4 February, 2026, 12:33 am Central - 25°C Clouds

This budget does not reflect the voice of poor people - Kirpal

This budget does not reflect the voice of poor people - Kirpal

By Mansi Chand
10/07/2023
FijiFirst MP, Sanjay Kirpal

FijiFirst MP, Sanjay Kirpal says the 2023/2024 National Budget does not reflect the voice of poor people while the sugarcane farmers now have no faith in the three-legged stool government.

Kirpal says this is after the coalition government failed to keep their promise by giving farmers further incentives.

While opposing the budget, Kirpal says the 15 percent VAT will have a devasting impact on the poor and low-income earners as they cannot survive on the 22 zero rated VAT items.

He adds that the corporate tax increase to 25% will have a huge impact on small and medium enterprises as some will think of closing their business.

Click here for all Budget Debate 2023-2024 Responses

Full Budget Coverage and Documents

FEATURE NEWS
PM to assess SG options and JSC decisions before deciding on appeal - Tabuya
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka will now assess the presentation and options given by Solicitor General, Ropate Green, and also await the Judicial Ser...
8 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
126 serious sexual offence cases filed in High Court last year, women and children most affected
Serious sexual offences continues to be a concern as 126 cases involving 252 counts of serious sexual offences were filed in the High Court last ...
6 hours ago

Dr Alpana balances motherhood and academia to earn doctorate
Balancing motherhood, sacrifice, and years of hard work, Dr Reema Alpana has achieved a major milestone for herself and her family, graduating with a ...
6 hours ago

Reinstate Malimali as FICAC Commissioner and get this car back on the road - Waqanika
Reinstate Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner and let's get this car back on the road.That is the message from Malimali's counsel, Tanya Waqanika ...
7 hours ago

UniFiji to host Tertiary Teaching Symposium to boost academic excellence
The University of Fiji is set to host a Tertiary Teaching Symposium for its academic staff as part of its continued efforts to improve the quality of ...
7 hours ago

Finance Minister says errors and verification problems slow $200 Back to School Grant
Delays in the $200 Back to School Grant have largely been caused by verification issues, including incorrect telephone numbers, errors in parents’ ...
7 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Ailava Samuels to represent Fiji in Miss Pacific Pageant
Miss Fiji 2025 first runner-up and Miss Nasinu, Ailava Samuels, has been officially appointed as Fiji’s representative to next month's Miss ...
13 days ago

Referendum Bill risks undermining democracy - Dialogue Fiji
The National Referendum Bill risks undermining democracy by criminalising political expression, enabling state overreach and excluding young people ...
14 days ago

Shocking move : FNU reassigned under PM
The Fiji National University is being reassigned under the Prime Minister's Office Ministerial Portfolio via the Ministry of Strategic Planning, ...
14 days ago

TOP