WATCH | Making equality its own ministry confirms Labour’s record on civil rights, Abela insists

Speaking outside the President's Palace after the swearing-in ceremony, ministers struck a confident tone on their respective briefs.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has defended his decision to elevate equality to a full ministry in the new legislature, rejecting suggestions that the move was an admission that the sector had been neglected in the previous legislature.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Abela said the upgrade reflected the importance his administration had always placed on civil rights. "The results speak for themselves for a European country that has same-sex marriage, that has divorce, that has civil unions, and a whole package of reforms," he said. "Each time we carried out a reform on equality and rights, we faced strong resistance, even when we strengthened the IVF laws."

Malta had ranked at the top of the Rainbow Europe index on LGBTIQ rights for several years, Abela noted, before the country fell to a tie with Spain in the most recent edition. He said one of the first bills to come before the new parliament would be legislation aimed at reclaiming the top spot on the index. "It will be one of the first laws I want parliament to pass as soon as it opens," he added.

On the health ministry, Abela was asked why he had not appointed a doctor to lead the portfolio. He pointed to Parliamentary Secretary Deo Debattista, a medical doctor, who will sit within the office of the new Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Ian Borg.

Abela said he was confident the pairing would deliver in a sector where significant infrastructure work remained outstanding, including the new Gozo General Hospital, an intermediate hospital at St Vincent de Paule, and a new mental health facility and expanded emergency department at Mater Dei. He also mentioned that works at St Luke's Hospital and Karen Grech, as well as health centres across Malta, also formed part of the government's plans.

"I see this legislature unfolding in a way that will see us keep building on the strong work already done," Abela said, praising outgoing health minister Jo Etienne Abela for the new services introduced on his watch.

Ministers pledge to deliver on electoral programme

Speaking outside the President's Palace after the swearing-in ceremony, ministers struck a confident tone on their respective briefs.

Jonathan Attard, now minister for infrastructure, planning and employment, said he was taking on his role with humility. "It is a responsibility that reflects great trust. I look ahead to continuing to give priority to the sectors I have been entrusted with, planning, infrastructure, construction, and employment, and above all, to deliver the electoral programme, which is now the government's work programme," he said.

When asked by MaltaToday whether the same people who drew up last year's controversial planning reform would also be involved in changing the local plans, Attard said the government's commitment was to deliver everything the Labour Party had proposed in the election. "Everyone knows we always keep our word, and that is what I will be doing my utmost to ensure, that we keep our word in these sectors too," he said.

Ian Borg said the health sector had already seen significant work and that the priority was to build on it. "With collective effort, and in a sector where consensus is essential, we can achieve results that perhaps in the past we did not manage to reach," he said.

Keith Azzopardi Tanti said he would build on progress and introduce new proposals. "The challenges recur across governments. We have made big strides and I believe we will continue to achieve great things," he said.

Chris Bonett, retaining the sustainable mobility brief, said the government had a clear mandate on transport. "We need to change the way we move around our country. We have Malta in Motion, which the people have now voted for, and we need to make it a reality," he said.

Miriam Dalli said work was already under way on energy, water, open spaces, and the regeneration of the Grand Harbour, where the first market consultation had been launched.

Malcolm Paul Agius Galea said culture was a sector he had always been drawn to. "As a country we have so much culture, more than you find in many other countries. There is a lot of work to do, from carnival to village festas to heritage, and I am determined to go into this with the best of intentions," he said.

Owen Bonnici, taking on housing and lands, said affordable housing and better land management were two of the biggest challenges facing society. "The priority is to ensure that support for those wishing to enter the property market reaches them efficiently," he said.

Neither Chris Fearne nor Rosianne Cutajar, who have both been handed ministerial portfolios, made comments outside the palace.