The State Lands Act 1945 will undergo a full review for the first time in eight decades.
Lands and Mineral Resources ermanent secretary Paula Cirikiyasawa said the Act, originally known as the Crown Lands Act, had only seen minor amendments in 2021 and 2022, but “a full review to address current issues such as climate change has never been done in 80 years”.
He said the review would ensure the legislation reflected the realities of modern land management.
“Significant issues such as the impacts of climate change reshaping state land boundaries and coastlines, increasing state land arrears, delays in our processes, and the move towards the digital era all need to be addressed and clearly defined,” Mr Cirikiyasawa said.
He added that while the ministry sought to improve efficiency, “there needs to be a balance between sustainable development and meeting the needs of our customers who we serve”.
The review will be led by part-time commissioner(s) appointed through an expression of interest (EOI) process.
“The number of commissioners will be at the discretion of each party registering interest.”
He said the EOI advertisement “clearly defines the framework within which eligibility criteria will be benchmarked, from the screening stage to the interview proper”.
“The independence of the panel is important.
“The ministry expects the highest level of integrity and transparency from the panel so that their decision will be upheld, respected and most deserving and meritorious to undertake the review.”
The review process is expected to take 25 working days from appointment to the delivery of the final report and draft recommendations.
Public participation will be encouraged through written and online submissions, as well as face-to-face consultations in towns and cities where state leases are concentrated.
“Consultation schedules will be published on the ministry’s and the Fiji Law Reform Commission’s websites and social media platforms, with announcements on radio stations and QR codes available on both Vodafone and Digicel.”
Mr Cirikiyasawa confirmed that the total budget allocation for this financial year for all legislative reviews approved by Cabinet is $58,600, which will be divided among three reviews currently being undertaken by the ministry.
He said the review’s success would be measured by how well it strengthens the balance between economic growth, sustainable development, and good governance in the management of Fiji’s state lands.
