Parliament cuts short debate to pass $328 million budget

Parliament yesterday fast-tracked the process of passing the $328 million 2024/25 budget with just five and a half days of debate on appropriations.

Opposition Leader Tina Brown said more time should be given to debate and discuss the appropriation bill.

In order to pass the budget as soon as possible before the weekend, the parliament yesterday shortened the debate time for each ministry’s allocation from 30 minutes to 15 minutes. In addition, the 30-minute question time was also cancelled.

Parliament is in recess until September 16, 2024.

Brown said that although the time has been reduced, there are some matters they cannot cover, so they must be prioritized.

New Public Accounts Committee chairperson Teokotai Herman said the committee’s main focus during this parliamentary term was the budget, which had now been passed.

Herman said that over time, when ministries and agencies spend money, they take care to make sure it is spent appropriately.

The budget is themed “resilience” and focuses on key infrastructure investment projects such as roads, as well as Paenua projects such as the Manihiki Airport upgrade and the Aitutaki Water Project.

Pa Enua has received $13.4 million in grants.

Opposition Leader Tina Brown in Parliament yesterday. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU/24062110

Opposition Leader and Rakahanga MP Brown welcomed the allocation of land in the Northern Islands.

Brown said although the amount may not be large, they were pleased that the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) would be looking at large projects in Paenua.

For Lakahanga, that includes renovating a government building that has long been in poor condition. She said she hopes the renovations will be completed next year.

Brown said she was also pleased to note that a hurricane shelter will be built on the island.

Prime Minister Mark Brown, who is also finance minister, said the allocation of Pa Enua funds depends largely on population.

Brown added that it was important that they find ways to make the outer islands part of the Cook Islands economy.

The only way to achieve this, he said, is to ensure the critical infrastructure to enable connectivity is in place, such as ships, aircraft and internet access.

“And as said before, for a country with a small population like ours, the cost of ensuring connectivity is prohibitively high when calculated on a per capita basis.”

Brown said they had to innovate to address financial challenges, including focusing on the diaspora in Australia and New Zealand.

Speaking about the $9,268,495 in tourism grants, Brown congratulated the Office of Tourism and the tourism industry for helping get the economy back on track despite facing some very difficult times over the past four years.

He said this year’s marketing grant was nearly $5.5 million to help establish and develop source markets, particularly New Zealand, Australia and North America.

“Their job is to market the destination and attract more tourists to our country, while the government’s job is to look at how we can diversify our product and ensure that our tourism product can be shared with the Paenua Islands.”

Brown said each island could also participate in tourism in its own way.

The Prime Minister said he was looking forward to the opening of the airport in the Paenua region, especially in the northern region, so that tourists can stay in holiday homes there, creating great opportunities for the country.