Monday-5Th August 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD MONDAY, 5TH AUGUST, 2019 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … … … 2430 Communications from the Chair … … … … … … … 2430-2431 Presentation of Papers and Certain Documents … … … … … … 2431-2432 Environment and Climate Adaptation Levy (Amendment No. 2) Bill 2019 … … 2433-2434 Review Report - FRCS 2016/2017 Annual Report … … … … … 2435-2455 Review Report - FPTCL 2016 Annual Report … … … … … … 2456-2463 Questions … … … … … … … … … … 2463-2492 MONDAY, 5TH AUGUST, 2019 The Parliament met at 9.31 a.m., pursuant to notice. The Honourable Speaker took the Chair and read the Prayer. PRESENT Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister and Minister for iTaukei Affairs and Sugar IndustryHon. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications Hon. Lt. Col. I.B. Seruiratu, Minister for Defence, National Security and Foreign Affairs Hon. Rosy Sofia Akbar, Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Hon. Parveen Kumar Bala, Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations and Youth and Sports Hon. Mereseini Rakuita Vuniwaqa, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment Hon. Cdr. Semi Tuleca Koroilavesau, Minister for Fisheries Hon. Osea Naiqamu, Minister for Forestry Hon. Jone Usamate, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Hon. Ashneel Sudhakar, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Hon. Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete, Minister for Health and Medical Services Hon. Premila Devi Kumar, Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Local Government, Housing and Community Development Hon. Alexander David O’Connor, Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Hon. Veena Kumar Bhatnagar, Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Vijay Nath, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Hon. Alvick Avhikrit Maharaj, Assistant Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports Hon. Alipate Tuicolo Nagata, Assistant Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports Hon. Jale Sigarara, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Maritime Development Hon. Viam Pillay, Assistant Minister for Environment Rural Development Hon. Joseph Nitya Nand, Assistant Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Hon. George Vegnathan, Assistant Minister for Sugar Industry Hon. Selai Adimaitoga, Assistant Minister for iTaukei Affairs Hon. Mitieli Bulanauca Hon. Mosese Drecala Bulitavu Hon. Viliame Rogoibulu Gavoka Hon. Dr. Salik Ram Govind Hon. Anare Jale Hon. Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa Hon. Sanjay Salend Kirpal Hon. Inosi Kuridrani Hon. Dr. Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu Hon. Ratu Naiqama Tawake Lalabalavu Hon. Mikaele Rokosova Leawere 2430 Present 5th Aug., 2019 Hon. Ratu Suliano Matanitobua Hon. Ratu Tevita Navurelevu Hon. Niko Nawaikula Hon. Vijendra Prakash Hon. Prof. Biman Chand Prasad Hon. Lenora Salusalu Qereqeretabua Hon. Adi Litia Qionibaravi Hon. Major-General (Ret’d) Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka Hon. Aseri Masivou Radrodro Hon. Salote Vuibureta Radrodro Hon. Simione Rokomalo Rasova Hon. Jese Saukuru Hon. Rohit Ritesh Sharma Hon. Lynda Diseru Tabuya Hon. Lt. Col. Pio Tikoduadua Hon. Ro Filipe Tuisawau Hon. Peceli Waqairatu Vosanibola MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Honourable Speaker, Sir, I move: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Friday, 21st June, 2019, as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed. HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Honourable Speaker, Sir, I beg to second the motion. HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, Parliament will now vote on the motion. The Question is: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Friday, 21st June, 2019, as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed. Does any Member oppose the motion? (Chorus of ‘Nays’) HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, there being no opposition, the motion is agreed to unanimously. Motion agreed to. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIR Welcome - Members of Parliament I welcome all Honourable Members to this sitting of Parliament. I hope you have had a pleasant break. I know that some of you have been working hard on Committee work, but it is good to see you here looking refreshed. 5th Aug., 2019 Presentation of Papers & Certain Documents 2431 I also welcome members of the public joining us in the gallery and those watching the live broadcast of the proceedings on television and the internet and listening to the radio. Welcome – Students & Teachers of Kadavu Provincial School I also take this opportunity to welcome students and teachers from Kadavu Provincial School, I believe, from Kavala. (Acclamation) Thank you for taking an interest in your Parliament, and I hope that your visit will be rewarding, fruitful and productive. You are most welcome. Written Response – Question No. 116/2019 For the information of the Honourable Members, the Secretariat has received the response to Written Question No. 116 of 2019 asked by the Honourable Ratu Tevita Navurelevu, and I thank the Minister for Forestry for furnishing the response. This has been conveyed accordingly and also uploaded on the Parliament website. PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AND CERTAIN DOCUMENTS HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, I now call upon the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications, the Honourable Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, to table his Report. You have the floor, Sir. HON. A. SAYED-KHAIYUM.