Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said that the coalition government is determined to be defined by three words: freedom, unity and progress in rebuilding Fiji together. 

While delivering his State of the Nation address, Rabuka says the 2023-2024 National Budget has been prepared to consolidate government finances; minimise wastage; address the high debt level; allocate resources to priority sectors; and to allow people to have access to basic services.

Coalition Government is determined to improve the living standards of our people, but there are grave challenges confronting us.

Foremost, our debt burden.

Secondly, economic constraints and structural challenges that will take time to resolve. 

The reality of our fiscal crisis demands that we “bite the bullet and take the bull by the horn.” 

We know that we will continue to face greater turbulence in the near future. The economic headwinds will now intensify due to ongoing conflict in Europe, geopolitical rivalry and global uncertainty.

Therefore, your trust and support are critical to Government’s efforts to resolve our challenges. 

At the beginning of 2020, just three years ago, the pandemic disrupted our lives. Many lost their lives and livelihoods. 

Our people faced tremendous hardship due to border closures and travel restrictions. No one was spared. That period is one of the darkest moments in living history. 

More than 120,000 people lost their jobs as a result and thousands of small businesses closed-down. Some remain closed to this day.

I pay tribute to those who have worked tirelessly to get the industry back on its feet. The last government had played an important role in its management of the crisis.

My fellow citizens, effects of climate change include more frequent and severe natural disasters. We have seen this since 2016 and this will continue to disrupt our lives. 

As you know, we in the Pacific are the most vulnerable and therefore, we will bear the full brunt of climate change in times to come.

Today, the world is facing many more new challenges. The war in Ukraine is causing uncertainty and global geopolitical rivalry is playing out visibly in the Pacific. 

As a nation, we are facing these challenges simultaneously. 
Together we have worked hard to restore confidence and uphold the trust of our people, including our Pacific family. 

Since our first day in government, we have worked tirelessly to improve relationships with our development partners. 

Whilst our political rivals with their rhetoric is that we are too slow, I am proud to say our achievements over the past six months have been progressive.

Some may consider these achievements as minor, I firmly believe they are significant in building the foundation for the nation to progress as a truly democratic nation.