Amicus curiae Andrew Butler has dismissed as legally untenable the State’s claim that the failed 2025 Constitution Amendment Bill could offer a path forward for constitutional reform.
He told the Supreme Court this morning Bill is “not in limbo, it’s dead.”
The State has suggested Government could consider presenting the Bill to the President for assent without a referendum.
“First, the Bill is not in limbo. It’s dead,” he said.
Mr Butler added the Bill was defeated at its second reading.
“That means it would have to be reintroduced again.”
Mr Butler said the 2025 Bill lacked any public consultation, either before or during the parliamentary process.
“The people of Fiji were not consulted on its content. Nor was there any public consultation through the parliamentary committee process, which would have occurred had the Bill passed second reading.’
“You would expect, on something as momentous as a constitutional amendment bill, that the public would be interested and might have much to say.”