Shadow Minister for Finance and Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu, expressed gratitude to the coalition government for its efforts to address the rising cost of living in the 2025-2026 National Budget.
Speaking in Parliament this morning during the budget debate, he highlighted key measures aimed at easing financial pressures on Fijians.
He welcomed the initiatives but called for more robust support to match the escalating economic challenges faced by households.
Mr Seruiratu praised the establishment of a Joint Enforcement Task Force to monitor retail pricing, describing it as a critical step to ensure that tax and duty reductions translate into real savings for consumers.
“This is necessary because, in the past, traders have utilized loopholes within the system to bypass policies intended to bring relief to customers,” he stated.
The task force, comprising representatives from the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Consumer Council of Fiji, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, and the Ministry of Finance, is empowered to impose penalties or price controls on businesses engaging in unfair mark-ups.
The Opposition Leader also acknowledged the 3% pay increase for civil servants, effective from August 2025, stating this was a positive step to bolster household purchasing power.
“While these measures are welcome, they are minimal and will have limited effects on individuals’ purchasing power.”
He urged the government to consider more substantial support in future budgets to align with the rising cost of living.
“As we move forward, I urge the government to provide higher levels of support commensurate with the cost-of-living challenges in the coming years.”
