Unity Fiji party leader Savenaca Narube says Government needs to do more to ensure the burden of the rising cost of living is shared more fairly across the economy.
Speaking at the “State of the Fijian Economy” dialogue earlier this week, Mr Narube said while Fiji had little control over external fuel price pressures, Government could still control how those pressures affected consumers.
“The fuel issues on the cost of living, I know it’s coming from abroad. We really do not have any control of that,” Mr Narube said.
“But we can control how that impact is shared in the economy, the equitable burden sharing of this cost of living.”
He said consumers were currently carrying much of the burden and Government needed to look at ways to ease that pressure.
“At this time, the consumers are very modest. We do need equitable burden sharing.”
Mr Narube said one way Government could do this was through the price control mechanism.
He also suggested Government consider reducing Customs duties on fuel while increasing duties on luxury items to keep the measure revenue neutral.
Mr Narube also raised concern about the value of the Fiji dollar, saying Government needed to look at policies that would help stabilise the currency.
He claimed the Fiji dollar had depreciated by 4 per cent against the Australian dollar this year alone.
“I’m sure it’s quite similar to the other major currencies.”
Mr Narube said stabilising the currency was important because depreciation could add further pressure to import costs and household expenses.
