The Weekly News #7 - 27 July 2020

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[color=#FFFFFF][b]Good, Insightful and Timely | Year 18 | 27 July 2020
[size=400]SOUTH PACIFIC INDEPENDENT NEWS NETWORK[/size][/b][/color]
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[align=justify][font=Trebuchet MS, Helvetica, sans-serif][b][color=#7F7F7F]ELECTIONS[/color]
[size=120][color=#005e96]NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTION[/color][/size][/b]
Election Commissioner Tsunamy announced on July 26 the opening of nominations for the Local Council election, a process that will run through July 29 before ending in two rounds of voting during the first week of August. There were 9 candidates at the time of publication, including longtime Local Councillor Auphelia, who is seeking a fifth term in office. Those elected will serve until the next scheduled election in November 2020.

[b][color=#7F7F7F]ASSEMBLY[/color]
[size=120][color=#005e96]ASSEMBLY DEBATES REPEALING LOCAL COUNCIL VACANCIES CLAUSE[/color][/size][/b]
The Assembly is debating a repeal of the provision in the Election Act that determines how Local Council vacancies are filled, after the High Court ruled that the Election Act superseded the Local Council's own election law. The repeal would allow the Local Council to determine its own mechanism for filling vacancies without input from the Assembly. The bill has already been motioned and seconded.

[b][color=#7F7F7F]ASSEMBLY[/color]
[size=120][color=#005e96]WHOLE INDIA WITHDRAWS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY BILL[/color][/size][/b]
Whole India has withdrawn the bill for a Commission of Inquirty Act after it encountered opposition from various legislators. The bill would have laid out the mechanism for the Assembly or the Cabinet to set up investigative commissions, but received criticism related to its compliance with the Law Standards Act, the style of its writing and the overall necessity of the bill. Chair of the Assembly Rabbitz had already indicated that they would not bring the bill to a vote unless outstanding issues were resolved regarding to its compliance with the Law Standards Act.

[b][color=#7F7F7F]HIGH COURT[/color]
[size=120][color=#005e96]HIGH COURT DISCLOSES 2 YEARS WORTH OF CLASSIFIED DISCUSSIONS[/color][/size][/b]
The High Court announed on July 27 that it was disclosing 2 years worth of classified discussions, in compliance with the Sunshine Act. The disclosed content includes internal discussions and debates on cases handled between 2018 and early 2020. The Sunshine Act requires the disclosure of private government discussions older than 6 months, except in cases of information relating to regional security or containing personally identifying information.

[size=75]The [b][color=#005e96]South Pacific Independent News Network (SPINN)[/color][/b] is an independent news organisation established in 2003 whose goal is to provide good news, insightful commentary and timely information for the citizens of the South Pacific. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board. Content is published anonymously, unless is the author requests otherwise. The SPINN is in no way, shape or form associated with the Government of the South Pacific.[/size][/font][/align]