*In Fiji’s new era of “transparency”, it seems a taxpayer-funded ticket upgrade is now called community support, and five-figure travel claims are “largely funded” by everyone except the taxpayers footing the bill for Tabuya's Aussie party |  |
 Not on Fijian Taxpayers. Just $11,551.68 of Fijian Taxpayer money By any normal standard, $11,551.68 is a serious amount of money. But in Fiji’s new world of ministerial transparency, that’s apparently “not taxpayers’ money.” Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya has defended her trip to South Australia for Fiji Day celebrations, claiming that it was “largely funded by the Fijian community” and that the only cost to Government was her “ticket upgrade and standard per diem.” |    |
Sounds modest until you read the fine print.
In a written statement to Parliament, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shows otherwise.
According to the official list of ministerial travel costs, the Minister for Information’s trip cost taxpayers $11,551.68.
That’s more than Rabuka himself ($8,899.95) and almost twice the cost of Minister Sashi Kiran's $6,328.00.
If this is what “community-funded” means, then Fiji must have discovered a new type of invisible public accounting where community goodwill magically appears in the Ministry of Finance’s ledgers.
While the official breakdown isn’t shown, a realistic estimation (based on Fiji government travel norms) could look like this:
Total: $11,551.68, all signed off under the Prime Minister’s letterhead.
So yes, maybe the “community” did chip in with applause and flower garlands.
But the taxpayers paid for the flight, the hotel, the allowance, and the upgrade.
In other words, the “only” cost to the Coalition government was the whole trip.
In a written statement to Parliament, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shows otherwise.
According to the official list of ministerial travel costs, the Minister for Information’s trip cost taxpayers $11,551.68.
That’s more than Rabuka himself ($8,899.95) and almost twice the cost of Minister Sashi Kiran's $6,328.00.
If this is what “community-funded” means, then Fiji must have discovered a new type of invisible public accounting where community goodwill magically appears in the Ministry of Finance’s ledgers.
While the official breakdown isn’t shown, a realistic estimation (based on Fiji government travel norms) could look like this:
- Airfare and upgrade: around $4,500
- Per diem: about $3,000
- Accommodation and extras: $2,000
- Representation costs and admin fees: roughly $2,000
Total: $11,551.68, all signed off under the Prime Minister’s letterhead.
So yes, maybe the “community” did chip in with applause and flower garlands.
But the taxpayers paid for the flight, the hotel, the allowance, and the upgrade.
In other words, the “only” cost to the Coalition government was the whole trip.
QUESTIONS FOR MINISTER FOR INFORMATION LYNDA TABUYA
Funding clarity and evidence
Conflict of interest and ethics
Authorisation and accountability
Cost and transparency
Policy and precedent
Political and public messaging
Broader integrity questions
Funding clarity and evidence
- If the organisers said the trip was “fully funded,” why did the Coalition government still pay for a ticket upgrade and per diem?
- Can you produce documentation or correspondence showing exactly who funded the base airfare and accommodation?
- Were any funds received directly or indirectly from PALM/NEC contractors, labour recruiters, or businesses that employ Fijian workers in Australia?
Conflict of interest and ethics
- Did you or your ministry conduct any due diligence to ensure the funders had no commercial or political interests linked to your ministerial portfolio?
- Were you accompanied by any government staff or advisers whose travel costs were also partly subsidised?
- Under the Civil Service or Ministerial Code of Conduct, do you consider it appropriate to accept partial sponsorship for official travel from private or community groups?
Authorisation and accountability
- You stated the trip was approved by the Prime Minister. Was this approval written? If so, on what date?
- Was Cabinet informed or did it appear in any Cabinet paper as required for overseas ministerial travel?
- Did you declare the funding source in any post-travel report or register of gifts/benefits?
Cost and transparency
- What was the exact cost to taxpayers of the “ticket upgrade” and “standard travel per diem”?
- Were per diems claimed for all days of travel, including those funded by organisers?
- Will you release receipts or travel acquittals to verify the spending?
Policy and precedent
- Would other ministers now be entitled to accept partial sponsorship from foreign-based Fijian communities?
- Does this not set a precedent for outside groups to fund ministerial travel in exchange for political visibility?
- What safeguards exist to prevent misuse or hidden quid pro quo arrangements?
Political and public messaging
- Why does your statement emphasize PALM/NEC remittances when the trip’s funding controversy concerns ministerial ethics, not remittance appreciation?
- Do you acknowledge that remittance earners’ sacrifices are being used rhetorically to justify questionable travel costs?
- Why didn’t the Ministry issue a proactive statement disclosing funding details before public pressure arose?
