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Parliament of the Republic of Fiji Parliamentary Debates PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD FRIDAY, 30TH NOVEMBER, 2018 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … … … … 201 Communications from the Chair … … … … … … … 201-204 Presentation of Papers & Certain Documents … … … … … … 204-206 Debate on His Excellency the President’s Address … … … … … 206-279 List of Speakers 1. Hon. Lt. Col. I.B. Seruiratu Pages 206-211 2. Hon. R.R. Sharma Pages 212-215 3. Hon. J. Sigarara Pages 215-219 4. Hon. A. Sudhakar Pages 221-228 5. Hon. L.D. Tabuya Pages 228-233 6. Hon. P. Tikoduadua Pages 233-240 7. Hon. Ro F. Tuisawau Pages 240-245 8. Hon. J. Usamate Pages 246-252 9. Hon. G. Vegnathan Pages 253-257 10. Hon. P.W. Vosanibola Pages 257-261 11. Hon. M.R. Vuniwaqa Pages 261-266 12. Hon. Dr. I. Waqainabete Pages 266-272 13. Hon. A. Sayed-Khaiyum Pages 272-279 Suspension of Standing Orders … … … … … … … 220-221 Bills – First Reading … … … … … … … … … 280-281 Consideration of Bills … … … … … … … … … 281-286 Adjournment … … … … … … … … … … 286-287 FRIDAY, 30TH NOVEMBER, 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. MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Madam Speaker, I move: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Thursday, 29th November, 2018, as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed. HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Madam Speaker, I second the motion. Clarification HON. MAJOR-GENERAL (RET’D) S.L. RABUKA.- I rise on a point of order, Madam Speaker. As a matter of correction, Standing Order 32(3) I mentioned in my address yesterday on Page 167 of the Uncorrected Copy of the Daily Hansard, that His Excellency was a Cabinet Minister in the Prime Minister Qarase’s Government. He was an Assistant Minister, Madam Speaker. Thank you very much. HON. SPEAKER.- Thank you. Actually that was not a point of order, it was just clarification and we will amend our Report likewise. Question put. Motion agreed to. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIR Welcome I welcome all Honourable Members to the last day of sitting for this week. I also welcome members of the public who are joining us in the gallery and those watching the proceedings on television and the internet, and listening to the radio. I thank you for your interest in Parliament. Membership of Committees Honourable Members, with reference to my announcement of increasing the membership of Standing Committees to seven, I wish to inform that the Business Committee met again yesterday afternoon to confirm the membership which has reverted to five with two reserves, after a vote was 202 Communications from the Chair 30th Nov., 2018 taken. Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 115(4), I hereby advise Parliament of the following appointments: Standing Committee on Public Accounts 1. Honourable Alvick Maharaj 2. Honourable Joseph Nand 3. Honourable Vijendra Prakash 4. Honourable Aseri Radrodro 5. Honourable Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu Reserves 1. Honourable Vijay Nath 2. Honourable Adi Litia Qionibaravi Standing Committee on Justice Law and Human Rights 1. Honourable Alvick Maharaj 2. Honourable Rohit Sharma 3. Honourable Dr. Salik Govind 4. Honourable Mosese Bulitavu 5. Honourable Ratu Suliano Matanitobua Reserves 1. Honourable Vijendra Prakash 2. Honourable Niko Nawaikula Standing Committee on Economic Affairs 1. Honourable Vijay Nath 2. Honourable Veena Bhatnagar 3. Honourable George Vegnathan 4. Honourable Inosi Kuridrani 5. Honourable Ro Filipe Tuisawau Reserves 1. Honourable Ritesh Sharma 2. Honourable Viliame Gavoka Standing Committee on Natural Resources 1. Honourable Sanjay Kirpal 2. Honourable Jale Sigarara 3. Honourable Alexander O’Connor 4. Honourable Mitieli Bulanauca 5. Honourable Peceli Vosanibola 30th Nov., 2018 Communications from the Chair 203 Reserves 1. Honourable Selai Adimaitoga 2. Honourable Jese Saukuru Standing Committee on Social Affairs 1. Honourable Viam Pillay 2. Honourable George Vegnathan 3. Honourable Alipate Nagata 4. Honourable Salote Radrodro 5. Honourable Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu Reserves 1. Honourable Vijendra Prakash 2. Honourable Simione Rasova Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence 1. Honourable Alexander O’Connor 2. Honourable Dr. Salik Govind 3. Honourable Selai Adimaitoga 4. Honourable Lt. Col. Pio Tikoduadua 5. Honourable Anare Jale Reserves 1. Honourable Joseph Nitya Nand 2. Honourable Mikaele Leawere In line with Standing Orders 116(1) and (2), the Secretary-General will convene the first meeting of each Standing Committee and also notify Committee Members of the date for the first meeting once nominations from the Opposition have been confirmed in Parliament. The membership for Select Committees are as follows: Business Committee 1. Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister and Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Sugar Industry and Foreign Affairs 2. Hon. