Opposition parliamentarian Mosese Bulitavu says the policies in the 2022-2023 National Budget have been directed to assist the country’s economic recovery post-coronavirus.

Mr Balitavu is the second parliamentarian who have shown sup- port towards the 2022-2023 National Budget, labelling it as promising.

The other Opposition parliamentarian that has shown support towards the 2022-2023 National Budget is Mere Naulumatua (Samisoni).

He said the Budget is a very simple and logical strategy by providing tax concessions for businesses to operate and in return Government revenues from personal and income tax.

“As patriotic Fijians and national leaders, we must ensure stability of our nation and the full fit recovery of our economy. Our economy is regrowing under our recovery path,” he said.

“Our national agenda is to guard our fragile economy process. We need to guard our economy recovery from global disruption supply, inflation and the triple effects of the Russian- Ukraine war on international food and fuel markets.”

“The 2022-2023 Budget is prepared as the economy is regaining strength post-coronavirus, through our tourism numbers from January to June 2022. Almost 59 per cent of the same period in 2019.”

“The Budget has no major tax changes and this is important in proving policy consistency to the private sector and the tourism industry. It is critical to maintain this policy consistency giving more spaces for more economic activities,” he said.

He said the expenditure strategy has clear key principles to guide expenditure policy in the medium term, the Budget encourage private sectors to be involved in more public infrastructure projects.

“For example, the outsourcing of some to the hospital services to ASPEN medical private public partnership with the Fiji National Provident Fund buying shares with Fiji Airways to capture the travel component as it has fleet of hotels that are part of all the Fund’s members investment,” he said.

“In view of these factors, we have a very critical role as national leaders in this August House that is to always put our country first.”

“The survival of our economy is our priority.”

He said he wholeheartedly, with great patriotism, supported the motion that was before the House as it was for the wellbeing of all Fijians.

While moving a motion, Opposition parliamentarian, Inosi Kuridrani said it was the job of the Opposition not to support a motion put forward by Government parliamentarians.

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