Fiji's contentious Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2022 was passed in Parliament on Thursday.
While the bill faced some fierce opposition, the government had the numbers to get it through.
The FBC reports National Federation Party MP Lenora Qereqeretabua saying she would "not bow down" to the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem, while calling him "infantile, want-to-be, and a smart alec".
Photo: Supplied/NFP
She said the Supervisor of Election (SoE)'s only job is to ensure that people are registered to vote, and asked why he wants these powers under the Act.
The amendment will now allow the SoE to direct a person, in writing, to furnish any relevant information or document.
"Now he wants powers to demand any information from anyone at any time simply based on having reasons to believe that a person has information or documents relevant to or required by him to do his job," she said.
Social Democratic Liberal Party Leader, Viliame Gavoka said: "In this case do we have anything here that we can say to the SoE that my rights to privacy are being abused here."
Attorney General blasts opposition
Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum questioned the opposition MPs why they have not raised such issues previously as the same provisions are there under other Acts.
"It's been nine years since these provisions have been put in place. Did the Law Society ever come up and say this is affecting privilege? Did the Law Council of Australia come up and say it is affecting the civil rights of people? Did SODELPA come up and say it is affecting the rights of the people of this country? Did NFP come up and say that? It has been there for nine years. What is the difference between this provision and that provision?"
Sayed-Khaiyum also challenged Qereqeretabua to make comments about the matters before the court outside parliament.
While debating on the amendments to the Electoral Act, Qereqeretabua highlighted the case where seven women are seeking constitutional redress challenging amendments to the Registration of Voters Act and the Interpretation Act.
She questioned whether these women will get justice.
"Some women voters challenged this in court and while it is sub judice, it would not surprise me in the slightest that even if the writ were to be issued on Monday, these women would still have no closure."
