PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD TUESDAY, 10TH JULY, 2018 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … … … 2062 Communications from the Chair … … … … … … … 2062 Presentation of Reports of Committees … … … … … … 2063-2065 2018-2019 Appropriation Bill 2018 … … … … … … … 2065-2237 List of Speakers: 1. Hon. F.S. Koya (Pgs. 2065-2073) 2. Hon. M.A. Niumataiwalu (Pgs. 2073-2078) 3. Hon. Ratu T.N. Niumataiwalu (Pgs. 2078-2082) 4. Hon. A.D. O’Connor (Pgs. 2083-2086) 5. Hon. V. Pillay (Pgs. 2086-2091) 6. Hon. H.R.T. Politini (Pgs. 2091-2094) 7. Hon. Professor B.C. Prasad (Pgs. 2094-2100) 8. Hon. S.V. Radrodro (Pgs. 2100-2105) 9. Hon. Dr. M. Reddy (Pgs. 2106-2111) 10. Hon. Lt. Col. N. Rika (Pgs. 2112-2114) 11. Hon. Dr. M.T. Samisoni (Pgs. 2114-2119) 12. Hon. Lt. Col. I.B. Seruiratu (Pgs. 2119-2123) 13. Hon. B. Singh (Pgs. 2124-2126) 14. Hon. P. Singh (Pgs. 2126-2130) 15. Hon. A. Sudhakar (Pgs. 2130-2135) 16. Hon. Lt. Col. L.B. Tuitubou (Pgs. 2135-2139) 17. Hon. J. Usamate (Pgs. 2139-2145) 18. Hon. A.T. Vadei (Pgs. 2146-2149) 19. Hon. S.B. Vunivalu (Pgs. 2149-2152) 20. Hon. M.R. Vuniwaqa (Pgs. 2153-2157) 21. Hon. A. Sayed-Khaiyum (Right of Reply) (Pgs. 2157-2172) Committee of Supply (Pgs. 2173-2237) TUESDAY, 10TH JULY, 2018 The Parliament resumed at 9.32 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 and the Honourable Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports. MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Madam Speaker, I move: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Monday, 9th July, 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 I welcome all Honourable Members to today’s Parliament Sitting. I also welcome members of the public joining us in the gallery and those watching proceedings on television and the internet and listening on the radio, and I see a delegation from Nadi led by the Tui Nadi. Tui Nadi and your delegation: you are very welcome to Parliament this morning. Thank you for your interest in your Parliament. Disruptive Interjections Honourable Members, for those who are listed on today’s Order Paper to speak, if during your speech interjections are too disruptive, you can stop and resume when all is quiet, extra time will be given, otherwise I cannot hear what is being said. Hon. Lt. Col. N. Rika - Birthday Wishes Honourable Members, at this juncture, please, join me in wishing the Honourable Netani Rika a very Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns of the Day! (Applause) 10th July, 2018 Presentation of Reports of Committees 2063 PRESENTATION OF REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence - Review of the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing (Agreement) HON. SPEAKER.- I now call on the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. HON. LT. COL. N. RIKA.- Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present this Report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, on the review of the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Madam Speaker, this Report provides a summary and examination of written and oral submissions received by the Committee during its inquiry from 28th May, 2018 to 21st June, 2018. The Agreement is a Multilateral and legally binding Treaty that was negotiated under the auspices of the technical consultation, convened by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO). This international instrument comprehended the FAO Model Scheme on Port State Measures to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing with 53 Parties to the Agreement as of this year. Madam Speaker, the objective of the Agreement is to prevent, deter, eliminate IUU fishing through the implementation of effective Port State Measures. IUU fishing undermines the effort to sustainably manage fish stock and has a range of negative environmental impacts, economic, social consequences, including the Fijian fishing industry. Madam Speaker, Port State Measures apply to vessels that request entry to port until the time they leave the port, for example, vessel inspection. The Agreement establishes a set of minimum standards on the management of access by foreign-flagged fishing vessel, not including foreign-flagged charter vessels and related support vessels to port. Madam Speaker, the Agreement fills a gap in the international fishery governance framework by setting internationally abridged standard for Port State Measures. If widely implemented, it will reduce the availability of ‘ports of convenience’ (that is port with weak controls in place) making it increasingly difficult and less economic to undertake IUU fishing. A reduction of IUU fishing would reduce environmental impacts and increase economic and social benefit, including