Tonga’s Parliament has this morning June 29 passed the government’s biggest-ever budget estimate of T$595 million for the 2017-18 financial-year.

The TP$595,804,400 governmentʻs budget was passed by 15-9 votes.

The 2017-2018 budget is about 10 percent more than the 2016-2017 budget of $545.1 million pa’anga.

At about 1am this morning the Whole House committee reverted to Legislative Assembly to repeal the Pacific Games Organizing Act 2013 and it was passed by 13 – 10 votes.

The Parliament has adjourned ahead of Parliamentary visits on 10-21 July before it will resume on July 31.

There was no official Parliamentary Constituency Visit last year even though some MPs visited their constituencies on their own.

“The parliamentary visit is an opportunity for local residents to voice their concerns on issues that affected their lives”, a statement said.

This year’s visit was set as a follow up of what the constituents had raised and agreed to with their MPs during the 2015 visits.

“Most of these pressing needs include improving water system, power electricity and road maintenance among others”.