The Pohiva government says it has lodged an application for a judicial review of the decision to block six new bills it says urgently need to be tabled.
The decision was made by Lord Tu’ilakepa when he was Acting Speaker last month.
The Minister of Police, Mateni Tapueluelu, said that based on legal advice the government has formally proceeded with a judicial review.
In his response, Lord Tu’ilakepa said in Parliament he welcomed the move.
The Prime Minister wrote to the Speaker of the House last month and told him the Bills were urgent.
According to the House procedure, when Bills are labelled as urgent, it means there is no need for the House to discuss whether these bills needed public consultation or not. The House has to table them immediately.
However, as Kaniva Tonga news reported last month, there was uproar in the House when Lord Tu’ilakepa said the Prime Minister was obliged to tell the House in a letter the reasons why the government considered the six Bills before him were urgent.
The government disagreed and said certifying in a letter the bills were urgent only required the Prime Minister to say they were urgent and to sign the letter.
Lord Tu’ilakepa and seven other Noble MPs, along with three independent MPs, wanted the government to meet face to face with the public to consult with them on the new legislation.
The government said it had already done the public consultation process over a radio talk back show led by the Acting Attorney General, ‘Aminiasi Kefu.
As Kaniva news reported recently, the king had ordered that the petitions against his government should be investigated by the office of the Director of Prosecutions.
However, Hon. Pōhiva said the office did not exit.
“The Bill to amend the Constitution so that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions can be established is one of those six Bills that I had submitted to the Legislative Assembly to be treated as urgent,” the Prime Minister said.
“It is unfortunate that its passage has been held up due to differences in interpretation of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly.”
The main points
- The Pohiva government said it had lodged an application for a judicial review of the decision to block six new bills it says urgently need to be tabled.
- The decision was made by Lord Tu’ilakepa when he was Acting Speaker last month.
For more information
Seven noble MPs vow not to return to Parliament unless motion is tabled, but independents return to Househttps://kanivatonga.co.nz/2019/03/seven-noble-mps-vow-not-to-return-to-parliament-unless-motion-is-tabled-but-independents-return-to-house/
