PARLIAMENT must reject the proposed Electoral Amendment Bills 29, 30, and 31 to prevent wealthy interests and foreign money from dominating Fiji’s political process, says One Nation Party representative Tupou Draunidalo.
While delivering submissions on behalf of the party to the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights on September 11, she warned that rushing these changes without strict financial caps would allow monied actors to sponsor unserious people into Parliament while urgent social issues like healthcare, drug abuse, HIV, and the rising cost of living remain unaddressed.
Bill 31 proposes eliminating donation caps, permitting political contributions from non-citizens, and setting campaign expenditure limits at $300,000 for both candidates and parties. It also exempts traditional community gifts from bribery definitions if declared after the fact.
“Disclosure after the fact is not control, it is a record of influence that has already changed hands,” she said.
Ms Draunidalo emphasised that allowing high spending limits and traditional gift exemptions enables wealthy candidates to buy access under the guise of custom.
She also cautioned that Bill 30, which creates a Corrupt Electoral Practices List, becomes ineffective because Bill 29 guts core financial penalties.
Under Sections 23 and 26 of the Fijian Constitution, equal political rights must be guaranteed, yet she noted that these amendments entrench advantages for the rich at the expense of working-class Fijians on minimum wage.
She was surprised Parliament didn’t address digital disinformation and artificial intelligence threats.