Broader integrity questions
- Will you commit to publishing all future ministerial travel disclosures and funding sources online for public scrutiny?
As an ex-MP who’s been there, let me say this clearly: most overseas trips by MPs and senior civil servants are a worthless waste of public money and time.
They do little or nothing for the nation — except line the pockets of the traveller with generous per diems and provide a taxpayer-funded holiday under the pretext of “official duty.”
This is why such trips must be strictly regulated. MPs and ministry officials should travel only when absolutely necessary — and only when the benefits to Fiji are clear, measurable, and immediate.
Too many leave for 20, 30, even 40 days, while their ministries fall behind on targets that actually matter to our people.
We saw the rot begin during the FFP years, when the former PM was sent to events meant for Permanent Secretaries — reportedly just to collect allowances and enjoy another overseas jaunt.
One former FFP MP, now sitting comfortably in opposition, is said to have raked in over $20,000 in allowances from a three-week “climate change” meeting.
And now — history repeats itself. According to today’s Fiji Times, the Government spent a total of $64,813.67 just to send the Prime Minister, five ministers, and one assistant minister overseas to “celebrate Fiji Day.” The breakdown is as follows:
• A-G Siromi Turaga — $11,783.84
• Lynda Tabuya — $11,551.68
• Penioni Ravunawa — $10,500.55
• PM Sitiveni Rabuka — $8,899.95
• Jese Saukuru — $8,583.93
• Agni Deo Singh — $7,165.72
• Sashi Kiran — $6,328.00
Total: $64,813.67 — for just one celebration.
The irony is painful. While in opposition, these same leaders condemned the FFP for wasteful spending — yet now, in power, they are walking the same path.
How can we justify spending $64,000 of our own limited funds for a feel-good trip abroad while hospitals lack medicine, schools crumble, and families struggle to put food on the table?
Worse still, many of these trips are already fully or partly funded by wealthier nations eager to buy influence and secure our votes in international forums. The sponsors win — Fiji loses. We pay our own way to attend, then clap for someone else’s agenda.
We must demand better. The next government must tighten travel regulations and keep all overseas missions to the barest minimum — only when it truly serves the national interest. No more luxury junkets disguised as diplomacy. No more taxpayer-funded sightseeing tours.
If MPs and officials really want to serve Fiji, let them stay home, fix their ministries, and deliver real results for the people who elected them — not selfies from five-star hotels abroad.
They do little or nothing for the nation — except line the pockets of the traveller with generous per diems and provide a taxpayer-funded holiday under the pretext of “official duty.”
This is why such trips must be strictly regulated. MPs and ministry officials should travel only when absolutely necessary — and only when the benefits to Fiji are clear, measurable, and immediate.
Too many leave for 20, 30, even 40 days, while their ministries fall behind on targets that actually matter to our people.
We saw the rot begin during the FFP years, when the former PM was sent to events meant for Permanent Secretaries — reportedly just to collect allowances and enjoy another overseas jaunt.
One former FFP MP, now sitting comfortably in opposition, is said to have raked in over $20,000 in allowances from a three-week “climate change” meeting.
And now — history repeats itself. According to today’s Fiji Times, the Government spent a total of $64,813.67 just to send the Prime Minister, five ministers, and one assistant minister overseas to “celebrate Fiji Day.” The breakdown is as follows:
• A-G Siromi Turaga — $11,783.84
• Lynda Tabuya — $11,551.68
• Penioni Ravunawa — $10,500.55
• PM Sitiveni Rabuka — $8,899.95
• Jese Saukuru — $8,583.93
• Agni Deo Singh — $7,165.72
• Sashi Kiran — $6,328.00
Total: $64,813.67 — for just one celebration.
The irony is painful. While in opposition, these same leaders condemned the FFP for wasteful spending — yet now, in power, they are walking the same path.
How can we justify spending $64,000 of our own limited funds for a feel-good trip abroad while hospitals lack medicine, schools crumble, and families struggle to put food on the table?
Worse still, many of these trips are already fully or partly funded by wealthier nations eager to buy influence and secure our votes in international forums. The sponsors win — Fiji loses. We pay our own way to attend, then clap for someone else’s agenda.
We must demand better. The next government must tighten travel regulations and keep all overseas missions to the barest minimum — only when it truly serves the national interest. No more luxury junkets disguised as diplomacy. No more taxpayer-funded sightseeing tours.
If MPs and officials really want to serve Fiji, let them stay home, fix their ministries, and deliver real results for the people who elected them — not selfies from five-star hotels abroad.
From Fijileaks Archives
