PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD MONDAY, 27TH JULY, 2020 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … … … … … 1127 Communications from the Chair … … … … … … … … 1127-1128 Suspension of Standing Orders … … … … … … … … 1128-1129 Consideration of Bills … … … … … … … … … 1130 Debate on the 2020-2021 Appropriation Bill 2020 … … … … … 1130-1233 List of Speakers Page Nos. 1. Hon. Major-General (Ret’d) S.L. Rabuka … … … … 1130-1145 2. Hon. J.V. Bainimarama … … … … … … … 1146-1152 3. Hon. Mitieli Bulanauca … … … … … … … 1152-1157 4. Hon. S. Adimaitoga … … … … … … … 1157-1161 5. Hon. M.D. Bulitavu … … … … … … 1162-1166 6. Hon. Rosy Akbar … … … … … … … 1166-1171 7. Hon. V.R. Gavoka … … … … … … ... 1171-1175 8. Hon. P.K. Bala … … … … … … ... 1175-1180 9. Hon. A. Jale … … … … … … ... 1181-1184 10. Hon. Veena Bhatnagar … … … … … … 1184-1188 11. Hon. Ro T.V. Kepa … … … … … … … 1188-1192 12. Hon. Dr. Salik Govind … … … … … … … 1192-1194 13. Hon. Inosi Kuridrani … … … … … … … 1194-1198 14. Hon. Sanjay Kirpal … … … … … … … ... 1198-1200 15. Hon. Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu … … … … … 1200-1204 16. Hon. Semi Koroilavesau … … … … … … ... 1204-1208 17. Hon. Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu … … … … … ... 1208-1211 18. Hon. Faiyaz Koya … … … … … … … ... 1212-1218 19. Hon. Mikaele Leawere … … … … … … ... 1218-1222 20. Hon. Premila Kumar … … … … … … … 1222-1227 21. Hon. Ratu Suliano Matanitobua … … … … … ... 1227-1229 22. Hon. Alvick Maharaj … … … … … … … 1229-1233 MONDAY, 27TH JULY, 2020 The Parliament met at 9.41 a.m. pursuant to notice. HONOURABLE SPEAKER took the Chair and read the Prayer. PRESENT All Honourable Members were present. MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Honourable Speaker, I beg to move: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Friday, 17th July, 2020, as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed. HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Honourable Speaker, I beg to second the motion. Question put. Motion agreed to. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIR Welcome HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, I welcome you all to today’s sitting of Parliament. I also welcome all those watching the live broadcast and the live streaming of today’s proceedings from the comfort of their home, office and mobile phone. Thank you for taking an interest in the working of your Parliament. Handing-Over Ceremony of ICT Equipment Honourable Members, later during the morning refreshments break, we will have the handing-over ceremony of the ICT equipment by the UNDP Fiji Parliament Support Project. The Fijian Parliament is grateful for the continued support rendered by the UNDP Fiji Parliament Support Project in the area of ICT, especially during this pandemic. This is another milestone achieved as it has enabled the Parliament Committees to continue with its work, meetings and consultations on Bills, reports and treaties virtually. Honourable Members, please, take note that the hand-over ceremony will take place at the Big Committee Room and I invite all Honourable Members to attend. Thank you, Honourable Members. Suspension of Standing Orders Honourable Members, before we proceed to the next Item on the Order Paper, I will allow the Honourable Leader of the Government in Parliament to move a suspension motion. As it is the convention, I am allowing this without notice, as I consider it necessary for the proper conduct of 1128 Suspension of Standing Orders 27th July, 2020 the business of Parliament, particularly during this significant week involving the National Budget process. I now call upon the Leader of the Government in Parliament to move his motion. You have the floor, Sir. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Mr. Speaker, I beg to move under Standing Order 6: That so much of Standing Orders 23, 34 and 46 be suspended to allow the following during the sitting period beginning Monday, 27th July, 2020 and ending Friday, 31st July, 2020 – (a) exempting the Shadow Minister for Economy from the ordinary speaking time limitations during his response to the National Budget Address; (b) exempting the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications from the ordinary speaking time limitations during his right of reply; (c) Parliament to sit beyond ordinary sitting times; (d) limiting the refreshments, lunch and dinner breaks to be determined by you, Mr. Speaker, so as not to unduly interrupt the business of the House; and (e) in the event that the business for any given day is concluded earlier than anticipated, for business to be brought forward from the following sitting day. HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to second the motion. HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, I now call upon the Leader of the Government in Parliament to speak on his motion. You have the floor, Sir. HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, this motion is