Political parties should not publish their records in the newspapers at their own cost – Unity Fiji Party

Unity Fiji Party Leader, Savenaca Narube says the amendment to the Political Parties Bill 2020 that requires political parties to publish their funding sources and the financial accounts in the newspapers at the party’s own cost should be scrapped.

He says the reports are of public interest and the Fijian Elections Office should use taxpayers' money for this purpose.

Narube says it is unfair and unethical for the Supervisor to legally require political parties to submit at their own cost and this is brutally unfair for small parties.

He has also highlighted that according to the amendment, the Elections Office requiring more information about the party’s sources of funds is frivolous as it now requires the names and addresses of those that participate in the fundraising.

He says the party recommends that this amendment be struck out from the bill because it discriminates and penalizes small parties.

Unity Fiji has also recommended that the committee delete clauses in the bill that is resulting in excessive reporting on the part of the party and it serves no useful purpose.