PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD THURSDAY, 28TH MAY, 2020 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … … … … 1001 Communications from the Chair … … … … … … … … 1001 Presentation of Papers and Certain Documents … … … … … … 1001-1002 Presentation of Reports of Committees … … … … … … … 1002-1005 (1) Fiji Corrections Service Annual Report 1st August, 2016 to 31st July, 2017 - Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights (2) Audit Report of the Office of the Auditor-General on the Effectiveness of the Institutional Framework for Preventing Corruption – Standing Committee on Public Accounts Ministerial Statements … … … … … … … … … 1005-1025 (1) The Fiji Meteorological Services (2) Impact of COVID-19 and TC Harold on Education (3) 2020 Nationwide Workplace Survey on the Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic (4) Update - Impact on Business Licence Reforms Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … 1025-1034 Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill … … … … … … … 1034-1051 Referral of Treaties … … … … … … … … … 1051 (1) Madrid Agreement (2) Madrid Protocol (3) Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict … … … … … … … … … 1051-1052 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons … … … … … … 1052-1055 ILO Violence and Harassment Convention 2019 … … … … … … 1056-1062 Suspension of Standing Orders … … … … … … … 1062-1063 ILO Protocol of 2002 to Occupational Safety and Health Convention … … … 1063-1067 Consolidated Review Report on the Office of the President Annual Reports 2011 to 2013 … … … … … … … … 1068-1071 Reserve Bank of Fiji August 2017 to July 2018 Annual Report … … … … 1071-1076 Questions … … … … … … … … … … 1076-1083 THURSDAY, 28TH MAY, 2020 The Parliament met at 9.30 a.m. pursuant to adjournment. HONOURABLE SPEAKER took the Chair and read the Prayer. PRESENT All Honourable Members were present except the Honourable Major-General (Ret’d) S.L. Rabuka, Honourable Ro T.V. Kepa, Honourable Ratu N.T. Lalabalavu, Honourable N. Nawaikula, Honourable L.D. Tabuya, Honourable V.R. Gavoka, Honourable A.M. Radrodro, Honourable M.R. Leawere, Honourable Ratu S. Matanitobua, Honourable S.V. Radrodro, Honourable Dr. Ratu A.R. Lalabalavu, Honourable Adi L. Qionibaravi, Honourable M.D. Bulitavu, Honourable A. Jale, Honourable Ro F. Tuisawau, Honourable I. Kuridrani, Honourable M. Bulanauca, Honourable P.W. Vosanibola, Honourable Ratu T. Navurelevu, Honourable S.R. Rasova and Honourable J. Saukuru. MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I move: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Wednesday, 27th May, 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. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR Welcome HON. SPEAKER.- I welcome all Honourable Members 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 Committee Room, and those from the comfort of their homes, offices and mobile phones. Thank you for taking an interest in your Parliament. PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AND CERTAIN DOCUMENTS HON. SPEAKER.- 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, Mr. Speaker, Sir. In accordance with Standing Order 38, I present to Parliament the Energy Fiji Limited 2019 Annual Report. Thank you 1002 Presentation of Reports of Committees 28th May, 2020 HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) HON. SPEAKER.- Under Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Energy Fiji Limited 2019 Annual Report, to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs. I now call upon the Minister of Agriculture, Waterways and Environment, the Honourable Dr. Mahendra Reddy, to table his Reports. You have the floor, Sir. HON. DR. M. REDDY.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, in accordance with Standing Order 38, I present the Ministry of Agriculture 2014 and 2015 Annual Report to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Reports to the Secretary-General. (Reports handed to the Secretary-General) HON. SPEAKER.- Under Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Ministry of Agriculture 2014 and 2015 Annual Reports to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. Thank you, Honourable Members, we will now proceed to the next Item. PRESENTATION OF REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Fiji Corrections Service Annual Report 1st August, 2016 to 31st July, 2017 - Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, I now call on the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, the Honourable Alvick Maharaj, to table his Report. You have the floor, Sir. HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Honourable Speaker, the Fiji Corrections Service is a key component in the Government’s administration of Criminal Justice whereby it is responsible for persons who are being referred by the courts. The Fiji Corrections Service’s key accomplishment is to emphasise the principle of good governance, transparency and accountability. The Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights was referred the Fiji Corrections Service Annual Report for the period 1st August 2016 to 31st July 2017, on 21st June 2019 for review and to report back its findings to Parliament. The objectives of the review were to analyse the overall functions of the institution and its accomplishments towards achieving good governance, transparency and accountability, and its newly adopted vision of “Effectively rehabilitate all inmates that they will become lawful abiding citizens, who contribute positively to the country”. While reviewing the Annual Report, the Committee noted pertinent issues which were discussed extensively with the representatives of the Fiji Corrections Service. Some of the main areas of discussion included: (i) the substantial progress made by the institution in terms of service provided that are of international standards which include new programmess for inmate rehabilitation and the 28th May, 2020 Presentation of Reports of Committees 1003 (ii) improvement of the human resources to carry out the vital service being provided by the Fiji Corrections Service; and - certain key aspects relating to the overall functioning of the Service, which includes: - the outstanding Job Evaluation Exercise for the Human Resources of the Service; - the push for the establishment of a Parole Board; and - the cost of keeping a person in prison which in turn leads to introduction of programme that promotes the reduction of re-offence. Consideration was also given to the requirements of the Standing Orders of Parliament pertaining to the impact on gender when deliberating on the Annual Report, therefore, as from the review, it was encouraging to note that the Service has committed itself in responding to the aspiration of being an institution that gives due consideration to gender issues. The Service has constructed two new Women’s Correction Centres and this has also resulted in the recruitment of more female officers. Not only are females recruited for inmates management, there are also female staff that enter the Service as psychologists and counsellors and are engaged in the Service’s Headquarters. Through the review of the Annual Report and the findings of the Committee, it can be inferred that there has been commendable effort and tireless work conducted by the organization in meeting its obligations. However, the Committee, after extensive deliberation has come up with a few recommendations for consideration by the Service and these are captured in this Report. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Honourable Members of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, Honourable Rohit Sharma (Deputy Chairperson), Honourable Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Honourable Dr. Salik Govind and Honourable Mosese Bulitavu for their deliberation and input and Alternate Members who made themselves available when substantive Members could not attend, the Secretariat, and the officials from the Fiji Corrections Service who had assisted in the Committee work. On behalf of the Committee, I commend the Committee’s Report on the Fiji Corrections Service Annual Report for the period 1st August, 2016 to 31st July, 2017 to Parliament and seek the support of all its Members to take note of the recommendations by the Committee. Thank you. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Report to the Secretary–General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Honourable Speaker, Sir, pursuant to Standing Order 121(5), I hereby move a motion without notice: That a debate on the contents of the Report is initiated at a future Sitting date. HON. R.R. SHARMA.- Honourable Speaker, Sir, I beg to second the motion. HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, the Parliament will now vote. Question put. 1004 Presentation of Reports of Committees 28th May, 2020 Motion agreed to. Audit Report of the Office of the Auditor-General on the Effectiveness of the Institutional Framework for Preventing Corruption – Standing Committee on Public Accounts HON. SPEAKER.- I now call upon the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Honourable Alvick Maharaj, to table his Report.