There is a major change tonight as Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that due processes for changes to salaries, allowances and benefits for the President, Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Members of Cabinet and Parliament as required by the Parliamentary Remunerations Act of 2014 have been gazetted and is now binding on the Executive arm of Government to implement.
Rabuka confirms that he and a few colleagues in Cabinet will not take the salary increase (after removal of the 20 percent pay-reduction put in place by the COVID-19 mini-budget in March 2020.)
However, he says as the 2024-2025 Budget is being finalised in the month of June, before it is tabled in Parliament on Friday 28th June 2024, and then debated in Parliament from 8th to 19th July 2024, this is a window where Members of Parliament will have the opportunity to review or reconsider their decision made last week.
Rabuka says as leaders, Members of Parliament must consider the effect on the country of their vote held on 24th May in Parliament.
He says unless Parliament resolves otherwise before 1st August 2024, the changes based on the parliamentary vote must come into effect on 1st August 2024.
The changes expire on 31st December 2024, unless renewed by Parliament.
Rabuka says the motion resolved by Parliament on 24th May 2024 is in line with sections 3,12 and 13 of the Parliamentary Allowances Act 2014, for amendment of the Schedule of the 2014 Act.
He says the motion amended part 1 on salaries and part 2 on allowances and benefits of the President, the Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Members of Cabinet and Parliament.
Rabuka says as required by the 2014 Act, the Secretary General to Parliament has today gazetted the “determination” by Parliament.
He reiterates that any further changes will need to be considered by Cabinet before it is presented to Parliament for consideration. The Prime Minister says he wants to assure the nation that he is listening to your views aired since the motion was passed last Friday 24th May 2024 in Parliament.
He says that motion was to accept the report and recommendations of the Special Committee on Emoluments appointed by Parliament under Standing Order 29.
The Special Committee on Emoluments also recommended amendment of the 2014 Remunerations Act to require future reviews of salaries, allowances and benefits for Members of Parliament to be conducted by an independent committee and independent experts (not by an Emoluments Committee of Parliament).
Rabuka says this recommendation will require substantive amendment to the Parliamentary Remunerations Act 2014, so it requires a Bill to be drafted by the Solicitor General’s Office.
He says the Bill will then be subject to public consultations where the people of Fiji can have their say and air their views.
It will then be considered by Cabinet before it is tabled in Parliament.
The Special Committee on Emoluments also recommended the substantive review, repeal and updating of the Parliamentary Retirement Allowances Act 1989.
He says this will require a review of the 1989 Act to be carried out with consultations, before a Bill is drafted by the Solicitor General’s Office and considered by Cabinet before it is tabled in Parliament.
The Prime Minister says members of the public will have the opportunity to be heard and have their say on both Bills before they are considered by Cabinet and tabled in Parliament.
However, he says as of the vote held in Parliament on Friday 24th May 2024, on the motion to accept the report and recommendations of the Special Committee on Emoluments, that “determination” or resolution of Parliament is now binding on the Executive arm of Government, to come into effect on 1st August 2024, and expire on 31st December 2024, unless renewed by Parliament. Rabuka says he is gratified to see that the people of Fiji are freely expressing their view, exercising their freedom of expression and they no longer live in fear.
He says the media has freely reported the peoples’ views on the matter and this is democracy in action, where members of the public have their say and media report freely.
It was earlier stated that any changes to the salaries and benefits will go through public consultation, an assessment will be made if the payment can be made based on the economic conditions and a Bill with the proposed salaries and benefits will be taken to parliament.
Attorney General, Siromi Turaga says the Schedule of the Act will be automatically changed as per the recommendation of the Parliamentary Emoluments Commitee.
