Opposition backs Referendum Bill

The Opposition has welcomed the proposed National Referendum Bill 2025, saying it fulfills constitutional requirements rather than addressing the Supreme Court decision.

Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate told Parliament this week the Bill was necessary to implement the Constitution’s referendum provisions.

“This Bill does not have anything to do with the Supreme Court decision,” Mr Usamate said during debate.

“This Bill is a way to try to bring to fruition the requirements of the Constitution.”

The Bill establishes the legal framework for conducting national referendums, which are required when constitutional amendments pass Parliament with at least two-thirds support.

Mr Usamate said the Opposition supported referring the Bill to the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights for further scrutiny.

“We are glad that it’s going to go through committees, and the committee will do its work and support the moving of this Bill to the committee,” he said.

The Supreme Court in August changed the threshold for constitutional amendments from three-quarters to two-thirds of Parliament votes, followed by a majority vote in a referendum.

However, no legal framework existed to conduct such referendums until this Bill was introduced.

The committee will report back when Parliament reconvenes on February 16, 2026.