Albert Marshall has been given an unprecedented contract to keep him quiet after being removed as Executive Chairman of the Arts Council and replaced by Luke Dalli following a direct order from the Prime Minister, the Nationalist Party said Wednesday.

Despite being removed earlier this year, Marshall will continue receiving a full salary until 2028 after being reclassified as a "technical expert", yet he will still take home the same salary, allowances, and benefits as a CEO, even though he no longer holds any leadership role, the PN said.

As a result of this dispute over who should run the Arts Council, with Minister Owen Bonnici - who is politically responsible for the sector - reportedly opposing Luke Dalli but forced to accept him on Castille's instructions, the public will end up paying €300,000 over three years to Marshall, while paying more than €300,000 to his replacement Luke Dalli.

In other words, the taxpayer is footing two hefty salaries for a single role, the PN said.

Not long ago, Robert Abela said he would no longer tolerate "cushy jobs". If €300,000 over three years for doing nothing isn't a cushy job, then perhaps the Prime Minister should explain what he believes a cushy job actually is?, the PN said.

While Marshall receives this extraordinary package despite no longer holding the post, artists and the wider cultural community have long been calling for transparent governance, genuine accountability, and for arts funding to be distributed fairly.

This is a Government that has perfected the "art" of squandering public money, while leaving artists to fend for scraps. I

Those in power continue to treat artists worse than amateurs, while hundreds of thousands of euro that should rightly go to them so they may grow, create, and flourish, are instead filling the pockets of those the Government wants to keep quiet, the PN said.

The obscene behaviour of the Labour Government is further proof of the arrogance and disrespect shown towards artists, workers in the creative sector, and the public whose funds are being misused.

For the PN, it is unacceptable that hundreds of artists are being forced to beg for what they are owed, while others cash in handsomely for doing nothing except keeping their mouths shut. 

The statement was signed by Julie Zahra, shadow minister for culture.