Results for Parliament

Tonga's Prime Minister and his Cabinet must respond to a Motion for a Vote of No Confidence before midday on Friday - a deadline set by the Speaker when the House reopened this morning. Instead of proceeding with its work today, the House has adjourned until Tuesday 3 December. The Prime Minister said that no one would pay attention to the agenda while there was a submission “on the intention to bring down this Government.”

Concern over land use in ‘Eua has touched on the sensitive issues of land rights, fresh water supply and environmental damage to the ‘Eua Forest over the last two decades. A petition to parliament by dislocated families has highlighted a growing conflict of interest between local residents and a foreign commercial interest that has cut forest for a kava plantation

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga will reconvene on Thursday, 1 August, after a month long adjournment since 26 June, following the passing of the 2024/2025 Budget Estimates.

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.