Foreign Affairs Minister Sakiasi Ditoka says Fiji has no immediate plans to sell its Canberra diplomatic residence, despite the property requiring substantial restoration work.
Responding to questions raised on social media, Ditoka said the Canberra property was inherited in a condition that was not considered habitable and requires significant work to meet the standards expected of a Head of Mission’s residence.
He said similar deterioration had been found at Fiji’s overseas properties in London and Brussels, while the former residence in Wellington had deteriorated to the point where Government eventually sold it and purchased another property.
Ditoka said Canberra had been included in a restoration programme proposed for the current financial year but did not receive funding after Government was forced to tighten expenditure because of the fuel supply crisis and its impact on public finances.
He said restoration funding was instead prioritised for the London Chancery, Fiji House and the Brussels property.
“Canberra is the next major overseas property work we intend to undertake in the next financial year,” Ditoka said.
He said Fiji should be cautious about selling the Canberra residence, noting that it was purchased for AUD852,500 in 2001 and could now be worth several million dollars.
Ditoka said deterioration alone was not sufficient reason to dispose of a valuable State asset.
“The question is not what quick return we can get by selling it today, but what makes better financial sense for Fiji over the longer term,” he said.
He added that if future financial assessments showed that selling the property was the better option, Government should consider it.
Ditoka also said the current accommodation for the Fiji High Commissioner in Canberra is within Government financial policies and regulations and has been budgeted for.
He said the Government would restore overseas properties progressively within available funding while protecting the value of State assets.
