Usamate criticises Cabinet size, Government defends costs

Independent Member of Parliament Jone Usamate has criticised the size of Fiji's Cabinet, saying almost every Government backbencher is either a Minister or an Assistant Minister and describing the arrangement as "unheard of in the world".

Speaking during the 2026-2027 National Budget debate in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Usamate said the large Cabinet was a major driver of Government expenditure at a time when the country faced a $1.481 billion deficit.

"Almost all of you in Government is either a Minister or an Assistant Minister," he said.

"The size of Government is bloated. Ministers, Assistant Ministers, tripping over each other's feet, not knowing what to do."

Mr Usamate also argued Fiji's civil service was too large, citing figures he said showed about 42,000 public servants serving a population of about 937,000.

He compared Fiji with New Zealand, claiming Fiji had 47 civil servants per 1,000 people compared with New Zealand's 12 public servants per 1,000 people.

Mr Usamate said Government needed to reduce expenditure rather than expand it, given declining revenue and rising debt.

"There are only two things we can do. One is to grow the economy... the other way is to cut expenses. Right now, that is what needs to be done."

Government response

In his Budget reply, Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel defended the Government's cost-saving measures, pointing to a 20 per cent reduction in ministers' salaries and lower operational spending across ministries as evidence the Government was "leading by example" before asking Fijians to tighten their belts.

Mr Immanuel also reiterated that while Government had considered reducing the number of Assistant Ministers, it concluded the positions were necessary to support parliamentary and legal responsibilities.

He said the 20 per cent salary reduction could be increased to as much as 50 per cent if economic conditions worsened.