The Consumer Council says the 2017/2018 national budget is a socially inclusive budget.

Council Chief Executive, Premila Kumar says it is a budget for all Fijians.

Kumar says the budget covers everyone including youth’s groups, physically challenged, destitute and the workers of the country.

“What we have seen is consumers will take more money home so the household budget should not be under stressed anymore and it should not be under-stressed anymore because there is also going to be a very stringent monitoring system when the past duties and vat were reduced and it was not passed on to customers, so we expect a better monitoring system where they will be a lot more gain.”

Kumar adds the reduction is duties and taxes is a great relief for taxpayers.