purely a procedural matter and as all Honourable Members are aware, the National Budget Debate week is a significant event in our Parliament Calendar, as it allows robust discussions and debate on the forecast for the next financial year. Mr. Speaker, Sir, now more than ever, this process is essentially integral to the Fijian people as our nation continues to grapple and deal with the socio and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Speaker, as you had earlier alluded to, the approval of the finance and appropriations is a fundamental role of any legislature and in that regard, the week-long process in the course of this week is essential and vital for Parliament to fulfil its constitutional obligation. With reference to the Standing Orders (SO), Sir, clause 23 is about “Sitting days” and time, SO 34 again is on the “Order of Parliament business” and SO 46 specifically refers to “Notices of motion required”. Mr. Speaker, as is convention, the Shadow Minister for Economy, in giving his response to the National Budget Address, can take up the same time as the delivery of the National Budget Address, therefore the House must approve exemption from the ordinary speaking time limitations. 27th July, 2020 Suspension of Standing Orders 1129 Similarly, Mr. Speaker, for the right of reply from the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, there may be numerous issues from the Honourable Members which the Honourable Attorney-General will respond to and provide clarification on so as to allay all misperceptions and doubts, and we will have urgencies in some of the issues that will be raised before the House; and, of course, we expect Parliament to sit beyond 4.30 p.m. and, of course, the order of business may be different from the other sittings and there maybe urgent motions in the course of the week as well and, of course, we leave it to your good self, Mr. Speaker, Sir, on the allocation of time for refreshments, lunch and, of course, dinner as well. Additionally, Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Business Committee, at its meeting on Friday, 10th July, 2020 unanimously agreed in principle for all these notions to take place to enable the House to complete its business for the entire week. In that regard, Mr. Speaker, I commend this motion to the House and I seek support from all Honourable Members. I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. HON. SPEAKER.- Thank you, Honourable Leader of the House. Does any Honourable Member wish to contribute to this motion? I now call on the Leader of the Government in Parliament to speak in reply, if any. HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I wish to acknowledge and thank all the Honourable Members for their support and I have nothing further to add to the motion, vinaka. HON. SPEAKER.- I thank the Honourable Leader of the House. Honourable Members, the Parliament will now vote on the motion. Question put. HON. SPEAKER.- The question is: under Standing Order 6, that so much of Standing Orders 23, 34 and 46 be suspended, to allow the following during the sitting period beginning Monday, 27th July, 2020 and ending Friday, 31st July, 2020: (a) exempting the Shadow Minister for Economy from the ordinary speaking time limitations during his response to the National Budget Address; (b) exempting the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister for Economy from the ordinary speaking time limitations during his right of reply; (c) Parliament to sit beyond ordinary sitting times; (d) limiting the refreshments, lunch and dinner breaks to be determined by the Speaker so as not to unduly interrupt the business of the House; and (e) in the event that the business for any day is concluded earlier than anticipated, for business to be brought forward from the following sitting day. Does any Member oppose the motion? As no Member opposes, the motion is agreed to unanimously. Motion agreed to. 1130 2020-2021 Appropriation Bill 2020 27th July, 2020 CONSIDERATION OF BILLS HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, I have been advised that there are no Bills for consideration today. We will now move on to the next Item on the Order Paper. HON. SPEAKER.- I now call upon the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications to move the second reading of the 2020–2021 Appropriation Bill 2020. DEBATE ON THE 2020-2021 APPROPRIATION BILL 2020 HON. A. SAYED-KHAIYUM.- Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Mr. Speaker, I move that: A Bill for an Act to appropriate a sum of Three Billion, Two Hundred and Eleven Million, Nineteen Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty One dollars for the ordinary services of Government for the year ending 31st July 2021, be read a second time. HON. LT. COL. I.B. SERUIRATU- Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to second the motion. HON. SPEAKER.- I now call on the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications for his second reading speech, if any.