- Thank you, Honourable Speaker, Sir. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in accordance with Standing Order 38, I present the Public Rental Board 2017 Annual Report (Parliamentary Paper No. 77/2019) to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, under Standing Orders 38(2), I refer the Public Rental Board 2017 Annual Report (Parliamentary Paper No. 77/2019) to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs. Honourable Members, I now call upon the Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, the Honourable Rosy Akbar, to table her Report. You have the floor, Madam. HON. R.S. AKBAR.- Honourable Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 38, I present the Fiji Higher Education Commission Annual Report for the Year Ended 31st July, 2016 (Parliamentary Paper No. 91/2019) to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) 2432 Presentation of Papers & Certain Documents 5th Aug., 2019 HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, under Standing Orders 38 (2), I refer the Fiji Higher Education Commission Annual Report for the Year Ended 31st July, 2016 (Parliamentary Paper No. 91/2019) to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs. Honourable Members, I have been advised that there are no Committee Reports for tabling today. I have also been advised that there are no Ministerial Statements for today. Honourable Members, on that note, I propose to adjourn for a 15 minutes break, while we look into other procedures for this morning. I hope I have the agreement of everyone, although some look a bit stunned. We adjourn for 15 minutes. The Parliament adjourned at 9.41 a.m. 5th Aug., 2019 ECAL (Amd’t) (No. 2) Bill 2019 2433 The Parliament resumed at 10.01 a.m. HON. SPEAKER.- For the information of the Honourable Members, the Technicians are currently working on the sign language Interpreters’ screen, due to some technical problems. Once that is rectified, the live coverage will be normalised. I hope everyone understands that, it is a technical glitch. We move on. Honourable Members, I now call upon the Honourable Attorney-General to move his motion. You have the floor Sir. ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION LEVY (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 2019 HON. A. SAYED-KHAIYUM.- Mr. Speaker Sir, pursuant to Standing Order 51, I move: That the – (a) Environment and Climate Adaptation Levy (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2019 (Bill No. 24/2019), be considered by Parliament without delay; (b) Bill must pass through one stage at a single sitting of Parliament; (c) Bill must not be referred to a Standing Committee or other Committee of Parliament; (d) Bill must be debated and voted upon by Parliament on Tuesday, 6th August, 2019; and (e) one hour be given to debate the Bill, with the right of reply given to me as the Member moving this motion. HON. LT. COL. I.B. SERUIRATU.- Mr. Speaker Sir, I beg to second the motion. HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, I now call on the Honourable Attorney-General to speak on his motion. You have the floor Sir. HON. A. SAYED-KHAIYUM.- Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as Honourable Members would see that this Bill is an amendment to the Bill that was actually passed during the Budget debate. Unfortunately, there was an oversight by Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS) in respect of including the vehicle that is to be now included within the Environment and Climate Adaptation Levy (ECAL) Framework. The ECAL Framework, Mr. Speaker, Sir, as we know, is to include the concept of the Environment and Climate Adaptation Levy within our tariff regime, and essentially the overall duty tariff being payable has been broken down into different components and one of them, of course, includes ECAL. ECAL, Mr. Speaker, Sir, of course, goes towards the specific funding of various environment and climate adaptation measures that we have put in place and which is, again, presented in a separate report. So, unfortunately, this was an oversight and we are trying to correct this. There is no overall change to the substance of the Act itself, but merely the inclusion of these vehicles within that, and this is why it was being brought about by way of Standing Order 51 because currently, it is not applicable on those vehicles - the ECAL component. Therefore, we would like to have that passed by Parliament as quickly as possible and this is why, Mr. Speaker, Sir, we are bringing it to Parliament tomorrow for debate for Parliament’s approval, and I hope the Opposition can support this in that respect.