Results for Parliament

After 145 years of Rule of Law, the Tongan Parliament with majority votes of 18-0 on Thursday 15 October passed a bill to amend the Tongan Constitution by adding on a Clause 89A to allow undefined Tongan “tradition” to be used in decisions by courts and tribunals, without applying rules of evidence. There was no public consultation. The amendment goes to the King before it can be Gazetted. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

To date, all Pacific nations have abolished the death penalty entirely except for two, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. The World Day against the Death Penalty was jointly marked by the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions on October 9 in Nuku'alofa.

Four Constituency Reports of People Representatives from Vava’u, and Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou were passed by the House last week from 7-8 October. This year the constituencies budget allocation is the biggest ever at $250,000 for each of the 17 People’s Representatives.

The Prime Minister Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa informed members of Parliament this morning that he would brief Parliament weekly on what government had achieved, before he released information to the media. Government will soon table into parliament a new Communication Offences Bill, “to address the misuse of social media”. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

A proposed Government Bill to amend Clause 89 of the Tongan Constitution, with an additional Clause 89A introducing "traditional culture", sparked off some vociferous exchanges in the Tongan Parliament yesterday, 21 September, but wording of the proposed amendment has not been released. Clause 89 gives judges the power to direct the form of indictments to control the procedure of the lower courts, and to make rules of procedure. However, the proposed change was not read out in the House and the Bill was not made available to the media. 
From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Losaline Ma'asi became the first woman parliamentarian to chair the Whole House Committee of the Tonga Legislative Assembly, this week. She was selected by the Speaker of the House Lord Fakafanua. A total of 18 Bills were tabled yesterday. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Lord Fusitu’a has been re-elected, in absentia, as the Nobles' representative of Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou after a by-election was held at the Palace Office yesterday morning, 31 August. Lord Fusitu'a who suffered from failing health was evacuated to Auckland last year and remains in New Zealand.

Lord Fusitu’a has lost his seat in parliament after a long absence from the Legislative Assembly since 5 August 2019. His seat for the Nobles' Representative of Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou has been declared vacant.

Tonga'sParliament will remain closed until August 3, the House decided, voting unanimously 21-0 to extend parliament's closure for another two weeks from July 13. From the House by Pesi Fonua.