Speaker, the Committee upon review with consultations with the Service had identified areas of concerns that need addressing to ensure the organisation is dynamic and reduces recidivism. Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to thank the Commissioner of FCS and all officers for the marvellous job well-done with tireless commitment to public service. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, I commend this Report to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Thank you, please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) HON. LT. COL. N. RIKA.- Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 121(5), I hereby move: A motion without Notice that a debate of the content of the Report is initiated at a future sitting. HON. H.R.T. POLITINI.- Madam Speaker, I beg to second the motion. HON. SPEAKER.- Parliament will now vote. Question put. HON. SPEAKER.- The question is: That a debate on the contents of the Report is initiated at a future sitting. Does any Member oppose? (Chorus of ‘Noes’) HON. SPEAKER.- There being no opposition, the motion is agreed to unanimously. Motion agreed to. HON. SPEAKER.- I now call on the Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs to present the Committee’s Report. Standing Committee on Social Affairs Review Report on the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2016 Annual Report HON.