The Parliament received a comprehensive budget briefing ahead of next week’s 2025/26 fiscal discussions.
The Members of Parliament (MPs) participated in a one-day session led by the Floating Budget Office yesterday, a regional initiative supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The briefing aimed to enhance MPs’ understanding of the national budget and strengthen their capacity for informed debate.
Experts from parliaments across the Pacific—including Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Zealand, and Australia—collaborated with Tonga’s Legislative Assembly staff to provide detailed analyses of the budget estimates. The session covered key areas such as the “Budget at a Glance,” ministry-specific briefings, and thematic overviews.
The 2024/25 budget, totaling $899.2 million, allocates 50.3% to recurrent expenditures and 49.7% to development projects. The government aims for a balanced budget in 2024/25 and 2025/26, with a projected surplus of $7.3 million in 2026/27.
To facilitate access to budget documents, MPs were provided with tablets preloaded with relevant materials, including the 271-page Floating Budget Analysis Mission Document.
The Floating Budget Office, now in its eighth year, exemplifies regional cooperation in promoting transparency and effective governance. Its ongoing support highlights a commitment to strengthening parliamentary oversight in Tonga and across the Pacific.
