Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi revealed the government’s approved travel allocation of T$4.7 million has surged past T$7 million during the current financial year, marking a T$3.5 million overspend.
The issue emerged amid Finance Minister ʻAisake Eke’s presentation of the 2025/26 budget to the Legislative Assembly this week.
Fusimalohi highlighted that ministries have also overshot their meeting refreshment budgets by T$100,000, with hospitality expenses trailing behind. “We’re trying to manage costs better in this (2025–25) budget so we can save money,” he said, speaking during the budget debate in Parliament.
MP for Tongatapu 9, Hon. Seventeen Toumo‘ua, argues that some travel costs were “out of ordinary” and trips may be justified. “Because ministers have to travel and seek opportunities and that the rate of return for these travels are justifiable,” he said.
This follows earlier findings that the Legislative Assembly and Prime Minister’s Office also overspent their travel allocations by T$600,000 and T$300,000 respectively. In February, the government conceded travel expenses had exceeded by over T$1 million in the previous year .
Fusimalohi’s comments come as the Public Accounts Committee reports on its review of the broader T$992.8 million budget for 2025/26.
