Fiji has only seven legislative drafters, according to Solicitor-General Ropate Green.
He told the inaugural Pacific Legislative Drafters Steering Committee (PLDSC) conference in Nadi on Tuesday the figure was an increase from 2023 when the country had only four.
“In Fiji, there are 1116 registered legal practitioners, but only seven legislative drafters are currently employed in the office of the Attorney-General, with two more on maternity and study leave,” he said.
“In 2023, there were only four legislative drafters in the office.”
He said through the A-G’s office, a large number of legislations have been passed, with others being reviewed and drafted over the past two years.
“From 2023 to 2025, Fiji produced 81 Bills, 72 of which have been enacted into law while nine remain under parliamentary review.
“In the same period, 74 regulations were drafted, in addition to legal notices and gazette notices.
“Reviews are also underway on several laws, including the Public Health Act 1935, Police Act 1965, Education Act 1966, and the Online Safety Act 2018.”
Mr Green added that legislative drafting required technical expertise, creativity and problem-solving to respond to challenges such as safeguarding traditional knowledge, strengthening cybersecurity, combating financial crimes and protecting fisheries resources.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Salesi Temo commended the organisers of the inaugural conference that would lay the foundation for more discussions on regional legislations.
“I commend PILON (Pacific Islands Law Officers’ Network) and PLDSC for their leadership in this regard and encourage all participants to consider how the outcome of this conference can feed into national reform agendas.
“As an inaugural meeting, this conference lays the foundation for what I hope will become a continuing platform for Pacific legislative drafters to work together.
“As custodians of law, let us ensure the framework we develop does not simply govern our people but empower them, that they do not simply manage change but shape it with wisdom, fairness and foresight.”
