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Committees

Category: Parliament Business
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The Legislative Assembly (Parliament) is the central institution through which both the Nobles and the People’s views are represented and expressed. Its core function is to make law. Since the Constitutional and electoral form that culminated in elections in 2010, the Legislative Assembly now elects the Prime Minister and is responsible for holding the Executive to account.

The Committee system enables members of Parliament to examine issues in more detail than is usually possible within the Legislative Assembly.

Parliamentary Committees can also provide the public with an opportunity to comment on and suggest changes to impending legislation (laws or regulations), and to participate in other parliamentary functions such as inquires.

The key objective of the committee system is to contribute to the work of the Legislative Assembly by inquiring into and reporting on a broad range of issues. Through inquiries, parliamentary committees carry out in-depth evaluation, analysis and review of work currently before or intended to be tabled and discussed in the Legislative Assembly. Its findings and recommendations on specific issues are tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

Some parliamentary committees play a critical role in scrutinizing the work of the Executive (Ministries and agencies).

Parliamentary committees are the operational arm of the Legislative Assembly, responsible for interacting with the Executive and line ministries, non-government organiza-tions and the public at large. It is also a key component of the new constitutional framework in that it provides people with a forum in which they can directly voice their concerns to the Legislative Assembly.

Committe of the Whole House

The Committee of the Whole House is made up of all the members of parliament. It sits at the same time as the Legislative Assembly.

The key distinction between the Committee of the Whole House and the Legislative Assembly is that the Committee of the Whole House has more flexible rules and less formalities and protocols. As such, the Legislative Assembly often resolves itself to the Committee of the Whole House so that issues can be discussed by members in more detailed and in a manner that is less formal.

Different types of Committees

There are two types of Parliamentary Committees, namely-

  1. Standing Committees
  2. Select Committees

Standing Committees are established at the beginning of the parliamentary term and continue until the Legislative Assembly is dissolved after 4 years for elections. As such, they are considered to be permanent or ‘standing’ committees.

There are currently 11 Standing Committees which provide continuity for related business of the Legislative Assembly.

In addition to Standing Committees, the Legislative Assembly can also establish ad hoc committees to undertake specific tasks. In 2023 there were a total of 4 Select Committees through established by the Legislative Assembly.

Select Committees are temporary committees. It will automatically dissolve when it has completed its work unless the Legislative Assembly extends the scope of its work.

Select Committees allow members to delve in-depth into a particular issue that is not captured within the terms of reference of Standing Committees.

Standing Committees

The 11 Standing Committees and their respective roles in the Legislative Assembly are as follows:

Finance & Public Accounts Committee

Responsible for oversight on the expenditure of the public funds and is concerned with public revenue, public expenditure, the budget estimate, Auditor General's report and every financial report relating to parliament's expenditures.

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Fakafanua
2. Lord Tuʻilakepa
3. Hon. ʻAisake Valu Eke
4. Hon. Paula Piveni Piukala
5. Hon. Siaosi ʻOfa Ki Vahafolau Sovaleni (Chairman)
6. Hon. Sevenitini Toumoua
7. Auditor General

Noble’s Representatives

  1. Lord Nuku 
  2. HSH Pilinisi Kalaniuvalu Fotofili

Cabinet Ministers

  1. Hon. Taniela Likuʻohihifo Fusimalohi
  2. Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu

People’s Representatives

  1. Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka
  2. Hon. Sevenitini Toumoua

Environment & Climate Change and Environment Committee

Responsible for all issues related to the environment, sustainable development and climate change.

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Fakafanua (Chairman)
2. Lord Tuʻiʻafitu
3. HRH Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala
4. Hon. Taniela Likuʻohihifo Fusimalohi
5. Hon. Siaosi ʻOfa Ki Vahafolau Sovaleni
6. Hon. Dulcie Elaine Tei

Nobles Representatives

  1. Lord Tu’iha’angana
  2. Lord Tu’ilakepa

Cabinet Ministers

  1. Hon. Moʻale Finau
  2. Hon. Siosiua Moala Halavatau

People’s Representatives

  1. Hon. Sevenitini Toumoua
  2. Hon. Johnny Grattan Vaea Taione

Social Services Committee

Responsible for all issues related to the sustainable development, gender equality and health issues.

