Equality Bill defeated in parliament after Opposition walks out

A bill to create a new human rights and equality commission was defeated on Wednesday after Opposition members walked out of parliament.

The bill, which included amendments to the Constitution, required a two-thirds majority to pass but given the Opposition’s walkout, no such majority could be reached.

Only 38 members on the government side voted in favour with none against, falling short of the two-thirds majority.

Just before the vote was taken, Opposition Whip Ivan Castillo called on government to pause the vote and hold further consultation with stakeholders and civil society. The call reflected an appeal made earlier by two dozen organisations with differing backgrounds and interests that called for wider consultation on the bill.

Castillo said the Opposition was not going to let the government steamroll over civil society and parliament and was walking out before the vote is taken.

“The Opposition agrees with the principle of setting up an equality commission and had also voted in favour at Second Reading stage but we requested wider consultation. Unfortunately, the government closed the doors to consultation and if it persists with the vote, the Opposition will not participate,” Castillo said.

Equality Minister Rosianne Cutajar, who piloted the bill, expressed dismay over the Opposition’s actions. “Tonight, this parliament had the opportunity for first time to have an institution that safeguards human rights and equality. The Opposition is not with us. History will judge you and us,” she said before proceeding to present the Third Reading.

It was at this stage that the Opposition walked out with Speaker Carmelo Abela opening the vote on the bill.

The bill was the first to be tabled in parliament by the incoming administration after a similar bill was allowed to expire in the 2017 legislature, following pushback from several quarters, not least church schools that expressed concern over the implications on their Catholic ethos.

READ ALSO | Church schools worried new equality bill will impact their ‘autonomy and distinctive Catholic ethos’