Labour pledges review of judiciary by end of 2013

Speaking in Rabat during the last Labour political activity for 2012, Labour Leader Joseph Muscat announced that a new Labour Government is pledging to "immediately" undertake a review of the Maltese judiciary and conclude it by the end of 2013.

"I am speaking of a review from the way the members of the judiciary are appointed, to the way the judiciary functions," Muscat said, also criticising the manner in which the Cabinet enjoys the power to appoint magistrates judges.

"Nowadays, Cabinet can appoint magistrates and judges as they wish," Muscat said, insisting that "politicians who are in government need more checks and balances."

"There is also a need to ensure more checks and balances in the judiciary," the Labour leader said, adding that "the Commission for the Administration of Justice also needs to be given the teeth it needs to carry out its work."

He slammed the PN Government as lacking either the spine or the moral authority to take affirmative action in this regard.

Muscat pointed to several issues that inhibit the government's ability to take action, pointing to the investigations into Civil Service head Rita Schembri, the situation of Transport Malta, and the VAT Department, which the Auditor General criticised for the lack of action taken in the department, despite the VAT tax corruption and fraud scandal which rocked the country very recently.

During his address, Muscat hit out at the government for "choosing Austin Gatt over the stability of the country," and insisted that by opting to retain Austin Gatt in the Cabinet, Gonzi had preferred to bring down government instead of finding a solution to the PN's internal troubles.

m"Every time he is faced by a crisis, not only does he not address it, but continues dragging his feet, something that he has been doing for the entire legislature," Muscat said.

Muscat said that Gonzi's assertions that his legislature is the longest one for years highlights that the PN is concerned only with its own achievements, and not what the country has had to suffer in the meantime.

He also hit out at the Nationalist Party's attempts to reposition itself as an energetic party that is capable of change, dismissing its claims as empty posturing that is intended to "prolong the lifetime of the clique that has already controlled Malta for too long."

Turning to the contentious issue of the budget vote, Muscat noted that in the run up to the budget, "Government begged us to vote with them on the budget. But which Opposition had ever done this?" Muscat asked, adding that if the Opposition were willing, "we would not have minded being the first."

"But there is a simple reason why we did not do this. We do not trust GonziPN," the Labour leader emphasised.

"We cannot vote with you on the budget because we do not trust you," Muscat told the Nationalist Party.

Muscat went on to reiterate the PL's line of defence for voting against the budget while pledging to retain its framework and implement it should it win the election.

"With our pledge to retain the budget while rebuilding on its anti-social aspects like the minimum wage tax, in this way, we are reassuring local foreign investors," Muscat said.

He reiterated that the conclusions of various international ratings agencies vindicated Labour's decision to retain the current budget, as they confirmed that the Labour party is acting with responsibility and with the national interest in mind.

"Gonzi likes to boast of positive international reports. We are doing one better, as we are being praised in international reports even before getting into government," Muscat said amid applause of the party faithful.

Muscat's wide-ranging address also featured considerable emphasis on the difficulties being faced by lower income groups.

The Labour leader repeatedly took the government to task for not doing enough to assist those of lower income groups, and of failing to curtail the growing income gap between the wealthy and the poor.

"Under GonziPN, we had 10,000 more living at risk of poverty. Two out of every 10. One out of five, who are either poor, or living at risk of poverty. So our mission in all of this, those who are doing well, will keep doing well, those who are having trouble, we will help you get back on track," Muscat said.

"But above all, we will erase poverty off the face off the country," Muscat emphasised. "This is why we are the party of social justice, and the party that has the small and the weak at heart."

"When the big benefit, the small benefit as well. But when the small benefits above all, we will rebuild a new middle class that will allow the country to leap ahead," Muscat stressed to the crowd's applause.

He pledged that in the coming election, "I will not be locking myself away in some room, or in some Ivory Tower," presumably in a veiled reference to Simon Busuttil's decision to avoid facing down Franco Debono at the Where's Everybody Studio on Friday evening.

In an aside, Muscat recounted how in the run up to the election, Government MPs would buzz around Franco Debono like "bees buzzing around honey" whenever the wayward MP spoke in Parliament.

"But when they didn't need him anymore, they discarded him. They described him as 'irrelevant'," Muscat said, warning the electorate that the PN would treat voters similarly should they win the election.

"To us, everyone is relevant," Muscat insisted.

"In this situation, we remain the underdog, beneath a government that has been in power for decades and which retains the power of announcing the election at its whim. We also face a public broadcasting system which is a disgrace."

"Will Simon debate Franco? That is the question," Muscat queried.

Muscat also hit out at the PN Government's defence of the 9 March election date choice, accusing Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi of either intentionally or unintentionally misleading the public.

"A few days ago, Gonzi said that he would have liked to hold the general election on an earlier date, but claimed that he could not as the law did not permit the local council elections to be moved forward," Muscat recounted.

"But when we looked at the law, and it said clearly that the PM could move the local council election back and forth by up to four months. I knew that Gonzi is not adept at managing the economy, but it is news to me that he is not adept at interpreting the law either," the Labour leader said.

Similarly, Muscat recalled how Gonzi's claim that those earning minimum wage would not be paying income tax was quickly proven wrong, and also took the opportunity to rubbish the PN's 20,000 new jobs claim once again.

Muscat also reiterated the PL's position that a New Labour government would not be one characterised by transfers or by public sector employment abuses, or the fear and scaremongering tactics that the current administration seems to be so fond of.

"Gonzi's first move in this campaign was to send an anonymous letter to members of the public service," Muscat said. "But the Prim Minister has still not explained how such sensitive information is in the hands of the Nationalist Party."

"It is not acceptable that in a European country in 2012 that personal data of individuals is manipulate in this way," he added, telling public service workers, and undecided voters: "You might disagree with us. But you can surely work with us."

During the political activity, deputy leader Anglu Farrugia hit out at PN deputy leader, describing him as "arrogant" and unwilling to face the problems caused by the present PN administration.

Farrugia also referred to an appeal court sentence that found that a contractor was found guilty of having threatened an employee with termination of employment should a Labour government be elected in 2008.

The judgement can be read here.

Farrugia called on the Electoral Commission to ensure that such abuses do not take place during the coming electoral campaign, and requested whether Austin Gatt's resignation as Head of ELCOM would be requested.

"I hope that everyone who is responsible, shoulders that responsibility," Farrugia said, adding that the appeals sentence means that "the Opposition has won the right for employees not to be influenced at their place of work through pressure or threats."

"We will be watching. Do not even dare to pull these tricks on the Maltese people, because it will go will for you. We will be vigilant," Farrugia warned, insisting that people should be free to vote for whichever party they wish to.

During her opening address, Labour Party Executive Secretary Lydia Abela hit out at the national broadcasting service (PBS), accusing it of being a mouthpiece for the Nationalist Party in government, and pledged that a new Labour government would ensure that such institutions "are brought back on their feet."

Her address was also characterised by an appeal to the younger generations to step up and take an active role in the rejuvenation that the Labour Party is pledging, and also hit out at the Nationalist Party over what she described as "fear and scaremongering campaigns."