New code of ethics will be debated in parliament

Proposed changes to the Code of Ethics for MPs will be debated in parliament after the standards committee decided to more forward with a discussion.

During a sitting of parliament’s standards in public life committee, Opposition MPs put forward their reaction to the changes.

PN MP Mark Anthony Sammut said the party does not object to taking the amendments to plenary for a proper discussion, but several concerns will have to be addressed when the proposed legislation reaches the parliamentary chamber.

He said the Opposition disagrees with the proposal to abolish ministerial asset declarations, which until recently would be filed by Cabinet members in parallel with the parliamentary asset declarations.

Sammut also said the government should amend the proposal that reduces reporting obligations when it comes to assets jointly owned with their spouses.

Asset declarations to be published regularly

Last week, Speaker Anġlu Farrugia suggested that the parliamentary asset declarations should be made more accessible, possibly by making them available on an online portal.

On Monday, Justice Minister Jonathan Attard said the government will amend the proposal so that new declarations are tabled in parliament and made public on the government’s website.

Sammut also agreed with the proposal.

The amendments will be debated in parliament before coming into force.

What's being proposed

If adopted, the new Code of Ethics establish a unified asset register covering all members of the House, including ministers and parliamentary secretaries, subjecting them all to the same disclosure requirements and scrutiny by the Standards Commissioner.

Among the principal changes is a new article extending the code's reach beyond the chamber itself to cover members' conduct in public life and in their constituencies more broadly.

For years, ministers have been required to submit detailed asset declarations with details of their property holdings, bank deposits, and even some information on their spouses’ income if they have community of assets. 

Under the new framework, this will not be the case. Ministers will only have to submit asset declarations to parliament, although the Cabinet Secretary must be notified of anything that indicates a conflict of interest.