The Government will move a motion in Parliament tomorrow seeking approval of two major agreements between Fiji and Australia, just days after a parliamentary committee recommended deferring their ratification.
According to Friday’s Order Paper, the Attorney-General will move a motion seeking parliamentary approval of the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Union and the Ocean of Peace Alliance, also known as the Veitacini Treaty.
The motion will be moved under Section 51 of the Constitution and Standing Order 130(4).
Section 51 provides that an international treaty or convention binds the State only after it has been approved by Parliament.
Standing Order 130(4) allows the Attorney-General to move a motion for parliamentary approval once the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence has tabled its report on a treaty, or failed to do so within the required 30-day period.
The move follows Monday’s recommendation by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence that ratification of both agreements be deferred pending further negotiations with Australia.
Committee chairperson Lenora Qereqeretabua said the agreements had the potential to strengthen bilateral relations but raised significant concerns requiring further consideration.
These included Fiji’s ability to maintain independent relationships with other development partners, the protection of critical infrastructure and sovereign data, and transparency surrounding the proposed 10-year work plan and financial commitments.
The committee also raised concerns about the Veitacini Treaty’s implications for mutual defence obligations, foreign military presence, intelligence sharing and Fiji’s constitutional authority over national security decisions.
Friday’s scheduled motion now provides that parliamentary pathway.
The two agreements, signed in July, are intended to deepen cooperation between Fiji and Australia in security, economic development, climate resilience and regional stability.
The Vuvale Union establishes a broader political and economic partnership, while the Veitacini Treaty focuses on defence and security cooperation.
