PAC’s spotlight on Australia Hall saga

The Public Accounts Committee this evening started investigating the Attorney General and Lands Commissioner's decision to drop the case against the Labour Party over a number of properties in Pembroke.

Appearing before the parliamentary select committee, chaired by Nationalist MP Tonio Fenech, court registrar Matthew Mercieca presented the PAC members with the court documents related to two cases.

In 2010 the Lands Commissioner initiated a case against the Labour Party to reclaim ownership of properties following breach of contract.

The department had filed the case after claiming that Labour left the properties, including the historical building Australia Hall, to deteriorate, breaching the contractual conditions stipulated when the land was transferred to the party in 1979.

In a counterclaim, the PL has asked the court to order the government to return a section of the Malta Shipbuilding property in Marsa, the Socialist administration had leased out in 1979 to extend the Malta Shipbuilding premises.

The session has now been adjourned to Tuesday 17 December.