Several Government ministers and assistant ministers received taxpayer-funded per diems and travel allowances while foreign governments and international organisations covered their meals and accommodation during official overseas trips.
The payments are detailed in Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s response to Written Question 247/2026, tabled in Parliament on October 1, covering 182 official overseas trips undertaken between May 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026.
The parliamentary records show that Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau received a combined $11,911.35 in per diem and incidental allowances across six overseas trips where sponsors also provided meals, accommodation and airfares.
These included $1,816.11 for South Korea, $2,408.15 for Australia, $3,864.78 for the Solomon Islands and New Zealand, $755.48 for another New Zealand visit, $1,989.90 for China and $1,076.93 for Papua New Guinea.
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna received $10,339.39 in government-funded per diem for a combined visit to India and Germany.
The records show that the Indian Government provided accommodation, meals and transportation, although it is unclear whether these arrangements covered the entire trip.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Sakiasi Ditoka received $9,356.93 in per diem for a parliamentary delegation visit to the United Kingdom, despite the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association providing accommodation and meals during the programme.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro received $3,841.73 in per diem for the 2025 Pacific Early Childhood Development Forum in Samoa, where UNICEF covered meals, accommodation, airfare and miscellaneous expenses.
Minister for Women, Children, Social Protection and Cohesion Sashi Kiran received $744.78 in government-funded per diem for the same forum, with UNICEF providing accommodation and meals or daily subsistence allowances.
Ms Kiran also received $1,480.90 in per diem for a symposium in Thailand, where UNICEF funded accommodation and subsistence or meals.
Minister for Policing and Communications Ioane Naivalurua received $2,905.25 in top-up allowances for a visit to China, where the Chinese Government provided accommodation, meals and local transportation.
He also received $1,245.11 in per diem for a visit to Indonesia, where the host government covered accommodation, meals and local transportation.
Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica received $2,207.62 for early check-in and incidental expenses during a visit to Japan, where the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity, through the Japanese Government, provided airfare, accommodation and some meals.
Similar arrangements were recorded for assistant ministers.
Assistant Minister for Defence Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure received $3,957.56 covering transit payments, check-in and check-out allowances, per diem, top-up allowances and incidentals during a visit to China, where the Chinese Government funded accommodation and meals.
Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Lenora Qereqeretabua received $3,036.84 in per diem for a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association programme in Australia, where the association covered flights, accommodation and meals.
Assistant Minister Shalen Kumar received $1,094.66 in per diem for a visit to China, where the host provided airfare, accommodation, meals and transportation.
Former Minister Siromi Turaga received $4,951.65 in per diem for a visit to Singapore, where sponsors funded accommodation and meals.
Former Assistant Minister, late Inosi Kuridrani received $6,426 in per diem for a parliamentary conference in China, where the host covered airfares, accommodation and meals.
