9 Dec 2014

Fiji government presses ahead over budget

3:25 pm on 9 December 2014

Reports from Fiji say the government will now focus on laws that will complement the 2015 Budget after it was passed following yesterday's walk-out by the opposition.

Finance Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, announces Fiji's 2014-15 budget

Finance Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, announces Fiji's 2014-15 budget Photo: Supplied

The Minister of Finance, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says the laws will enable the government to begin implementing services.

The leader of the opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa told Fiji's media the opposition MPs walked out because of concerns over the constitutionality and legality of what had taken place over the past few days, in particular with the budget.

The Fiji Times reports the opposition had issues with the late delivery of documents including the budget estimates which also contained errors.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum has dismissed the concerns saying correcting documents had been provided and the government had a job to do.

It took only one and a half hour to pass the Budget on Monday despite one week being reserved for debate on the document.