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Tuʻilakepa
2. Lord Vaea
3. Hon. ʻAna ʻAkauʻola
4. Hon. Sinaitakala Tuʻitahi
5. Hon. Moʻale ʻOtunuku
6. Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka (Chairman)

Nobles Representatives

  1. HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili
  2. Lord Nuku

Cabinet Ministers

  1. Hon. ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi
  2. HRH Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala

People’s Representatives

  1. Hon. Vatau Mefi Hui
  2. Hon. Veivosa Light of Life Taka

Legislation Committee

Responsible for legislation (Bills and Regulations) and ensuring that Bills do not conflict with the constitution or any existing Acts.

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Fakafanua
2. Lord Tuʻivakano
3. Hon. Taniela Likuʻohihifo Fusimalohi
4. Hon. Moʻale Finau
5. Hon. Samiu Kuita Vaipulu (Chairman)
6. Hon. Viliami Uasike Latu
7. Attorney General

Noble’s Representative

  1. HSH Pilinisi Kalaniuvalu Fotofili
  2. Lord Nuku

Cabinet Ministers

  1. Hon. ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi
  2. Hon. Paula Piveni Piukala

People’s Representatives

  1. Hon. Siaosi ʻOfa Ki Vahafolau Sovaleni
  2. Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee

Responsible for issues related to international affairs, immigration and trade and defence of the country.

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili (Chairman)
2. Lord Fakafanua
3. HRH Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala
4. Hon. Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata
5. Hon. Siaosi ʻOfa Ki Vahafolau Sovaleni
6. Hon. Johnny Grattan Vaea Taione

Nobles Representatives

  1. Lord Tu’ivakano
  2. Lord Tu’iha’angana

Cabinet Ministers

  1. Hon. Taniela Likuʻohihifo Fusimalohi
  2. Hon. Moʻale Finau

People’s Representatives

  1. Hon. Viliami Uasike Latu
  2. Hon. Moʻale ʻOtunuku

Privileges Committee

Responsible for matters regarding all members of Parliament and some inquiries relating to petitions.

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Tuʻivakano (Chairman)
2. Lord Tuʻihaʻangana
3. Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu
4. Hon. ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi
5. Hon. Samiu Kuita Vaipulu
6. Hon. Viliami Uasike Latu

Noble’s Representatives

  1. Lord Tuʻiʻafitu
  2. Lord Vaea

Cabinet Ministers

  1. Hon. ʻAna ʻAkauʻola
  2. Hon. Moʻale Finau

People’s Representatives

  1. Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka
  2. Hon. Sevenitini Toumoua

Agenda Committee

Responsible for the agenda and planning the annual parliamentary program.

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Fakafanua (Chairman)
2. Lord Tuʻihaʻangana
3. Hon. ʻAisake Valu Eke
4. Hon. Taniela Likuʻohihifo Fusimalohi
5. Hon. Siaosi ʻOfa Ki Vahafolau Sovaleni
6. Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka

Noble’s Representatives

  1. Lord Tu’ilakepa
  2. Lord Tuʻiʻafitu

Cabinet Ministers

  1. Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu
  2. HRH Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala

People’s Representatives

  1. Hon. Veivosa Light of Life Taka
  2. Hon. Samiu Kuita Vaipulu

Agriculture & Fisheries Committee

This Standing Committee started as a Select Committee and changed on 6th February 2012 as a Standing Committee. The functions of this Standing Committee is to inquire into matters relating to agriculture and fisheries (including the economic status regarding agriculture and fisheries, status of exporting markets for agriculture and fisheries and the status of sectors relevant to agriculture and fisheries) in Tonga and to report upon it to the Legislative Assembly..

