AFTER intense debate, scrutiny and long sitting hours for four days, Parliament has passed the State’s $3.302 billion 2016-2017 National Budget.
Economy Minister and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum moved the motion for a third reading of the 2016-2017 Appropriation Bill of 2016 (Bill No. 35 of 2016) be read a third time and passed.
The budget, which pioneers the State’s new financial year, was passed by 31 votes while 14 MPs voted against the budget and five did not vote.
Speaker Dr Jiko Luveni congratulated the MPs for their contribution to the important parliamentary process of passing the budget.
“A Bill for an Act to appropriate a sum of $3,302,212,765 for the ordinary services of Government for the financial year ending 31st July 2017 (Bill No. 35 of 2016) enacted by the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji,” Dr Luveni said.
“Parliament has now passed the 2016-2017 budget, I congratulate all members for their contribution to this important process,” she said.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had earlier said the new budget was strong, fair, inclusive and one that included unprecedented consultation.
Mr Bainimarama said the budget made a bold statement to the world of where Fiji stood today, and where it intended to go.
