The government must withdraw the three media protection bills it tabled in Parliament and launch a public consultation exercise, the Nationalist Party has said.

The PN launched its public consultation process on the three bills today.

PN Leader Bernard Grech met with the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) where he said that consultation is important, and that it is not acceptable for bills to be put forward without such a process. He said that the journalism sector must be protected in the best way possible.

IGM President Matthew Xuereb said that the IGM has reservations with the bills as proposed by the government, and wrote to the Prime Minister to show their discontent with the many proposals excluded from the bill, the PN statement read.

The meeting was part of a public consultation process that will lead to the PN presenting amendments for the laws to offer better protection to the media and journalists, the party said.

The PN invited all those interested to participate in this public consultation process by sending comments and suggestions by email to [email protected], or by post to: Konsultazzjoni dwar il-Media - Dar Ċentrali PN, Triq Herbert Ganado, Tal-Pietà PTA 1450.