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Tuʻilakepa (Chairman)
2. Lord Fohe
3. Hon. ʻAisake Valu Eke
4. Hon. Siosiua Moala Halavatau
5. Hon. Vatau Mefi Hui
6. Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka

Nobles Representatives

  1. Lord Nuku
  2. HSH Pilinisi Kalaniuvalu Fotofili

Cabinet Ministers

  1. Hon. Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata
  2. Hon. Sinaitakala Tuʻitahi

People’s Representatives

  1. Hon. Viliami Uasike Latu
  2. Hon. Moʻale ʻOtunuku

Anti-Corruption Committee

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Tuʻihaʻangana
2. HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili
3. Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu
4. Hon. ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi
5. Hon. Viliami Uasike Latu (Chairman)
6. Hon. Moʻale ʻOtunuku

Noble’s Representatives

  1. Lord Fakafanua
  2. Lord Tu’ivakano

Cabinet Ministers

  1. Hon. Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata
  2. Hon. ʻAisake Valu Eke

People’s Representatives

  1. Hon. Samiu Kuita Vaipulu
  2. Hon. Sevenitini Toumoua

Population & Development Committee

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Fohe
2. Lord Vaea
3. Hon. ʻAna ʻAkauʻola
4. Hon. Sinaitakala Tuʻitahi
5. Hon. Veivosa Light of Life Taka
6. Hon. Dulcie Elaine Tei (Chairwoman)

Noble’s Representatives

  1. Lord Fakafanua
  2. Lord Tu’ivakano

Cabinet Ministers

  1. Hon. ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi
  2. Hon. Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata

People’s Representatives

  1. Hon. Moʻale ʻOtunuku
  2. Hon. Viliami Uasike Latu

Retirement Benefits Board

  1. Members
  2. Alternate members

1. Chairman – Lord Speaker, Lord Fakafanua
2. Member: Government representative – Hon. ʻAisake Valu Eke
3. Member: Noble’s representative – Lord Tuʻilakepa
4. Member: People’s representative – Hon. Siaosi ʻOfa Ki Vahafolau Sovaleni

1. Lord Tuʻihaʻangana
2. Hon. Taniela Likuʻohihifo Fusimalohi
3. Lord Fohe
4. Hon. Samiu Kuita Vaipulu

 
Select Committees

Select Committees are setup by Resolution of Parliament to focus on a particular area/issue requiring Parliament's attention. Normally, the Select Committee dissolves when it completes and submits its final report on matters referred to it from Parliament.

Select Committees in the current Parliamentary term includes-

Government Annual Reports Committee

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Tuʻivakano
2. Lord Fakafanua
3. Hon. ʻAisake Valu Eke
4. Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu
5. Hon. Samiu Kuita Vaipulu
6. Hon. Sevenitini Toumoua

Noble’s Representative
Lord Tu’iha’angana

Cabinet Minister
Hon. Taniela Likuʻohihifo Fusimalohi

People’s Representative
Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka

Electricity Committee

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Tuʻivakano
2. Lord Tuʻiʻafitu
3. Hon. ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi
4. Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu
5. Hon. Samiu Kuita Vaipulu
6. Hon. Viliami Uasike Latu

Noble’s Representative
Lord Nuku

Cabinet Minister
Hon. Paula Piveni Piukala

People’s Representative
Hon. Johnny Grattan Vaea Taione

Lulutai Airlines Committee

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members

1. Lord Fohe
2. HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili (Chairman)
3. Hon. ʻAisake Valu Eke
4. Hon. Paula Piveni Piukala
5. Hon. Siaosi ʻOfa Ki Vahafolau Sovaleni
6. Hon. Johnny Grattan Vaea Taione

Noble’s Representative
Lord Nuku

Cabinet Minister
Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu

People’s Representative
Hon. Viliami Uasike Latu

Response to the Royal Opening Address Committee 2025

Empowerment of the Office of the Legislative Assembly

  1. Members
  2. Alternate Members
  1. Hon. Taniela Likuʻohihifo Fusimalohi
  2. Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka
  3. Lord Fakafanua
  1. Lord Tuʻihaʻangana
  2. Hon. ʻAisake Valu Eke
  3. Hon. Dulcie Elaine Tei
 
Overview Summary
  • Committees scrutinize (watch over) the functions of the Executive and its Ministries and agencies.
  • Standing Committees are Parliament's permanent Committees.
  • Select Committees are temporary Committees of Parliament established to focus on specific and particular issues. It has a shorter duration.
  • The Committee of the Whole House is made up of all the members of parliament. The Legislative Assembly often resolves itself to the Committee of the Whole House so that it can discuss issues in more detailed and in a manner that is less formal.
  • COMMITTEES DIAGRAM1

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