The stage is set for prolonged industrial conflict as the Coalition government raises MPs salaries by as much as 100 per cent yet has failed to agree to union demands for the minimum wage to be increased to $6 an hour.
The Finance Minister, Biman Prasad, has announced in the Budget that the minimum wage will go from $4 an hour to $5 an hour but only in increments. It will go to $4.50 an hour on August 1 but the other 50 cents won’t kick in until April next year.
The head of the Fiji Trades Union Congress, Felix Anthony, had demanded that the minimum wage go up to at least $6 an hour to meet unprecedented increases in the cost of living. Had the government said the country could not afford it and practiced austerity itself, it may have been able to win the argument. Yet the orgy of spending by MPs to enrich themselves has shattered any hope employers in Fiji might have had of being able to preach restraint at a time of economic uncertainty.
Biman Prasad told the parliament that the increase in MPs emoluments would cost $4.2 million a year, not the “only $8.1-million” the Prime Minister gave as the total cost of the package amid the public uproar about the extent of the increases. But that only begs the question as to how the Coalition could have been so incompetent not to do its sums properly in the first place. Not for the first time, the Prime Minister has been made to look stupid.
It was astonishing to see the Chair of the Emoluments Committee, Lynda Tabuya, placed right behind Biman Prasad as he delivered the government’s spending program for the coming year. Two weeks ago, she was calling the NFP leader a “liar” and a traitor for allegedly dealing with FijiFirst. But the government is so incompetent that rather than separate the two in the Chamber today, Lynda Tabuya was seen by the television audience to be literally looking over Biman Prasad’s shoulder.
A clear sign if any were needed of just who is really calling the shots. It is equally astonishing that Biman Prasad continues to put up with the humiliation.
One can scarcely believe the shockingly ineptness of the government’s communications people. Why on earth would you put the notorious Queen of Tarts – found guilty by her own party of a sex and drug scandal and stripped of the deputy leadership of the PAP – in the line of sight of the entire nation for something as critical to the Coalition’s electoral fortunes as the Budget? Why remind everyone of the government’s pathetic dysfunction?
It really is like Alice in Wonderland – Biman down the rabbit hole with Lynda and the whole lot of them stark, raving mad.
UPDATE SATURDAY AM.
Having spoken out against the emoluments increases for MPs, Biman Prasad is now defending them after being beaten into submission by the Minister for Bonking and Weed. It is an extraordinary turnaround and yet another demonstration that the NFP leader is genuinely the Hollow Man of Fijian politics – bending with the political wind and willing to subject himself to any humiliation to remain in government.
What happened to the strong stand he took against the emoluments increases? Read on and be horrified at how easily principle has given way to pragmatism for the grovelling Professor. A verbal public caning from the amoral Chair of the Emoluments Committee and Little Biman cowers in abject submission like a beaten dog.
Biman Prasad has betrayed those who voted for the NFP to keep the bastards honest. Instead of standing up for what is right and fighting for it on behalf of those who put him there, Baimaan has turned out to be a prize bastard himself. The Great Enabler and Appeaser for whom political oblivion surely awaits.
NOTE: More budget analysis to come in the coming days.
It is sickening for any decent Fijian to see the NFP leader excuse the excesses of his parliamentary colleagues and yet give the most lowly paid in Fiji a relative pittance.
Yet minimum wage earners have also been betrayed by the unions, who in the end have sided with their political allies in the Coalition.
This was what Felix Anthony was demanding before the budget.
And this is what Felix Anthony says now. Forelock tugging compliance and no mention of the grotesque disparity between what MPs have awarded themselves and what they have given the poorest and most vulnerable in Fiji.
It isn’t going to avert the coming showdown between the government and the nation’s teachers, who are holding out for a 30 per cent wage rise. Or the nurses, who are also threatening strike action and are capable of triggering the collapse of the health system.
Only 50 seconds into his speech after his introductory honorifics, the Finance Minister starts his tirade against the tyranny of the previous government.
As was to be expected and he delivered!
did someone order inflation?
