Budget 2023 will be announced by Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad in parliament today at 10 am.

The government has made it clear it is not business. The 2023-2024 national budget has been prepared to:
•    consolidate government finances;
•    minimise wastages;
•    address our high debt level; 
•    allocate resources to priority sectors; and
•    to allow our people to have access to basic services.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka assured the nation that the 2023-2024 budget will be balanced and restrained, while still delivering core services, investing in health, skills development, and improving our infrastructure.

The budget will be people-centered, and adjustments will be made to ensure sustainable economic growth in the short and medium term. 

Inclusiveness will be given priority to ensure fiscal sustainability, at the same time, ensure a fair distribution of wealth. 

As our current debt burden is extremely high at 85 percent of GDP, our revenue collection must be more robust.

The revenue policy reforms will be guided by principles of fairness, simplicity, and revenue adequacy. 

The Coalition Government is also changing the way we do business with regard to revenue collection for the nation. 

These changes will be reflected in the new plan for FRCS and the new compliance improvement strategy.

 A key example of this in the Budget is that our taxation system will be instrumental in addressing the crisis caused by non-communicable diseases which is killing thousands of people every year, more than any other disease. 

Policies will be implemented to reduce the intake of junk food and increase domestic and organic food production which will in turn improve the wellbeing of our people. 

The 2023-2024 will be LIVE on Fiji One at 10am.