Labour proposes bi-partisan expert group on economy and industry

Speaking during a political activity held in Zejtun, Labour Leader Joseph Muscat reiterated his message of national unity and an end to partisan politics.

He pledged that, if given the trust of the people and elected to government, "Labour will establish a bi-partisan team of experts on economic and industrial matters. The team will be composed of people from both sides - irrespective of who they are."

He insisted that a Labour administration will be more than willing to work alongside all comers.

"You are free to disagree with us. But you will surely be able to work with us. We want the best minds to work on the country's problems," Muscat said.

The Labour leader also Labour's committment to cutting down government bureaucracy to allow businesses more breathing space. He pledged that Labour would be cutting down bureaucracy "by a quarter."

He said that Labour will do this primarily by appointing a Commissioner who will be tasked with cutting down bureaucratic procedures, recommending changes, and ensuring that those recommendations are implemented wherever necessary.

"We will aim to bring about a situation that, to open a new business, one will only need one permit from one authority," Muscat said. "In this way, we will cut down on the waste of time for those who want to invest to create jobs. It will be hard road, but we will get there."

"This is a movement for the workers, but also a movement for those who employ. Muscat told party faithful. "They all pull the same rope."

Muscat also reiterated his message of national unity. "We have hurt each other too much in the past. The wounds of the 1960s and of the 1980s are great. We cannot keep hurting each other as a people."

He appealed to party supporters to be the first to open their arms to others "and welcome those new people who are joining us every day."

Muscat said that "while others are speaking of division and sowing doubt, the Labour Party is speaking of unity and trying to plant certainty."

Muscat also reiterated the PL's proposals to ensuring better political and parliamentary conduct. He scorned Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's reaction to the PL proposal that MPs' honoraria should be tied to parliamentary attendance.

In comments to the media, Gonzi had said that "parliament is not a classroom", insisting that one could not measure parliamentary performance by attendance alone.

In reaction, Muscat insisted that one cannot go to work and get paid anyway, adding that if this is the PN's reaction to Labour's proposals "it is not surprising that they gave themselves an increase of €500 a week."

He said that in presenting his proposals regarding parliamentary attendance and greater vigilance against political corruption, "I have the support of my united team."

Muscat also dispelled the notion that Labour's electoral momentum would run out early on: "If others are already out of breath, we have still far we can run before we run out of proposals to deliver."

During his wide-ranging address, Muscat also reiterated many of Labour's proposals and issues which it has raised over the past handful of days, focusing considerably on the benefits of the party's 'cheaper bills' energy generation system which has been the focus of intense debate for several days.

He however hit out at the Nationalist Party for criticising Labour's proposals while delivering no "concrete" proposals of its own.

Muscat also welcomed the fact that the Nationalist Party brought in a UK environment and safety expert Miles Seaman into the energy proposals debate.

In particular, he welcomed Seaman's confirmation that gas is a far more viable fuel source than heavy fuel oil.

"From our hearts, we thank whomever took the decision to finance his coming here," Muscat said light-heartedly.

Reiterating his statements on the SmartCity project which he delivered earlier, Muscat also said that Labour is not pleased that the SmartCity failed to deliver the 7,000 new jobs that Nationalist Party promised it would.

"We would have liked that the 7,000 jobs that were promised, were delivered. Who knows how many young students heard the PN#s promises, and chose their career path based on the expectation that they would work at SmartCity."

He reiterated that that a Labour government, alongside SmartCity's investors, "we see to it that this place truly starts offering employment."

He also repeated that the Nationalist government's justification why the SmartCity project was not completed because of a sewage outflow pumping station could not be removed, describing this as "sadly not a joke."

Underlining Labour's commitment towards job creation, Muscat also warned that unemployment is a growing threat, and that the country needs to address it before it spirals.

He said that Labour's proposal to reduce energy bills would also be relieving the expense burdens of many businesses and employers. This, Muscat insisted, will further assist the private sector retain and even create more jobs.

He also warned that the Nationalist government is allowing the national debt to increase without control, pointing to the debt incurred by Enemalta as a prime example.

He said warned that if Enemalta's debt remained unaddressed, Enemalta workers would be at risk of unemployment. "With us, your job is assured," Muscat said.

He also warned the public that the PN government burdened Enemalta with unsustainable debt. "If something is not done so that this company is brought back on its feet, it will sink and take the country down with it.

Muscat said that the PN government "does not have the credentials to fix this. Those who created the problem cannot fix it."