Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, says the proposed Media Council legislation has been long overdue and should have been in place in the past years.
The prime minister's comments came after the Samoa Media Council bill went back to Parliament on Wednesday for the second reading and debate.
The deputy leader of the opposition, A'eau Peniamina, has questioned the government's involvement in setting up the proposed media council as well as the setting of the Journalist Association under the proposed legislation.
An opposition MP, Toesulusulu Cedric Schuster, has criticised a requirement in the bill in which the government is required to provide money for the running of the media council.
He said it's not fair for other regulatory bodies such as the Law Society which funds it own operation.
A'eau Peniamina Photo: RNZI Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
