Nearly six weeks after the Prime Minister said there was no need for further public consultation on new government Bills, the Parliamentary committee dealing with legislation will start public feedback sessions next week.
The public will be invited to make written submissions on the six Bills, which the government wanted debated last month.
As Kaniva Tonga news reported at the time, the Bills were at the centre of upheavals in Parliament when the Acting Speaker blocked attempt to have them heard as a matter of urgency.
Noble MPS also walked out of Parliament during debate over the bills and there were angry exchanges in the House.
As we reported, Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva resisted pressure from the Nobles to allow more public consultation on the new Bills.
Hon. Pōhiva told the House the government had fulfilled all legal requirements before the new Bills and amendments were to be submitted to the House.
The government had previously been using radio talk back to gauge public opinion about the Bills.
However, Radio New Zealand reported that the Prime Minister later withdrew the Bills, citing a need for public consultation.
The Bills, which were originally tabled in March, are:
Bill no. 15/2019 – Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) Bill 2019
Bill no. 16/2019 – Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2019
Bill no. 17/2019 – Tonga Police (Amendment) Bill 2019
Bill no. 18/2019 – Magistrate’s Courts (Amendment) Bill 2019
Bill no. 19/2019 – Judicial and Legal Service Commission Bill 2019
Bill no. 20/2019 – National Spatial Planning and Management (Amendment) Bill
Public meetings will start next week.
A public awareness programme providing information about the Bill began today.
The Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Legislation will host public meetings in Vava’u from May 6–10, followed by meetings in Ha’apai from May 13-14, Tongatapu from May 15-22 and ‘Eua on May 24.
The timetable of the consultation programme can be found on the government website, http://www.parliament.gov.to, the Facebook page Fale Alea ‘o Tonga, or by phoning 27912.
Radio announcements will also provide details on the dates and venues of upcoming public consultation meetings.
The main points
- Nearly six weeks after the Prime Minister said there was no need for further public consultation on six new government Bills, the Parliamentary committee dealing with legislation will start public feedback sessions next week.
- The public will be invited to make written submissions on the six Bills, which the government wanted debated as a matter of urgency last month.
For more information
Acting Speaker shuts down discussion on new Bills, tells House to come back the next day
Nobles and Cabinet meeting deadlocked as gov’t blocks decision for another public consultation on new Bills
Non-government MPs walk out of Tonga’s parliament
Polokalama Fetalanoaʻaki mo e Kakaí ʻa e Kōmiti Tuʻumaʻu ki he Laó ʻa e Fale Alea ʻo Tongá fekauʻaki mo e Ngaahi Lao Fakaangaanga ʻe ono ʻa e Puleʻangá.
ʻE kamata ʻi he ʻaho Mōnite, 6 ʻo Meé, ʻa hono fakahoko ʻe he Kōmiti Tuʻumaʻu ki he Laó ʻa e Fale Alea ʻo Tongá ha fetalanoaʻaki mo e kakaí fekauʻaki mo e Ngaahi Lao Fakaangaanga ʻe ono ʻa e Puleʻangá, ne fakahū mai ki he Fale Aleá ʻi Māʻasi, 2019.
ʻOku lisi atu ʻa e Ngaahi Lao Fakaangaangá ʻo anga peheni:
(i) Lao Fakaangaanga fika 15/2019 – Lao Fakaangaanga (Fakatonutonu) ki he Lao ʻo e Konisitūtone ʻo Tonga 2019
(ii) Lao Fakaangaanga fika 16/2019 – Lao Fakaangaanga (Fakatonutonu) (fika 2) ki he Lao ʻo e Konisitūtone ʻo Tonga 2019
(iii) Lao Fakaangaanga fika 17/2019 – Lao Fakaangaanga (Fakatonutonu) ki he Polisi Tonga 2019
(iv) Lao Fakaanganga fika 18/2019 – Lao Fakaangaanga (Fakatonutonu) ki he Fakamaauʻanga Polisi 2019
(v) Lao Fakaangaanga fika 19/2019 – Lao Fakaangaanga ki he Komisoni Ngāue Fakafakamaau mo Fakalao 2019
(vi) Lao Fakaangaanga fika 20/2019 – Lao Fakaangaanga (Fakatonutonu) ki hono Palani mo hono Puleʻi Fakafonua ʻa hono Ngāueʻaki ʻo e Ngaahi Feituʻú 2019
Ko e taumuʻa ʻo e fetalanoaʻaki mo e kakaí ke fakamaʻalaʻala ki he kakai ʻo e fonuá ʻa e ngaahi fakatonutonu ʻoku fokotuʻu mai ʻi he Ngaahi Lao Fakaangaangá, pea ke tānaki mai ʻa e ngaahi fakakaukau ʻa e kakaí fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi fokotuʻu fakatonutonu ko iá, pea fakaafeʻi ʻa e kakaí ke ʻomi haʻanau ngaahi tohi fokotuʻu. ʻOku kamata he ʻahó ni ʻa hono ʻoatu e ngaahi fakamatalá mo fakamaʻalaʻala atu e Ngaahi Lao Fakaangaangá ʻi he teuteu atu ke fakahoko ʻa e ngaahi fakataha mo e kakaí ʻi he uike kahaʻú.
ʻE fakahoko ʻe he Kau Mēmipa ʻo e Kōmiti Tuʻumaʻu ki he Laó ha ngaahi fakataha mo e kakaí ʻo kamata ʻi Vavaʻu ʻi he Mōnite kahaʻú (Mē 6–10), pea hoko atu ki he ngaahi fakataha ʻi Haʻapaí (Mē 13–14), Tongatapu mei he ʻaho 15–22, pea ʻi ʻEua leva ʻi he ʻaho 24 ʻo Meé.
ʻE malava ke maʻu ʻa e taimi tēpile ʻo e polokalama fetalanoaʻaki mo e kakaí mei he uepisaiti http://www.parliament.gov.to , peesi Feisipuka “Fale Alea ʻo Tonga”, pe fetuʻutaki telefoni mai ki he 27912. ʻE fanongonongo atu foki e fakaikiiki ʻo e ngaahi ʻaho mo e feituʻu ʻe fakahoko ai ʻa e ngaahi fakataha mo e kakaí ʻi he letioó.