To correct you , when Lynda was the Government House leader she was at the second row beach , when she lost the position to Ro Filipe as the Government House leader she was moved to the back row and the past few Parliament sessions she has always been sitting in the third row which apparently is directly behind Biman.
I could be wrong but perhaps check previous sessions to verify.
Parliament sitting positions are predetermined and as per Westminster system the AG is always beside the PM followed by the Finance Minister.
Now Sirmoni Turaga has need demoted to the back and Graham Leung sites beside the PM.
To correct YOU, Graham Leung is not an MP.
Perhaps Rajiv Sharma can tell us why he is in bed with the NFP and the coalition government. It is best to disclose your interest so that we all know why and where you are coming from. He obviously has a fixation with a bunch of idiots and there must be a simple explanation. Just tell us mate. Are you a member of the NFP, are you related to some in the government, are you an official of any of the parties or are you simply just a dickhead just like the lot in government. There is always a simple explanation and stop us making speculations.
Take another look, someone looks stoned in top picture
And the slutty, shamelessly corrupt, lying, fake Minister for Women gets $200 million dollars of our taxpayers money to fund her vote buying charity shows across Fiji next year.
It will be broadcast on all on social media channels like she’s personally paying for these freebies.
Get ready to see Mother Christmas in action folks, lol. As a Fijian woman, I’m disgusted. This immoral, cheap, drug user of a Cabinet minister does not represent the women of Fiji and our children. She doesn’t represent our poor.
Using stolen millions from innocent American clients, mostly women, to fund and kick start your political career doesn’t pay. Paying PAP candidates election fees to keep them quiet, Chinese style.
Everything she does is to buy voter support. If it doesn’t make economic sense like the cash freebie, no worries. Poor people will support it and vote for her. She couldn’t care less if you’re eating noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner every other day while she splurges on her ill-gotten funds. What a curse, but maybe also acwake up call for the next election.
Let’s kick her OUT in GE2026.
People power!!
I stopped watching the budget as soon as I saw her face behind Biman. Sadly others at work did too. That is to show how much people have a dislike for this woman. No shame and no consideration of her ugly undignified self appearing on budget day release.
Champagne,
Thank you so much, glad to see a Fijian women standing up for values and good governance and denouncing Tabuya,
Our children deserve so much better and it’s up to the adults to do something, isn’t it. This cannot wait until 2026. Lack of values are shaping our children’s future.
We need to get all women like you
to speak up for higher standards and demand Tabuya be sacked NOW. And Rododro should not be Education Minister and should be sacked as well.
Gather outside the government offices and peacefully request for their removal, attract international news media (from around the world. Be clear to media on all the things they got away with and remain This is what it takes, nobody want’s to travel or invest in a place like this so they will listen before it gets too embarrassing.
( outside world does not see the local Facebook posts so it’s not enough to do social media)
Get people to write complaints against her.
Get the youth out and learn to articulate and speak up for democracy and anti corruption.
What do you say Champagne?
From another Fijian woman.
Agree fully with you.
She is a thief.
Unworthy of any leadership.
Kick her out.
FD$4 to just $5 yet in Australia the Minimum Wage is AUD$24.10 in 2024.
No wonder why the number of Fijians working in Australia has quadrupled in 3 years.
That $24.10 would be theirs too if Fiji became a new state of Australia.
And Oz navy ships would protect Fiji fishing waters from Chinese fleets.
Amos, increasing the minimum wage to the Australian amount directly increases the cost of production and services. Not too mentioned most employers wont be able to afford it and they will be making losses and eventually be out of business. This will lead to unemployment. Also leads to inflation. As the cost of everything will skyrocket as cost of labour has increased by at least 600%.
Be careful what you wish for. Or at least be aware of the ramifications of one simple action in an economy. Not as simple as you think.
It is better that Australia makes Fiji a part of it. That way Fiji will be in a better position instead of struggling under every Fijian government.
Why would Australia want to make Fiji part of it?
They have enough problems with their indigenous population there. So why add to it? Lol
Everything was almost reliant on development partners and mostly Australia. Is Fiji part of Australia now?
