Standing Committees conduct Public Consultations on Three Bills and Provincial Council Reports

Members of the public are advised that the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights is currently conducting public consultation on the three Bills that were tabled in Parliament in the last Sitting.

The three Bills are as follows:

Code of Conduct Bill (Bill No. 4 of 2025)
Bill No. 4 of 2025: Section 149(a) of the 2013 Constitution states that:
“A written law shall—
(a) establish a code of conduct which shall be applicable to the President, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Prime Minister, Ministers, members of Parliament, holders of offices established by or continued in existence under this Constitution or under any written law, members of commissions, permanent secretaries, ambassadors or other principal representatives of the State, and persons who hold statutory appointments or governing or executive positions in statutory authorities, and to such other offices (including public offices) as may be prescribed by written law;”
A written law that establishes a code of conduct is yet to be enacted in accordance with the Constitution.
The Code of Conduct Bill 2018 that was introduced in November 2018 lapsed on the dissolution of that Parliament.

Access to Information Bill (Bill No. 5 of 2025)
Bill No. 5 of 2025: The Information Act 2018 that was enacted is yet to commence. The reasons for the law not coming into operation is due to the written law required to enable the Accountability and Transparency Commission to operate not being enacted.
Access to information is a right which is protected under sections 25 and 150 of the Constitution and by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Fiji has ratified.
Given the weaknesses found in the Information Act 2018, it is clear that a new law is required. This Bill addresses this need and repeals entirely the Information Act 2018 to propose a new access to information law.

Accountability and Transparency Commission Bill (Bill No. 6 of 2025)
Bill No. 6 of 2025: The Accountability and Transparency Commission (Commission) was established under subsection 121(1) of the Fijian Constitution. A written law providing for the Commission’s authority, functions, responsibilities, jurisdiction and powers is yet to be enacted. This Bill provides for these matters.

The Committee will be at the following venues throughout this week and will be in the Northern Division next week.

• Monday 31 March – 11.00am – Korovou Police Bure

• Tuesday 1 April –
10.00am – Namosi Provincial Council Hall, Navua
2.00pm – Nahigatoka Village Hall, Sigatoka

• Wednesday 2 April – 10.00am – Nadi Town Council Hall
• Thursday 3 April- 11.00am Commissioner Western Conference Room, Lautoka

• Friday 4 April –
10.30am – Ministry of Agriculture Nailaga Depot, Ba
2.30pm – Tavua Government Station

• Saturday 5 April – 11.00am Police Conference Room, George Shiu Raj Building, Rakiraki

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts is also conducting public consultation on the Auditor-General’s Report on the Provincial Council Vol. 4, Vol.5 and Vol.6 (PP No.5 of 2023, PP No 128 of 2023 & PP No 110 of 2024).

The venues are as follows:

Monday 31 March
– 10.30am – Rewa Provincial Council Office
– 2.00pm – Tailevu Provincial Council Office

Tuesday 1 April – 10.30am – Ba Provincial Council Office

Wednesday 2 April – 10.30am – Navua Provincial Council Office, Serua Provincial Council Office

Thursday – 3 April – 10.30am – Levuka Provincial Council Office.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the above consultation and have your views heard.

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