Kumar labels Budget totally irresponsible, Rabuka fires back

Opposition MP Premila Kumar has labelled the 2026–2027 National Budget 'totally irresponsible', claiming the Government had increased borrowing while failing to reduce expenditure.

Ms Kumar, the former Minister for Education, said the Budget figures did not add up after Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel delivered the Budget in Parliament today.

"The debt has increased by $1 billion. Revenue has gone down by about $127 million, whereas the expenditure has increased by $47 million when you compare with last year," she said.

"If the time is tough, if there is a lot of difficulty in the country, first thing first is you cut the expenditure.

"Did we see any reduction in the number of civil servants? Did we see any reduction in the number of ministers? We haven't."

Ms Kumar also questioned the Government's ability to deliver on its infrastructure programme, noting that about 30 per cent of the Budget was allocated to capital expenditure.

"Every citizen in this country knows that the Government is very weak in delivering capital projects. So why do you think this year around it will actually be delivered on the ground?" she said.

She also raised concerns about teachers, saying she would examine whether funding had been allocated for teacher qualification upgrades.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka rejected the criticism, describing it as predictable opposition rhetoric.

"That is just an opposition outburst, which must be expected. It's like a failing tape recorder coming back all the time, saying nothing new," Mr Rabuka said.

He maintained the Budget was realistic and responsible given current economic conditions, adding that much of the planned expenditure would be supported by development partners rather than funded solely by taxpayers.