Acknowledging the number of scandals which have plagued the government over the past three years, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that this has distracted the public from their positive work.
He was addressing a press conference on Labour's three years in government, a conference called just 25 minutes prior to actually occurring.
He insisted that auditing Energy Minister Mizzi's accounts would uncover facts, and reiterated that Dr Mizzi would go if the accusation of hidden bags of money turned out to be true.
Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi has been embroiled in a scandal, where it was found that he has a trust in New Zealand and a company in Panama.
Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil uploaded a tweet this morning in response to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat saying that Dr Mizzi's company in Panama is not the point, but rather that he declared it. Dr Busuttil highlighted how the point is in fact the acquiring of the company in the first place.
Dr Muscat today spoke about government's priorities for 2016. One such priority, would be to reduce waiting lists for certain operations. He also said that he wants to introduce a Patient's Rights Charter, through which if an operation deadline is breached, government would pay for the patient to undertake the operation privately.
He continued to insist that an audit of Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi would reveal corruption if there was corruption to find.
Pressed about the financial laws in Panama, and the fact that they are not required to keep financial statements or subject themselves to an audit, Dr Muscat said that an exchange of information is still possible.
He added that because both the trust and the trustee are registered in New Zealand with the relevant tax commissioner, this allows for an exchange of information.
Asked about how Dr Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Keith Schembri have registered their trusts and companies at the same time, when they went on a government visit to Azerbaijan, and whether this raised any red flags, Dr Muscat denied any suspicious activity.
He also added that there will be no investigation of the power station and hospital contracts because corruption usually takes place in a way that is not so obvious.
Dr Muscat said that in 2016 the government needs to show a greater commitment to the environment and governance, two areas they have been heavily criticised for. Pressed about concrete examples of how the government has been tackling governance during the past three years, Dr Muscat said that the Whistle Blower’s act is proof of this.
Dr Muscat discussed how the number of measures which have been implemented by this government have left much more disposable income in people’s pockets, resulting in the 6.3 per cent growth of the local economy.
He spoke about a reduction in income tax for low income earners such as those earning €18,000 a year benefitting from a reduction of €80.
“117,000 people have benefitted from this reduction in income tax. This has left people with an extra €12 million.”
He said that the reduction of water and electricity bills for businesses has left them with an extra €50 million, which allows for investment in “the Maltese product” and also allows for employee expansion.
Dr Muscat spoke of €40 million which has been saved from reduction of the prices of fuel.
“A total of 8,209 have benefitted from the first time buyers scheme, saving €24 million.”
He spoke of the commitment to reduce the number of precarious working conditions, stating that the previous administration had caused a surge in this type of work, whilst this government will be eradicating it.
Prime Minister’s third anniversary comes in the midst of a corruption scandal - PN
The Prime Minister should have announced the removal of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri today, however instead are seizing the wealth they found, while workers are feeling the squeeze on their wages, the PN said in a statement.
“In the Azerbaijan, Panama and New Zealand scandal, Dr Muscat should have kept the promise he made three years ago, and told Mr Schembri and Dr Mizzi to resign. The fact that he hasn’t removed them results in grave questions about Dr Muscat himself”.
“Instead of transparency, accountability and meritocracy, government is tarnished by scandals reaching into the very heart of Castille”.
“Minister Mizzi and Mr Schembri opened secret companies in Panama and hid them in secret trusts in New Zealand, after they went to Azerbaijan with the Prime Minister, signing hidden contracts without anyone from the Civil Service, or Enemalta present”.
“This scandal is not alone, and there are others, such as Café Premier with the Prime Minister’s direct involvement, and the Gaffarena scandal”.
This government found a strong industry and funds coming from Europe thanks to the previous administration. EU funds alone are responsible for a large part of economic growth, and so are the industries they found, such as the igaming sectors, aviation, financial services, IT services”.
“There are 540 persons in positions of trust, being paid large amounts, a number of whom have salaries reaching €1,000 a week. This is corruption”.
“In the last economic survey, the median wage, after cost of living, reduced since Dr Muscat was elected”.
“Aside from the cost of living on essential products, government is purposely keeping fuel prices high, despite the 60% reduction in oil prices”.
The PN also accused government of employing persons working in schools and hospitals for €4.20 an hour, including on public holidays.
“These were three years of incompetence. The new powerstation that was meant to begin operating one year ago, did not, and there were no resignations unlike Dr Muscat had promised”.
“Incompetence is also visible through the nomination of two magistrates by Justice Minister Owen Bonnici, breaching the constitution”.
“Incompetance is also visible through the Zonqor scandal, where the Prime Minister said an ‘American University’ was coming, and would be built on virgin land, given for free”.
The PN also criticised the transport sector.
Photographs and videos by Jonathan Borg