Govt spending too much on itself, not enough on development: Opposition MP

The Coalition Government is spending too much on running itself and not enough on building Fiji, Opposition MP Sanjay Kirpal claimed, arguing that a growing Cabinet is driving up operating costs while funding for development continues to decline.

Speaking during last week’s debate on the 2026-2027 National Budget, Mr Kirpal said taxpayers were paying for an expanding government, with more ministers and assistant ministers increasing spending on salaries, official vehicles, office space, staff, overseas travel and daily allowances.

He said rising operating costs were coming at the expense of investment in roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.

Mr Kirpal told Parliament the 2026-2027 Budget allocates almost $4 billion for operating expenditure compared with $876 million for capital expenditure, which he said continued a trend that began in 2023.

He warned that prioritising day-to-day government spending over development projects would increase Fiji’s debt burden and leave future generations to bear the cost.

“If government reduces its operating expenses and increases capital expenditure, we can have more infrastructure, more development, stronger investor confidence, more jobs and more revenue,” he said.

Mr Kirpal also questioned the Coalition Government’s commitment to reducing debt, pointing to projected revenue of $3.82 billion against expenditure of $4.87 billion, resulting in an estimated deficit of about $1 billion, or around seven per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

He said Fiji needed “not a bigger government, but a better government” one that spends less on bureaucracy and more on projects that improve the lives of ordinary Fijians.