Dialogue Fiji has urged the Government to redraft key sections of the National Referendum Bill 2025, citing serious legal and constitutional flaws.
Executive Director Nilesh Lal said the Bill, in its current form, criminalises public advocacy, civic education, and ordinary citizen engagement on referendum issues.
Section 23, he noted, makes it a criminal offence to persuade or dissuade someone from voting in a particular way, while giving the Supervisor of Elections total control over referendum materials and banning citizen-led banners, advertisements, and symbols.
“No referendum law in liberal democracies imposes such sweeping restrictions. Public scrutiny and debate are essential to free and fair referendums,” Mr Lal said.
Dialogue Fiji emphasised that genuine public consultation and careful redrafting are necessary before any further legislative action, warning that failure to do so could make Fiji the only democratic nation where citizens risk imprisonment for expressing their views on a referendum.
