Results for budget

Tongan MPs in accepting an invitation to attend this Saturday’s Mate Ma‘a Tonga Rugby League test match in Auckland, New Zealand, are reportedly planning to spend up to $200,000 from the House budget to cover airfares and hotel accommodation for their weekend away.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Lisiate 'Akolo has launched Tonga's biggest ever national budget amounting to T$357.6 million for the 2013-14 financial year, and expressed concern over low returns to government from public enterprises.

Communications costs in Tonga are under pressure as the Tonga Government aims to collect more than $10 million pa'anga revenue from the communications and public enterprises sector in the current financial year.

$2 million pa'anga of taxpayers money was divided equally among 17 People's Representatives this week, to spend on their annual national tour of constituencies - a $300,000 increase from the $1.7 million they took in the previous budget. The Minister of Finance Lisiate 'Akolo argued for the increased amount of $300,000 to be divided between himself and 'Uliti Uata, but the PRs also wanted a "fair share". From the House by Pesi Fonua.

The Tonga government will establish a new embassy in Tokyo, Japan, during the coming 2012-13 financial year, following the approval by the Tonga Parliament of a budget of over $5.73 million for running Tonga's nine overseas missions, on Thursday, June 21. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

The government budget of $317 million for the 2012-13 financial year should be ready to be presented to the parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance and Public Accounts, early this week, before it goes to Cabinet on Friday, May 25, the Minister of Finance Hon. Lisiate 'Akolo said at a press conference on Friday, May 18.