Parliament resumes today with the election of the Deputy Speaker at 1pm and the Public Accounts Committee report on the Appropriation Amendment Bill 2024 (Supplementary Budget).

Government will be nominating Mitiaro Member of Parliament Tuakeu Tangatapoto as Deputy Speaker, and Manihiki MP Akaiti Puna as Leader of the House.

The changes follow a recent announcement from Prime Minister Mark Brown after former deputy prime minister Robert Tapaitau was convicted for corruption late last month.

Pukapuka-Nassau MP Tingika Elikana, who served as the Deputy Speaker and Leader of the House, was sworn in as the new Crown Minister, holding the portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Marine Resources, and Parliamentary Services. Infrastructure Cook Islands Minister and RAPPA MP Albert Nicholas was appointed the new Deputy Prime Minister.

The first Parliament session for the year was held on Monday, February 19, where the Appropriation Amendment Bill for 2024, Immigration Amendment Bill 2024, and Seabed Minerals Amendment Bill 2024 were presented.

Both the Seabed Minerals Amendment Bill and the Immigration Amendment Bill were passed, while the Appropriation Amendment Bill was referred to the Public Accounts Committee.

Today, the Public Accounts Committee report on the Appropriation Amendment Bill 2023-2024 will be presented.

The Government is seeking an additional $16.5 million in the Appropriation Amendment Bill 2023-2024 (Supplementary Budget).

The initial budget for 2023/24, passed last June last year, totalled $325,610,471. As per the Amendment Bill, this figure will rise to $342,179,552.

Prime Minister Brown, while submitting the Bill last week, explained that the government’s request for an approximately $17 million increase in appropriation is funded by additional tax revenue and development partner support.

He said the increase was intended to enhance public services and strengthen infrastructure in both Rarotonga and the Pa Enua.