And didn’t I just hate that stupid face behind Biman!
This is just another slap in the face for ordinary hardworking fijians who are struggling to put food on the table, send their children to school, manage bills etc.
To those who placed their support and trust with this current govt, I really hope that you are happy with what you are getting (or not getting) because let me tell you something for free…life is about to get very hard and no one in the current govt will give a shit.
All I can say is all the best.
Meanwhile Rabuku is out. They should all be taken to task and imprisoned for illegally appointing people who did not meet legal criteria. We are talking about the law of the land positions here!
https://fijionenews.com.fj/acting-dpp-john-rabuku-not-eligible-to-hold-position-supreme-court/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1Jdmq9snlQIcI-Wlm5smaoT7zsCzspT6mEfTlyaHctjNkFloKqk_-Pxys_aem_2zmYGUc6xBUG8h_TcLkpiQ
If only when the minister for women went to the powder room to freshen up for the cameras before the start of proceedings the door would have got locked on its own and the nearest locksmith two hours away. That would have solved her photo bomb in the background!
What happens to all the cases approved under DDP office signed off by John Rabuka if he is not valid?
Wylie Clarke, the head of the Law Society, asked the same question. It is a total mess entirely created by Salesi Temo and Siromi Turaga in having appointed Rabuku in the first place knowing the Constitution prohibited it. A major embarrassment for both men which also renders the Acting CJ’s position untenable and he too should resign.
It will be on interesting to see if someone will file a court challenge to ask this follow up question and see what the court has to say about this.
Does this provide an added value for Franks legal team to file this question and rule his conviction null and void and a mistrial?
Gets even messy and only the courts can provide that clarification
I did not see one element of a forward thinking budget!!
Fiji First budgets used to have a theme; around young families, young generation and their needs/wants, the elderly, SMEs, investment.
This tricycle government is just self serving and with a Finance Minister who seems to have a fake Doctorate. Goes on to show a paper doesn’t mean intelligence. What a waste Fiji! A farce!
Give pay rise a little bit just to calm down the crowd in case they see beyond the 90 to 78% debt to GDP lie!
What a boring budget!!!
Biman Prasad just added $635.5m or more than half a billion dollars, representing the size of the budget deficit, to Fiji’s national debt.
When you add the $600m deficit from last year’s budget, Chops effectively increased the quantum of our public debt by $1.2bn bringing total debt to $11.2bn.
And while borrowing politicians still find it necessary to grant themselves pay rises.
‘it is the least of my worries’ says inia seruiratu on the dergistration of FFP (Fiji times, 29 Jun). Total greed, disloyalty and lack of character of a person.
The PM said “At my level, it is a good budget”. Obviously he thinks that he is on a different level – the dickhead level. At that level it would be a very good budget, especially if you do not know anything about revenue, expenditure, deficit and fiscal policy.
He should do the honourable thing and just pray the budget into a good budget.
I took this in another way.
Biman is taking charge and telling her to shut and sit where she belongs.
She has no say and no power.
All that #endit will come to an end soon.
She is exposed in every way and there is no escaping.
Better start applying to Drua franchise as their new model.
Tabuya: We promised no more fights.
Biman: yes, now stfu and watch me.
Olei Lynda you should just resign or coup this circus already.
Never ever voted for FFP, but here are a list of catastrophic decisions that have happened in last 18 months, in no particular order:
1. Made people feel unwelcome with rise of racism, use of Vulagi term, and job exodus
2. Same time forgave student debt with no thinking about how this would impact Fiji
3. Failed to curb mass exodus from Fiji of people who feel unwelcome and also may have had debt wiped out the only country that benefits – Australia and Aussie tax payer
4. Worst recommendation by Fiscal Rev committee that piled burden on poor speeding up exodus – but made sure richest okay and even unexplainable tax holiday with conflict of interest
5. Government pay rise with no consultation or thought
6. Rushed and bodged appointments to senior position calling administration of law into question
7. Ministerial conduct bringing government into disrepute
All of this leaves the impression that the elite who are making the decisions only care about the elite and nobody else. Why would any Vulagi stay and try to make Fiji a better place when these decisions betray the people?
