29 Jun 2018

Fiji govt puts focus on family in national budget

6:24 am on 29 June 2018

Babies born to lower income families in Fiji will get a $FJ1000 dollar start in life under Fiji's national budget delivered last night.

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Photo: Fiji Parliament

The spending plan also included increases in paid parental leave, free family insurance for civil servants and grants to encourage home ownership.

Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum introduced his election year budget as bold, historic and built for Fijian families.

22 percent was set aside for education including reducing student debt, a 50 percent boost in scholarships, recruiting and upskilling teachers and rebuilding schools.

The 5 percent duty on imported fruit and vegetables is slashed to zero and sugary drinks tax has been raised.

Fiji Finance Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum

Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Photo: Supplied

The government's introducing incentives for GPs to set up in remote areas.

It's also bringing in free wifi hotspots in public parks, a doubling of the plastic bag levy, a kidney disease research centre and subsidies for dialysis.

A price stabilisation fund will be set up for the sugar industry, the threshold for service tax has been increased and the duty on new cars has been lowered.

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