Results for Parliament

Two urgent bills to amend the Traffic Act and the Roads Act, as well as a Petition alleging unfairness in awarding government roads deals, stirred a few aggressive exchanges in the Tongan parliament on Monday and Tuesday this week. There was an objection that the urgent bills had not gone to the Standing Committee on Legislation before they were tabled.

The Tonga government’s plan to open its border for incoming passengers between New Zealand and Tonga this week is deferred, Prime Minister Hon. Rev. Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa told Members of Parliament yesterday, 29 June.

Six bills presented to the House by the former government in 2019 were withdrawn this week by the Prime Minister, further distancing himself from the work programme of the previous government. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

In Parliament, the Committee of the Whole House on Thursday, 11 June passed the $166 million budget allocation of the Ministry of Finance for the 2020-21 Financial Year. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

After the Tongan Parliament was, for seven days up to Thursday June 4, locked in a tense debate over the preliminary Budget Statement, the House introduced the National Budget and passed the first three vote allocations without any debate at all. The House approved $13.77 million for the running of the Legislative Assembly but the Speaker complained that they had not approved his request for funds to fix the leaking roof. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

The name of Tonga's new domestic airline will be “Lulutai”, the Prime Minister Hon. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, told parliament today. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

The Tonga Parliament yesterday, 20 May replaced its current Chairman of the Whole House Committee, Hon. Veivosa Light of Day Taka with Hon. Lord Tu'i'afitu. The decision stirred up a few loud exchanges and took up most of Wednesday's session. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Tonga’s National Budget of $589.6 million pa’anga for 2020-2021 is the biggest deficit ever of $60 million, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Tevita Lavemaau told parliament this morning. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

A decision by the Tongan Parliament to hold a secretive session to debate their response to the speech to the nation by HM King Tupou VI on the opening of parliament, is a historical first and a disappointing show for the first sitting of the House of the new government, under the new prime minister. When parliament hides their pondering over the approval of a simple thank you note, then the public cannot hope to see participatory parliament in the future. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.