18 December, 2025, 10:51 am Central - 27°C Rain

Cabinet seeks Supreme Court opinion on constitutional amendment process

Cabinet seeks Supreme Court opinion on constitutional amendment process

By Rashika Kumar
07/05/2025

Cabinet has agreed to seek an opinion from the Supreme Court on the interpretation and application of the amendment provisions of the 2013 Constitution.

Cabinet has also approved the engagement of Bret Walker, Senior Counsel, for legal representation in the Supreme Court - Cabinet's Supreme Court Reference filed under section 91(5) of the 2013 Constitution.

The Cabinet says Walker is one of Australia's leading barristers, widely respected for his extensive legal experience and advocacy in constitutional, administrative and appellate law.

This comes as the Bill to amend the 2013 Constitution was defeated in Parliament.

The Bill sought to change the requirement for the 75 percent of the Members of Parliament needed to amend the Constitution and to also entirely remove the requirement of a referendum and support of 75 percent of the registered voters under Section 160.

It also sought to amend Section 159(c) relating to repealing, infringing or diminishing the effect of Chapter 11 of the Constitution which is about amendments to the Constitution.

FEATURE NEWS
Ceiling collapse,water issue force ward closures at Navua Hospital
Navua Hospital is facing ongoing challenges after the closure of its labour ward, general ward and maternity ward for more than a year, raising concer...
22 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
Warner Bros favours Netflix offer over US$108 billion Paramount bid
Warner Bros Discovery has told its shareholders to reject Paramount Skydance's US$108.4bn takeover bid.Paramount had said its offer was "superior" to ...
23 minutes ago

Rabukawaqa and Macedru further remanded in Top Shop aggravated robbery case
23-year-old Lagani Rabukawaqa and 25-year-old Saimoni Macedru have been further remanded for the alleged Raiwai aggravated robbery that occurred on ...
2 hours ago

Flash Flood and Heavy Rain alerts cancelled for Fiji
A Flash Flood Alert that was previously in force for low-lying and flood-prone areas in the southern and eastern parts of Viti Levu, as well as the ...
3 hours ago

Acting Police Commissioner warns new recruits against abuse of authority
Acting Commissioner of Police, Aporosa Lutunauga, has warned newly graduated police recruits against abusing their authority, stressing that such ...
3 hours ago

CCTV cameras in central Suva fully operational, hand-over to police soon - Patel
CCTV cameras installed across key streets in central Suva are now fully operational, with final internet connectivity work expected to be completed ...
16 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Human trafficking allegations and issues relating to Grace Road Group
Human trafficking allegations and concerns linked to the Grace Road Group/+ARTICLE-311061+ARTICLE/PM says Govt cannot interfere into any human ...
2 hours ago

Sonia Shanaaz says silent treatment hurts as she waits for assistance for her daughter with cerebral palsy
Sonia Shanaaz, the mother of 10-year-old Aarna who was born with cerebral palsy, says silent treatment hurts after she reached out to the ...
6 days ago

I do not support police officers being charged on public opinions and without evidence - COMPOL
Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu says he will stand by his officers, and he does not support any officer being charged based on public opinion ...
6 days ago

TOP