Malta Cabinet approves Freedom of Information Act

Malta Cabinet approves Freedom of Information Act

by David Lindsay

 
 

 
 

In what Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi described yesterday morning as a "big breakthrough for good governance in Malta", Cabinet, in its fourth meeting since the election, yesterday agreed on the draft of an act and to begin a Parliamentary debate on introducing a Freedom of Information Act into Maltese legislation.

 
 

The act, Dr Gonzi said, would be one of the first items to be put up for debate once Parliament reconvenes on 10 May.

 
 

In addition to the long-awaited Freedom of Information Act, Dr Gonzi yesterday confirmed that the Public Administration and Central Registry Acts will also feature at the top of Parliament's agenda once it begins the next legislature's sessions.

 
 

The public administration and central registry acts had been under discussion in the last legislature but will have to be debated again, since Parliament was dissolved in February before the acts were approved.

 
 

The central registry act deals with the public registry and creates a one-stop central registration system for all matters related to property and civil status.

 
 

"Certainty of ownership" under law is envisaged to be better established through the act, while the legislation would also give a legal basis to the core functions of the Civil Registrations Department.

 
 

The public administration act proposes "radical" changes to the public sector's modus operandi, so as to become more efficient and to meet the sector's ever-developing needs. Among a wide-range of initiatives, it also makes government departments and agencies more accountable for their actions.

 
 

Proposals on the two acts made during previous debates from the opposition and other parties, Dr Gonzi said just after the Cabinet meeting yesterday morning at Castille, would be taken on board and incorporated into the eventual legislation.

 
 

The Freedom of Information Act, Dr Gonzi said, would give citizens more rights in accessing information held by the government, information kept currently under the government's lock and key. The draft draws upon elements of similar acts established in other countries. A white paper on the issue had been published last summer, and comments received by organisations representing journalists and other parties would also be taken on board, Dr Gonzi confirmed.

 
 

The basic substance of last summer's freedom of information white paper, he said, would be preserved, while also reflecting proposed amendments, such as comments from the Broadcasting Authority, which pointed to certain types of information that still needed to be considered confidential and which should accordingly be kept on the 'off limits' list.

 
 

Comments from the opposition during debates on the central registry and public administration acts, Dr Gonzi said, would be taken on board so that what is presented to the next legislature reflects the last legislature's debates on the topics.

 
 

Dr Gonzi described the public administration act as one of the most important pieces of legislation debated by the last legislature, in that it proposes "radical" changes and new concepts in the way the public sector and the government operates.

 
 

Turning to other matters, Dr Gonzi commented that now that the casual elections have been wrapped up, the government could turn to discussing related matters of importance with the opposition, including matters such as the appointment of the next speaker of the house and the parliamentary pairing issue.

 
 

On the situation with Dar Malta, the prime property purchased in Brussels by the government – part of which is being used by Malta's Permanent Representation to the European Union – Dr Gonzi said the government had registered "substantial interest" in prospects for renting out unused space for commercial purposes, and that more would be known on such prospects within the coming weeks.

 
 

On the prevailing cost of living, Dr Gonzi said the government was closely following developments in the record price of oil, where he said the situation was "precarious" and constantly in flux.

 
 

This concern, he said, was coupled by the still high prices for cereals and the knock-down effect on the prices of foodstuffs. Financial turmoil in the United States, meanwhile, was creating financial instability in the markets of Malta's main trading partners.

 
 

Seeking to counteract such eventualities cropping up, the government had taken the decision to grant an additional cost of living adjustment this year in advance. Remaining competitive in the face of such challenges, however, was essential and Dr Gonzi added that the government would be keeping Malta's social partners up to date with developments concerning their effect on Malta.

 
 

Inserted from <http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=68065>