Have I missed any low points?
Vulagi or palagi = visitor or a non indigenous person.
This argument has aleady been settled so move on !
It has not been settled at all. Vulagi is not the same as palagi and you know it. Vulagi is a visitor. Palagi is someone who is white.
The issue is whether a specific term that means “visitor” is appropriate in the context where:
1. It is applied to people who are 4th, 5th, 6th generation Fiji born. Where exactly are they visiting from? 😀
2. There have been 4 coups all caused by indigenous Fijians fighting among themselves for internal group supremacy with zero thought to the national interest or now this would impact all Fiji citizens or the economy
3. Fiji’s strength relative to other Pacific Island Countries is a direct result of its relative diversity
So now 🇫🇯 needs economic stability and inclusiveness because it is in the national interest. What do we see instead? the use of yet another divisive term to speed up the brain drain.
This budget is already reporting lower tax collection despite the rise in VAT.
The economic policies of this government have failed and a big part of that failure is making a large and important part of the country feel unwelcome.
It is sad that this has to be spelt out. Words lead to actions, and right now people are voting with their feet and leaving.
But good news 50 cent is coming to 🇫🇯
The honorable members of the parliament got $45,000 payrise (from $50,000 to $95,000) and poor workers of this country got 50 cents payrise (from $4.00 to $4.50) and in April another 50 cents to make it a dollar.
The voters that voted coalition government are worth mere 50cents per hour. While prior to General Elections same Baiman said that the living wages should be $5.00 however after 18 months in office and rise of 15% Vat and cost of living Prof of economics Baiman thinks increase of 50 cents justifies the living wages.
According to my calculation, living wages should be $6.50 an hour but I am not a professor to calculate living wages. Lol
I hope voters see the difference and vote wisely come next General Election.
Lol $45,000 increase versus 50 cents. What a shame. One sits few weeks in parliament while other sweats his ass off at work.
Did Fiji First Party get deregistered or not?
Not yet. The Supervisor of Elections has evidently been in Canberra for some reason.
No word from the opposition members either…we are all on our own folks. No one to hold these nincompoops accountable but us.
The foxes really do look like they have taken over the chicken shed
Biggest winner is the Fiji Mikitary, 168m, some 60m more than the 92 odd mil they used to get.
It’s either Rabuka’s redemption gesture or we are going to war.
Biman drags feet on Fiji teachers demand for 30% pay rise but gives 36 per cent increase to Military budget.
All I want to know is why does PM Rabuka sit like he has no spine during press conferences or at important meetings. Legs splayed out, unprofessional posture. He should be reminded he is not at home or a rara As for the budget I couldn’t be bothered. No budget has ever benefited me even though I have paid through my nose for everything that is enjoyed by the lazy commoners or the few elite. Oh btw am waiting for the racists in the legal system to bow out gracefully.
His initial stance was hollow and fake. He knew very well that the motion for salary increases would carry and his “principled” stance was a farce – the man unmasked, again
The coalition government said they were there to serve the people. Instead the coalition served itself.
Do the maths. $66m for 33,000 civil servants and $8.1m for 52 MPs11
Who is the Finance Minister trying to fool? Military budget shoots up. Wasn’t he criticising the FFP/Bainimarama for propping up the RFMF. Reality check?
No initiatives to deal with the climate change impacts on vulnerable communities: farmers, coastal, women and children. Without any incentives like tax concession and subsidies for renewable energy, electric vehicles etc how does the Coalition intend to reduce emissions, decarbonise and transition to green energy. Or even deal with other environmental emergencies such as waste, biodiversity and increasing degradation of the ecosystem. The EIA is a toothless instrument and developers are violating this left and right and centre, abetted by the relevant Ministries.
It is a budget designed for the optics, good for headlines such as increase in minimum wage etc but meaningless when one delves into the details.
