The National Federation Party has warned that a clause in the proposed National Referendum Bill could effectively sideline young people from Fiji’s political life, telling a parliamentary committee that excluding those under 18 from any referendum-related activity risks long-term damage to civic participation.
NFP General Secretary Kamal Iyer made the submission to the committee, sharply criticising a provision that would bar anyone under the age of 18 from taking part in “any form of referendum-related activity.” Iyer argued the restriction goes beyond the legal fact that minors cannot vote, and would prevent young people from observing, discussing or otherwise engaging with a referendum process at a formative stage in their political development. “This discourages our future generations from becoming interested in politics, in national politics, in the discourse of their country,” he told committee members.
Under the wording critics highlighted, it is unclear whether under-18s would be allowed to attend public forums, follow campaign events, participate in school debates or use social media to discuss referendum issues. Iyer said those kinds of experiences are central to civic education and to shaping informed, engaged citizens, and that the blanket ban being proposed is unnecessary and counterproductive.
The NFP also told the committee that existing electoral frameworks already contain guidance on campaigning and conduct and could be relied upon to address concerns without excluding young people entirely. The party warned the proposed clause could produce unintended consequences, including apathy and disengagement among the next generation of voters, undermining long-term democratic participation rather than protecting it.
Committee members pressed on how to balance openness with necessary safeguards. Faiyaz Koya, participating in the hearings, questioned where the line should be drawn between permitting broad public engagement and protecting vulnerable groups from misinformation or undue influence during highly charged referendum campaigns. His remarks reflected a central tension in submissions so far: how to ensure both a free and fair information environment and an inclusive civic space for non-voters who are nevertheless politically formative.
The committee is continuing to take submissions on the bill. This latest intervention by the NFP focuses attention on the social and educational impacts of the legislation as lawmakers consider whether to narrow, reword or remove the under-18 exclusion. With youth engagement and civic education already high on the national agenda, opponents of the clause say the debate over its fate will be decisive not only for the upcoming bill but for how Fiji nurtures future voters.
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