After five hours of the 2017 Budget debate from the Opposition and Members of Parliament this afternoon, the government has used its numerical strength to pass the 2017 Budget.
The budget was passed 75-0.
This will be the fifth consecutive budget by the O’Neill led Government and the last budget in this term of Parliament before the national election.
The 2017 Budget is set at K12,965.4 million against a revenue envelope of K11,088.8 million.
This comprise of K9,182.2 million in tax revenue, K1,045.3 million in grants and K1,245.7 million from other sources of revenue.
However, Opposition Leader Don Polye debated and termed the 2017 budget as a scam to defraud the people of this nation.
Polye in a 65 page response, debated that the Budget needs to be redone giving priority to agriculture, strengthening the rule of law and transform the public services machinery.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in response said the budget has been framed in a way that will suit the rural people and prioritise the government key priority areas.
The key priority areas include education, health and infrastructure developments.