Parliament passes Bill to reinstate the Great Council of Chiefs

Parliament has passed the iTaukei Affairs (Amendment) Bill 2023 which allows the reinstatement of the Great Council of Chiefs.

28 MPs voted for the Bill, 22 voted against it, 3 did not vote and 1 MP abstained.

While tabling the Bill, Attorney General, Siromi Turaga said the Great Council of Chiefs was established under the iTaukei Affairs Act 1944 however in 2012 the establishing provision of the Council was repealed through the iTaukei Affairs (Amendment) Decree 2012 which also removed or amended various provisions under the Act that made reference to the Council.

The iTaukei Affairs (Amendment) Bill 2023 amends the Act to insert an establishing provision for the GCC in the Act and includes reference to the Council in other provisions of the Act and the iTaukei Trust Fund Act 2004 as applicable.

The Bill also requires the iTaukei Affairs Board to refer to the Council any question relating to the iTaukei people that the Minister may submit to the Board.

The Bill also amends section 11 of the Act to require the Minister to refer to the Board or the Council any proposed Bill that is intended to be introduced to Parliament and which may appear to the Minister to affect in any important matter the rights and interests of the iTaukei people.

The Board or the Council, as the case may be, is then required to submit the proposed Bill with a memorandum, which is to be used in the Parliamentary debate process.