Noble MPs

The Minister of Finance Tevita Lavemaau has revealed the $1,260,000 package to support the community saying it was an excellent move by the government.

According to Kaniva News, Speaker Lord Fakafanua has described the funding as a “new initiative” and said this was part of a budget allocation the government had submitted to Parliament for approval.

Within the budget an additional TP$306,000 funding has been allocated for the 17 people’s MPs to pay their office staff. This gave each of the MPs another TP$18,000 each, the Speaker said.

Kaniva News reported the funding was designed for the 17 elected People's Representatives to distribute among their constituencies for the development of their communities.

This year each People's MP is distributing over $88,000 to their constituencies.

The nobles want to have the same funding.

The noble MPs have already had $88,000 allocated to build a parliamentary office for them and another $176,000 was added to include a salary for an administrator to run the office.

Kaniva News reported the Speaker Lord Fakafanua, one of the nine noble representatives in the House, returned and reported his other colleagues' absence.

The other noble MP who was present was Lord Ma'afu, who is a cabinet minister.

The Speaker said the nobles would not return unless Parliament agreed to a request to include meetings with the public in a consultation process the government was conducting on six new bills and amendments to the constitution.

Despite the absence of the seven MPs, the House conducted business as normal.

From 2008, the late King Tupou V began investing men with life peerages in recognition of their services to the nation.

In previous elections the life peers were able to vote for noble MPs but they were not allowed to contest.

The acting Attorney-General 'Aminiasi Kefu said the law didn't fit the constitution which said every noble should be able to vote and stand as representatives.

Prime Minister's 'Akilisi Pohiva wants to review the Tonga Broadcasting Commission because he says the broadcaster is not doing its job of facilitating government work.

RNZ reports he described the TBC as "an enemy of government" and said the services may be better carried out by a different provider.

However Lord Fusitu'a said any move to shut down the TBC would be in breach of the constitution.

He said there was also a Tonga Broadcasting Act which would need to be revoked and would have far-reaching ramifications.