The Opposition is revealing how much it is dominated by the extremist branch of the Nationalist Party and is clinging to every situation in an attempt to garner political points, the Labour Party said Wednesday.

The latest classic case is the way it used the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by spinning what emerged during the session of this committee during which it discussed the NAO report on the film industry. The PN distorted the facts that emerged from the NAO and PAC report with an unfounded statement and arguments, the PL said.

During the PAC it became clear from the NAO representatives that the Opposition's allegations about funds allocated to Maltese productions used for another purpose, including Malta Film Week 2022, were not true.

The cash rebate, about which the Opposition is also trying to confuse minds, was also raised in the PAC, and of course in the same NAO report. It has been made clear that, contrary to the impression the Opposition is trying to give, the cash rebate is fully in line with the process and the rules of state aid. Thus, the NAO dismissed the PN's attacks on cash rebate, the PL said.

Neither in the report nor yesterday did the NAO say that there was any squandering of money on marketing, but rather it was said that the marketing process by the Film Commission is in line with industry practice. It was explained how the marketing being carried out by the Film Commission is leading to more foreign investment in our country and that this is benefiting the local economy.

The Opposition is leaving out the context related to this industry, the PL said.  Year after year, the Film Commission under the leadership of Johann Grech has brought hundreds of millions of euros in foreign investment and the NAO report says that it has had a huge economic impact on our country.

The Opposition is trying to downplay the great achievements made by this Commission in placing Malta on the international map of films, including blockbusters such as Gladiator, which have exposed Malta worldwide. The behaviour of the Opposition is being unfair to the many workers who work in this field and who are doing a good job.

It is unfortunate that the Opposition does not recognise how this industry, which prior to 2013 was out of action, has made great strides in the last eight years and a substantial number of new jobs are being created in this industry, the PL concluded.