Investigative journalists ask the government the right questions. The government asks its lawyers the wrong question. A government proud of its method of administration does not go about boasting of giving more press freedom when what it has really done is left journalists exposed to aggressive forum shopping.

Indeed, I think that Minister Owen Bonnici asked his lawyers just the wrong question. The Minister's question ought to have been: Tell me how we could securely protect journalists from being muzzled by companies with such resources that allow them to choose that court which would seize and award the highest amount of penalty?

But like most other things that have been turned topsy turvy in this country, this was only another one of those times when the government seeks to thrive off a highly charged and polarised partisan culture.

Panama Papers, Pilatus Bank, the Gaffarena deal, the Russian whistleblower (sorry non-whistleblower according to government), the Café Premier deal, the hospital deal, Jonathan Ferris and the FIAU reports are just very few of the issues which raised the eyebrows of law abiding citizens during these five years of a Labour government. If you heard of any one of these issues, then I am sure you are also aware that it was a journalist who informed you.

No. There was no fanfare government press conference announcing the real facts or exposing the shadiness of any of the above deals. There were only strong and determined journalists; persons who truly understand their responsibility and duty towards their fellow citizens and country. Surely each one of them has his own political preference but their first priority is to serve the public by seeking truth and reporting it.

Maltese journalists work amidst the madding crowd embroiled in partisan strife. They are courageous and determined persons exposed to the harshly polarised partisan culture. Indeed, journalists are victims of such a culture on which the government thrives. They are exposed to harassing and abusive online comments, and snide remarks and attitudes from (some) politicians. Their resources are not much. But these investigative journalists do have a knack for asking the right questions and seeking out the most pertinent information. 

Now I am sure that the government is aware of the conditions under which journalists work. One of his very own, Parliamentary Secretary Julia Farrugia Portelli during the Bills Committee Meeting gave an honest and excellently realistic account of the conditions within which journalists work and of the hardship they face because of proceedings.

Despite the Parliamentary Secretary's own declaration, this government is seized by paranoia. The paranoia of investigative journalists and their poignant questions. The government suffers from the 'they are out to get us' phenomenon.

A government that is free from such paranoia would have seized the opportunity to provide journalists with legal certainty and security that they may continue to enjoy their press freedom and not leave them at the mercy of predators out to ruin them simply because the journalists would have exposed the predators' true colours.

With the government's decision, Minister Owen Bonnici has gone done in Maltese history as the Minister who refused to protect investigative journalists.

Therese Comodini Cachia is PN spokesperson on media, culture and national identity.