economic benefits for Fijian fishers operating in high value international fisheries that are targeted by IUU fishers. It is proposed that Fiji accede and ratify the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing which has entered into force on 5th June, 2016. Madam Speaker, Fiji is surrounded by waters with an area of 1.23 million square kilometres compared to each land area of 18,274 square kilometres. This is a ratio of 70:1 and total coastline of 1,129 kilometres which indicates that Fiji’s national interest and economic power is related to maritime. Two-thirds of our national revenue are derived from our blue economy. Having mentioned this briefly, our national security threats and challenges are maritime-related in relation to supporting enforcement of Fisheries Treaties that is linked to Sustainable Development Goal 14, which is “Life Below Water”. Policing of Fiji’s Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ), offshore fishing and inshore fishing and from the national maritime security, fisheries protection and environmentally sustainable perspective is everyone’s responsibility. 2064 Presentation of Reports of Committees 10th July, 2018 IUU Fishing is very difficult to assess because it is not reported. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that global losses of IUU fishing cost up to US$36.4 billion each year. IUU fishing is one of the greatest evil of our oceans today, depleting marine life regardless of species and size. IUU Fishing have no respect for nature and the life cycle of sea creatures. Those engaged in IUU fishing are blinded by their own greed for money to go to the extent of destroying juvenile sea species and non- targeted species. Madam Speaker, Article 30 stipulates that no reservations or exceptions may be made to this Agreement. The signing of the Agreement will be consistent with the Fiji Government’s Business Growth Agenda, in particular its objective to build economic growth by sustainably using natural resources. It is also consistent with Fiji’s pursuit of international best practices and with Fiji’s policy objectives of strengthening international fisheries governance and reducing the occurrence of IUU fishing. The Agreement will also reinforce Fiji’s reputation as a responsible fishing State and set a positive precedent for the wider Pacific. Madam Speaker, the Committee would like to acknowledge and commend the fourteen (14) submissions received from Government ministries and departments, regional and international organisations, private sector, political parties and non-governmental organisations. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Honourable Members of the Standing Committee, I commend this Report to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Thank you, please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) Pursuant to Standing Order 121(1)(b) and Standing Order 130(4), the Standing Committee has now reported back. Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence - Review of the World Health Organisation Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products HON. SPEAKER.- I now call on the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence to have the floor. HON. LT. COL. N. RIKA.- Madam Speaker, once again, I am pleased to present this Report of the Fiji Parliament Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the review of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. Madam Speaker, the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the parent Treaty; the Protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products was developed in response to the growing illegal trade in tobacco products, often across borders. According to the WHO, illicit trade poses a serious threat to public health because it increases access to often cheaper tobacco products, thus fuelling the tobacco epidemic and undermining tobacco control policies. However, the Ministry of Health notes for Fiji, from 25 to 64 years age group, there has been a significant decrease of tobacco use in 42.4 percent from 2002 to 13.8 percent in 2011. Madam Speaker, Fiji signed and ratified the WHO FCTC on 3rd October, 2003. Many of the provisions of the WHO FCTC have been implemented through domestic legislation namely, the Fiji Tobacco Control Act 2010 and its regulations. 10th July, 2018 2018-2019 Appropriation Bill 2018 2065 Madam Speaker, the WHO noted that illicit trade causes substantial losses in Government revenues for undeclared tobacco, and at the same time contributes to the funding of international criminal activities. Parties to the WHO FCTC decided on the Protocol to address the illicit tobacco trade and after several years of negotiations, it was adopted in November 2012.