Tonga is set to introduce compulsory inoculation against coronavirus disease. A Bill to amend the Public Health Act to enforce inoculation of the public against COVID-19, was among seven Bills that government tabled into parliament yesterday, 3 August. The Bill was carried unanimously on its first reading and passed on to a Standing committee. Full details of the amendment have not been released to the public. From the House by Pesi Fonua.
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Results for Parliament
Wednesday 4 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Thursday 22 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Limited “public hearings” organised by a Parliamentary Standing Committee will be held today and tomorrow at undisclosed locations for registered attendees to talk about a new “Tonga Sports and Recreation Bill 2021”. The bill proposes an Act that, critics argue, will give government new powers to direct activities of independent national sports associations, and give politicians more control over how funding for sports is used.

Wednesday 21 July 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Survivors of domestic violence or gender-based violence in Tonga can now access justice with more comprehensive legal support provided online by the Tonga Family Protection Legal Aid Centre.
Friday 9 July 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A close relationship between the Communist Party of China and the Tonga People’s Party, led by Prime Minister Hon. Rev Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, was revealed at a reception to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China, at the Chinese Embassy last night, 8 July. By Pesi Fonua
Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Questions in parliament this morning once again failed to win any clarity from the Prime Minister on the salaried status of his jailed Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism. No new ministers have been appointed to the portfolios held by 'Akosita Lavulavu, who started five years imprisonment on Friday July 2. It appears that the Prime Minister is not going to give her a red card. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tuesday 6 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
Tonga’s Prime Minister, Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, who is not only the President of the Tonga Rugby Union but also chairs the interim group to manage Tonga’s Rugby League affairs, had a few words to say about rugby in parliament this morning. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Wednesday 30 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan Parliament resumed yesterday morning, 29 June after it had a fortnight break after the House passed the 2021-2022 National Budget on 10 June. It was a slow start on Tuesday. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Monday 28 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's new Electronic Communications Abuse Offences Act aimed at addressing the problem of online abuse, comes into force on July 1.

Sunday 20 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As we are heading for a General Election in November, Tonga's fourth election since 2010, it is logical to look back at how our new system of government has been in operation since the Democratisation Reform Program was introduced in 2010 - over a decade ago.

Friday 11 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s National Budget for 2021-2022, of $618.4 million pa'anga was passed by the Tongan Parliament yesterday 10 June. Hon. Tevita Lavemaau told the House that the deficit budget will be financed 60% by Government, and 40% by Tonga’s foreign development partners. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Sunday 6 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The first Budget allocation of $509,300 for an Anti-Corruption Commission was among nine allocations passed by the Whole House Committee of the Tongan Legislature on June 2-3.

Tuesday 1 June 2021
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The proceedings in the Tongan Parliament on Monday, 31 May highlighted an attempt by members of parliament to fulfil their duty, “to oversee the work of the Government of the day,” as stated by King Tupou VI when he opened Parliament on 6 May. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Saturday 29 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s government is once again proposing a deficit National Budget, with a $38 million pa'anga deficit for the coming year 2021-22, according to the the Minister of Finance’s Budget Statement presented to Parliament this week. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Monday 24 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A petition, pleading for King Tupou VI to dismantle parliament and call a new General Election, “because the people no longer trust the Parliament and the Government”, was delivered this afternoon to the Palace Office, by Siaosi Pohiva, the Tongatapu No. 1 People’s Representative and his supporters.

Monday 24 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A National Budget of $618.3 million pa'anga, an increase of $28.7 million on the previous year, was tabled into parliament, by the Tonga government this morning, 24 May. The PM said they have only three weeks to pass the budget before they go away to 'Eua for the opening of a military camp, church conferences and feasting. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Friday 21 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The response of the Tongan Parliament to King Tupou VI’s speech to open parliament on May 6, was delivered to the Palace Office today by the Speaker and the Prime Minister. They were not granted an audience with the King.

Thursday 20 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
It’s only six paragraphs long, but the response from parliament to King Tupou VI's confronting speech of 6 May, has taken a committee of nine MPs 11 days to prepare. When the draft letter was presented to the House on 18 May for approval, they went to the dark side of the moon – silencing live radio broadcasting of the debate, to prevent an inquisitive public listening to what members had to say about it. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tuesday 18 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's parliament suppressed live broadcasting of its debate this morning, in their first sitting since King Tupou VI questioned the honesty, integrity and abilities of the members at the opening of Parliament on 6 May. A total of 18 MPs agreed their draft letter of response to the king and debate on it should be not broadcasted live. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Monday 10 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Parliament is deferred indefinitely while the House frames its response to the King's speech. King Tupou VI opened the 2021-22 parliamentary session on Thursday with a challenging speech from the throne that questioned members' abilities to run the government. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Thursday 6 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM King Tupou VI chastised and challenged Parliament, directly questioning members’ honesty, mission and abilities to run the government, in a remarkably frank and hard-hitting speech from the throne, to open the Legislature's 2021-22 session this morning. From the House, By Pesi Fonua
