Results for Parliament

The Budget debate in parliament, is continuing as the House is pushing to meet the 30 June deadline for the passing of the Government estimates for 2024-25. By today, the Whole House Committee had passed the draft estimates of seven government ministries, including the Vote for the Legislative Assembly's Office, during an extensive debate spanning over a week on the budget statement.

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga passed the first reading of the 2024/2025 Appropriation Bill 2024 today. They are planning for expenditure of $899.2 million, with $452.3 million to be funded by Government and $446.9 million from development partners. The second reading is scheduled for 6 June.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and two other nobles will open the 2024 session of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, on Thursday, 16 May, at 10:30 am.

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga will hold a soft closing of its 2023-24 session on Thursday next week, 2 May, without much fanfare. Parliament will then take a break until the State Opening of the 2024-2025 Session on Thursday 16 May.

No reason was offered by the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku today over why he had resigned his defence portfolio. He said his conversation with King Tupou VI on the matter was “private”. However, at a media conference this afternoon, following the announcement that Cabinet Minister Fekita 'Utoikamanu had also resigned her Foreign Affairs and Tourism portfolios, he revealed that his former Minister of Foreign Affairs is being sued by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (the Lord Privy Seal).

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga will reconvene next Thursday, 4 April at 10:00 am, after a month long adjournment since 5 March. The office of the Fale Alea reported that the agenda for next week’s sitting will include Government's annual reports, Parliamentary constituency reports, and the Auditor’s compliance report.

Tonga's Privy council will meet with King Tupou VI in Vava'u, tomorrow, Thursday 28 March. Members of the Privy Council are gathering in Neiafu today, ahead of the meeting.

The Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku and members of the Cabinet sought an audience with King Tupou VI at the remote island of Niuafo'ou, yesterday, 7 March, following weeks of uncertainty after the King withdrew his confidence and consent to the appointment of two cabinet ministers, Minister of His Majesty's Armed Forces Hon, Hu'akavameiliku, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Hon. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu.

Tonga's nobles are collectively calling on Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku to resign his defence portfolio as Minister of His Majesty's Armed Forces, and to respect the decision of King Tupou VI, who has withdrawn his consent to three ministerial appointments. The Nobles' Representatives told parliament today that the PM's response (a refusal) to the King had stirred concern about peace in the country.