Results for Parliament

Tonga's parliament discovered an elusive unity of purpose last month, when after months of frustrating debate over the direction of reform the House led by the Prime Minister, decided almost to a man, that some set beliefs and traditions should be upheld and the Constitution should not be changed to allow Tongan women equality under the law. From the House, by Pesi Fonua. FROM OUR ARCHIVES, 20 October 2009

The first public hearing of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Ashika ferry was held on October 1 at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre.

Mr Justice Warwick Andrew has been temporarily relieved from his Supreme Court judge duties to take up his role as the Chairman of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika.

The sunken ferry, MV Princess Ashika was insured and so was the cargo and the passengers, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Afu'alo Matoto assured the Tongan parliament on Thursday, September 10 during the House's question time.

Tonga's political reform is precisely a reforming of the composition of the parliament, Dr Malakai Koloamatangi, a Political Science Lecturer at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, told members of the Tongan media on Wednesday, September 9.

Noble Fulivai enters the Tongan Parliament for the first time and becomes the youngest member after winning the Vava'u Nobles' By Election ton JUly 30 at the Palace Office, Nuku'alofa.

The House approves for the salaries of Cabinet Ministers to come under the Salway Salary Scale, which was independently assessed. The other members of the House remain under a salary decided by themselves in 2006. But the PRs want the public to think that the PRs salary scale is what Salway recommended when, in fact, a sub-committee chaired by 'Uliti Uata and 'Akilisi Pohiva in 2006 had rejected Salway's figures and presented their own figures, which were higher than Salway's. From the House. Minute No. 14, Tuesday night, 23 June 2009. Premium Content.

Instead of focusing on the budget debate members raised other social issues such as the foreign ownership of businesses; and the dirty state of the town. From the House. Minute No. 12, Monday night 22 June 2009. Premium Content.

The Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele said he was surprised by comments made by some PRs about the $1,800 per day salary of commissioners, when the members in the House work only one hour and get paid for a full day. From the House. Minute No. 10, Thursday Night, June 18, 2009.