Public Consultation ends with Kolomotu'a 92% against Bills [1]
Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 19:44
By Pesi Fonua
Last night at Kolomotu‘a, a well-attended and lively public consultation on six government bills showed that a great majority was not supportive of a move by government to take on more power. The bills proposed to establish new bodies to appoint officials.
At this, the last public consultation, some 92% of people who submitted notes indicated they were opposed to the bills.
The government tabled the bills earlier this year and tried to push them through the House, but there was a move by some Members to hold public consultations first, because the bills proposed amendments to the Tongan Constitution to transfer authority from the Privy Council to the Cabinet.
Members of the House Standing Committee on Legislation have represented the House at national consultations held in Vava‘u, Ha‘apai and Tongatapu in May. People attending were allowed to ask questions and make submissions, and in the end voted on notes to show whether or not they supported the bills.
The voting at the meetings was only meant to be indicative of public feeling and not a binding referendum.
After parliament opens next week and resumes its work on May 30, the six bills will be presented to the House. The full national response to the public consultation is expected to be revealed.
How the House responds to the public indication remains to be seen.
The bills deal with complex issues such as who appoints officials, including judges, the Police Commissioner and Attorney General.
The six Bills that would amend the Constitution to establish new bodies to appoint officials, are:
- Bill no.15/2019 - Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) Bill 2019
- Bill no.16/2019 - Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2019
- Bill no.17/2019 - Tonga Police (Amendment) Bill 2019
- Bill no.18/2019 - Magistrate’s Courts (Amendment) Bill 2019
- Bill no.19/2019 - Judicial and Legal Service Commission Bill 2019
- Bill no.20/2019 - National Spatial Planning and Management (Amendment) Bill.
The consultations were carried out by members of the Standing Committee on Legislation led by the Chairman, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, and assisted by the Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu and Lord Fusitu’a. They began in Vava’u, from May 6-10; Ha’apai, from May 13-14; and Tongatapu, from May 15-24. A consultation scheduled for ‘Eua was cancelled. There was also no public consultation over the bills at the Niuas.
The last public consultation, held at the Kolomotu’a District in a hall of the Free Wesleyan Church at Longolongo last night, was well attended and showed a high level of interest. At the end people submitted their notes, identifying which of the six bills they were for and against. According to officials the result showed that 92% were against all the six Bills and only 8% were for the Bills.
The members of the Standing Committee on Legislation are:
Hon. Samiu Vaipulu - Chairman
Lord Fakafanua
Lord Fusitu'a
Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu
Hon. Sione Vuna Fa'otusia
Hon. Mo'ale Finau
Attorney General
Members (Reserves) - Lord Tu'iha'angana, Hon. Losaline Ma'asi, Hon. 'Akosita Lavulavu.
Parliament stated the aim of the public consultations was to brief the public on the amendments proposed in the Bills, gather the public’s opinion on those proposed amendments and invite written submissions.
A public awareness program focused on providing information and clarification of the Bills began on April 29 in the lead up to the public meetings.