The Tonga Government's $382.449 million pa'anga budget appropriation was assented by King Tupou VI today, July 5.

The 2017/2018 Appropriation Act 2017 to appropriate moneys to the service of Government, passed by Legislative Assembly on 29 June, was intended to come into effect on 1 July 2017.

The Attorney General's Office stated that the Act was Gazetted today.

The Appropriation Act schedules 25 votes with the largest allocations going to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning $101,873,300 (26.63%), followed by Education and Training $57,362,800 (15%), and Health $42,556,400 (11.12%).

The Legislative Assembly vote amounts to $7,901,800 (2.06%).

The Votes are:

1. Palace Office $4,894,900
2. Legislative Assembly $7,901,800
3. Tonga Office of the Auditor General $1,896,000
4. Office of the Ombudsman $1,733,800
5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs $10,892,300  
6. His Majesty’s Armed Forces $9,630,100
7. Prime Minister’s Office $3,958,500
8. Ministry of Finance and National Planning $101,873,300
9. Ministry of Revenue and Customs $12,348,700  
10. Ministry of Public Enterprises $5,395,900
11. Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation and Labour $7,287,100
12. Ministry of Justice and Prisons $10,733,000
13. Attorney General’s Office $3,204,200
14. Ministry of Police and Fire Services $15,259,400
15. Ministry of Health $42,556,400
16. Ministry of Education and Training $57,362,800
17. Ministry of Internal Affairs $12,378,700
18. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry $8,258,000
19. Ministry of Infrastructure $20,482,300
20. Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources $5,136,500  
21. Public Service Commission $2,055,600
22. Statistics Department $3,336,300
23. Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Communications and Climate Change $23,449,900
24. Ministry of Fisheries $5,210,100
25. Ministry of Tourism $5,213,500

Total Expenditure $ 382,449,100