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications 3. Hon. Lt. Col. Inia Seruiratu, Leader of the Government in Parliament and Minister for Defence and National Security 4. Hon. Alvick Maharaj, Government Whip 5. Hon. Major-General (Ret’d) Sitiveni Rabuka, Leader of the Opposition 6. Hon. Professor Biman Prasad, NFP Leader 7. Hon. Lynda Tabuya, SODELPA Whip 8. Honourable Lt. Col. Pio Tikoduadua, NFP Whip 204 Presentation Of Papers & Certain Documents 30th Nov., 2018 House Committee 1. Deputy Speaker, Honourable Veena Bhatnagar 2. Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Honourable Rosy Akbar 3. Government Whip, Honourable Alvick Maharaj 4. Honourable Ro Teimumu Kepa 5. Honourable Lt. Col. Pio Tikoduadua Standing Orders Committee 1. Hon. Lt. Col. Inia Seruiratu, Leader of the Government in Parliament 2. Hon. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications (substitute) 3. Hon. Alvick Maharaj, Government Whip 4. Hon. Lynda Tabuya, Opposition Whip 5. Hon. Lt. Col. Pio Tikoduadua, NFP Whip Privileges Committee 1. Deputy Speaker, Honourable Veena Bhatnagar 2. Attorney-General, Honourable Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum 3. Leader of the Government in Parliament, Honourable Inia Seruiratu 4. Government Whip, Honourable Alvick Maharaj 5. Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Major-General (Ret’d) Sitiveni Rabuka 6. Honourable Adi Litia Qionibaravi Reserve Hon. Ashneel Sudhakar, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AND CERTAIN DOCUMENTS HON. SPEAKER.- I now call on the Acting Prime Minister, the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Public Enterprises, Civil Service and Communications to table his Reports. HON. A. SAYED-KHAIYUM.- Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 38(1), I would like to present the following Reports to Parliament: 1. iTaukei Trust Fund Board 2017 Annual Report; 2. Office of the President 2015 Annual Report; 3. COP 23 Presidency Trust Fund: Second Semi-Annual Report (1 November 2017-30 April 2018); 4. Fourth Quarter Appropriation Statement (1 May 2018-31 July 2018); 5. First Quarter Appropriation Statement (1 August 2018-31 October 2018); 6. Reserve Bank of Fiji Insurance 2017 Annual Report; 7. Reserve Bank of Fiji August 2017-July 2018 Report; 8. Fiji Development Bank 2017 Annual Report; 9. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited 2016 Annual Report; 10. Fiji Meat Industry Board 2014 Annual Report; 11. Fiji Electricity Authority 2017 Annual Report; 12. Water Authority of Fiji 2013-2014 Annual Report; 30th Nov., 2018 Presentation Of Papers & Certain Documents 205 13. Housing Authority 2015 Annual Report; and 14. Public Rental Board 2016 Annual Report. HON. SPEAKER.- Could you, please, hand the Reports to the Secretary-General? (Reports handed to the Secretary-General) Pursuant to Standing Order 38(2), I refer the following Reports to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs: 1. iTaukei Trust Fund Board 2017 Annual Report; 2. Housing Authority 2015 Annual Report; and 3. Public Rental Board 2016 Annual Report. Pursuant to Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Office of the President 2015 Annual Report to the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights. Pursuant to Standing Order 38(2), I refer the following Reports to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs: 1. Reserve Bank of Fiji Insurance 2017 Annual Report; 2. Reserve Bank of Fiji August 2017 to July 2018 Report; 3. Fiji Development Bank 2017 Annual Report; 4. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited 2016 Annual Report; 5. Fiji Meat Industry Board 2014 Annual Report; and 6. Fiji Electricity Authority 2017 Annual Report. Pursuant to Standing Order 38(2), I refer the following reports to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts: 1. COP 23 Presidency Trust Fund: Second Semi-Annual Report; 2. Fourth Quarter Appropriation Statement for the period 1 May 2018 to 31 July 2018; and 3. First Quarter Appropriation Statement for the period 1 August 2018 to 31 October 2018. Pursuant to Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Water Authority of Fiji 2013-2014 Annual Report to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. I now call upon the Minister for Defence and National Security to table his Report. HON. LT. COL. I.B. SERUIRATU.- Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 38(1), I present the Fiji Police Force Annual Report August 2016-July 2017 to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) HON. SPEAKER.- Pursuant to Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Fiji Police Force Annual 206 Debate on His Excellency’s Address 30th Nov., 2018 Report August 2016-July 2017 to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. I now call upon the Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports to table this Report. HON. P.K. BALA.- Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 38(1), I present the 2017 Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee Annual Report to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the report to the Secretary-General.
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