The Cook Islands government is moving to amend its Budget to provide an extra $US200,000 to refurbish Parliament's debating chamber.
Mark Brown Photo: Phillipa Webb / Cook Islands News
Deputy prime minister Mark Brown gave notice to the House of a change to the Budget.
Mr Brown said the extra $US200,000 was required by Parliamentary Services.
"This is to allow much-needed refurbishment of the Parliament chamber," said Brown, who is also the finance minister.
The Cook Islands News reported a proposal for refurbishment of the Parliament chamber was first made to government in 2014, but there was no appropriation made for this project.
In the 2019/20 Budget, the government also allocated additional funding to Parliament to recruit key positions.
It appropriated over $US65,000 for a special select committee to consult on various bills, nearly $79,000 for the House of Ariki, $20,000 to increase the parliamentary sitting budget and over $130,000 to increase the MP travel budget.
This has increased the 2019/20 gross appropriation for Parliament to $US3 million.