Bia cheekily tells Seruiratu to provide alternative budget

While supporting the 2025/2026 National Budget Assistant Minister for Information, Aliki Bia responded to Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu by echoing the same challenge that the former Finance Minister and former Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum used to tell the former opposition members, and that is to provide an alternative budget, to really show the people of Fiji that they have better alternatives from what has been delivered in the budget.

Bia says Seruiratu stated that the budget lacks clarity but listening to Seruiratu’s response, he found that it lacks clarity as well.

He says in one of his statements, Seruiratu mentioned that government needs to reduce its size, but then later in his response, he mentioned that government needs to appoint another minister to look after state-owned enterprises only.

The Assistant Minister says to all Fijians, as a government, they do accept the fact that they cannot make everyone happy and the coalition government will not hide away from that but will confront it with all truth and honesty.

He says it is unrealistic as well to make every citizen happy.

Bia says the coalition government will ensure that it introduces policies and initiatives that promote societal well-being and collective human empowerment.

He says many Fijians took to social media to welcome the bold decision by government to decrease VAT from 15 to 12.5 percent which should start from the beginning of next month.

The Assistant Minister says many social welfare recipients also welcome the 5 percent increase in their monthly allowance as this will somehow ease their daily burdens and navigate challenges as it comes their way.