Notwithstanding what is offered to the different Ministries, serious questions remain about implementation. Until such time as credible people are appointed on merit to positions where the Government can deliver, nothing will change,
The record of corruption, cronyism and racism in appointments under the Coalition is unprecedented. Right from the PM’s office to Ministries like Infrastructure, Education, Foreign affairs, Agriculture, Health, Sugar etc and SOEs, the appointments to high positions have been on the basis of who you know, pedaling the blatant ethno-nationalistic agenda of the Rabuka government. It is remarkable that NFP is conniving in this.
Over 30% of the population feel marginalised and the exodus of skills will continue. The budget has done little to address this and provide confidence in the governance, and show dignity/respect to all citizens of this country.
The NFP’s “conniving”, as you aptly put it, is truly remarkable and why I am so hard on Biman Prasad. He will pay for his treachery at the ballot box.
May be not-baimaan’s support are a different breed-labasa will labasa. They hero worship baimaan. Don’t underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. He will return in 2026 w a resounding victory.
Spot on. He budget announcement Baimaan said 42,000 civil servants. So 66million divided by 42000 = 1571.43 / 2080 (40 hrs per week)
80 cents per hour increment per civil servant.
$64.00 per fortnight less $5.12 FNPF $58.88 those pay tax then less $12.80 PAYE.
Net increase per fortnight per civil servants is $46.08.
What a pathetic budget!
Baimaan is totally useless. Nothing for the common folk.
Who you trying to fool with the meager 50c increase in wages … try increasing your salaries by 50c- hour and see if it makes any material difference given where cost of living stands!
Inia and Ffp traitors are severely compromised and so if Felix Anthony. This budget offers “NOTHING” to the people.
Well I guess as long as your pockets are full aye what do you care.
Giving military an exorbitant allocation simply goes on to show you want to keep them on your side and Commander is severely indebted to you.
Nothing for the elderly, for the youths or grassroots so who you trying to kid.
#worstgovermentever
Never has been a fan of Ffp but Bainimarama always had the interest of the people at heart unless you selfish pricks!
Spot on. He budget announcement Baimaan said 42,000 civil servants. So 66million divided by 42000 = 1571.43 / 2080 (40 hrs per week)
80 cents per hour increment per civil servant.
$64.00 per fortnight less $5.12 FNPF $58.88 those pay tax then less $12.80 PAYE.
Net increase per fortnight per civil servants is $46.08.
Ratio of 200k to 0.50cents. Muttely laugh. Can there be an even more dastardly act of defining [them versus us]in this game? Go figure people!
Is the Fijian nation at serious, credible and realistic threat of a hostile military style invasion by another country. If it is a large superpower like Russia or China ( at the request of Simpsons and Co) then our military or navy may as well raise the white flag now. Will regional minnow nations want to invade Fiji, like Tonga our near neighbours, or Samoa, or Kiribati? Tonga can be resolved by the relevant chiefly families.
Seriously what is the justification for increasing the Fijian military’s budget. It just does not make sense.
The Finance Minister repeated that the Fijian military is tasked with protecting Fiji’s security and defence, as noted in the constitution.
Well the drugs have already infiltrated, the enemy at the gate is very evidently not arriving in conventional means.
Our defence strategy has to be revised. The role of the land Military forces is almost obsolete and redundant. As for the navy we may as well rely on the gods of the sea Dakuwaqa and train some dolphins to provide some competent naval patrols and surveillance!
Minister for bonking and weed is listening to the private call from Minister for Education; “psst, oi, is there any weed there?”
The finance minister in his attempts to rationalise the MPs pay rises (is that a U boat or a U turn!) said if the govt had communicated it better there would have been greater buy-in from the public.
The value of a professional communications firm must be missed! (Q____s) But they barged their pay rises through anyway. I do hope though that the incompetency the Govt team has shown by miscalculating the increased amount to the taxpayer ( or the travellers departing Nadi airport and paying more departure tax) does not mean they will make further mistakes in calculating their pay and allowances correctly, and don’t end up overpaying themselves! After all whats a few dollars incorrectly overpaid.
And the public should note to communicate their needs to their elected representatives much better and professionally – so that we garner more appropriate response from the govt who wants to hear the people’s voice and is actively consultative.