Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau showed his disappointment in Parliament this morning by revealing that deliberation of the Standing Orders Committee and the full committee report which are to be tabled today have been released to a website without the authority of Parliament.
Ratu Epeli says he is deeply disappointed that this has happened and trusts that it will never happen again.
He reminded parliamentarians that committee deliberations and the content of committee reports must not be shared or released before they are tabled in Parliament.
The Speaker says it may be considered a matter of breach or privilege for deliberations of the committee and the committee’s draft of final reports to be released before they are tabled in Parliament and become public documents.
Ratu Epeli says it is only right and fitting that members of Parliament receive committee reports first and do not learn about them and their recommendations through media or social media.
No details have emerged as yet as to who leaked the deliberation of the committee report.
Meanwhile, Leader of Government, Inia Seruiratu has advised parliament this morning that the Standing Orders Committee met recently and discussed amendments to the Standing Orders and these were amendments proposed by representatives of both sides of Parliament.
The Parliament is currently debating on the amendments.
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