FINANCIAL resources to thoroughly implement the Child and Family Welfare Bill 2016 have been questioned.

The Member of Parliament for Small Malaita, Hon Rick Hou told Parliament yesterday that this is questionable as what is expected of the Government is always beyond what should be sustainable and manageable at a certain level to implement legislations.

“It demands significant financial resources to implement this Bill when it comes to law. There should be no doubt where ‘the buck stops’: the proposed law puts the onus directly on the government to provide, not only the regulatory environment, but to regulate, provide the services, training, manpower and all necessary resources to make it happen,” he said.

He then added that he is always troubled when he hears people advancing the idea that government should be responsible for everything “from the cradle to the grave”.

“Sadly even in this House, not only we preach it, but some of us actually toe the line – where we make ourselves become the provider for every need, and the answer to every request. You know already this is an unsustainable and unrealistic approach – to deal with your constituents like that.

“It raises unrealistic expectations on yourself and your family,” Hou strongly added.

He further added that the point is that while he is pleased we will have a very modern legislation to deal with an important concern to society – the welfare of children and families in Solomon Islands – he is also reminded that, that is only one part of achieving that goal.

“I do not know how much it will cost to implement the requirements under this Bill – nobody has actually worked this out, this was not made known to the Committee.

“But there should be no doubt about it; there should be no illusion in anyone’s mind – the cost of implementing this Bill will definitely be huge.

“For the Government of the day, this will be a matter of choice of use of resources,” Hon Hou said.

He then told Parliament yesterday in his contribution on the Bill that the Government is currently inundated with huge demands on its resources in education, health and medical services, policing and national security, infrastructure development and other essential services.

He added that when laws are made to increase tax, most of our laws, including this one, only add to the huge amounts of bills that the Government has to folk out.

“So practically speaking our financial resources will not increase after passing this Bill.

“Sometimes I think it is unreasonable and I think irresponsible as well, to just make laws and policies without really thinking about the financial and resources implications these have for the country.

“I think it is even more unreasonable and irresponsible to think that all we have to do is design good policies or laws, without first knowing the financial implications these will have on our meagre resources,” Hon Hou added.

Hon Rick Hou then told Parliament that it saddens him when people refer all costs to the Minister of Finance and Treasury.

“We have to be prepared, and brace ourselves, for the time that the expectations and intentions of this Bill may have to take second priority, or even may have to be deferred, given the country’s many demands on its financial resources.

“Sad as it may, this is the practicality of the issue,” Hon Rick Hou said.