Labour leadership candidate Joseph Muscat today published a document with proposals which he said could be adopted to launch a new political season and make Malta "the best in Europe".

He said his vision was to see Maltese society becoming the most dynamic in Europe, achieving the highest environmental, economic and social standards and allowing space for everyone to succeed.

He said that for a new political season to dawn, the opposition, which represented half the people, needed to be respected and consulted throughout the legislature.

Political discrimination needed to be replaced by meritocracy. For a start, the government should implement the decisions of the Tribunal Against Injustices and the Ombudsman.

State broadcasting should to be reformed so that it could guarantee balance and win respect.

A Joint Parliamentary Committee should be formed to plan and manage the use of EU Structural Funds given to Malta.

Party funding laws should be introduced to ensure transparency in this sector.

The Electoral Law should be updated to current realities and a law should be enacted to control government activities during an electoral campaign, to avoid abuse.

He said the MLP, when in government, should have the following priorities:

For the environment, it should aim for the highest European standards, with priorities being given to reducing pollution, sustainable development, a climate change strategy and investment in clean energy.

In education, national consensus should be sought for measures to ensure that all students have basic skills, as well as to achieve and surpass the Lisbon Strategy targets.

In economic affairs, every incentive should be given for growth, while safeguarding consumer rights. Measures could include tax cuts, reduction of bureaucracy and government-induced costs, sustainable public expenditure and incentives for job creation.

Dr Muscat said social justice should remain a Labour priority so that everybody could benefit from economic growth, and so living standards could rise for all sectors.

Job creation and full employment had to be a priority and working conditions, even those of non-unionised workers, had to be protected. There needed to be a proper balance between work and family.

Public health care services had to be the best, with the accent placed on preventive care, and free of charge.

Dr Muscat said civil rights needed to be strengthened, not least the rights of minorities.

Information Technology needed to be accessible to all, and access to the Internet should be considered as a basic right.

Dr Muscat said Malta needed to have ongoing dialogue between civil society, NGOs and local councils, with the role of the councils for sustainable development being strengthened. The councils could be given a role in making recommendations before laws were approved by Parliament.

He said Malta also needed to spend more on cultural appreciation and sports.

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