AD urges government to emulate European anti-fraud office provisions

The government should take a leaf out of the recommendations being adopted by the European anti-fraud office (OLAF) in safeguarding freedom of information and protecting whistleblowers, Alternattiva Demokratika said.

AD chairman Arnold Cassola said the government should take into consideration various elements being adopted by OLAF. Among the points he mentioned were a new and transparent procedure to select its director general, new transparent rules on the composition of the supervisory committee and better protection for whistleblowers and journalists.

OLAF is an administrative investigative service of the EU aimed at fighting fraud and corruption affecting the Union.

With regard to the proposed Freedom of Information Act, Stephen Cachia, spokesman on democracy and civil rights, said AD is proposing a number of changes to the Bill, which aims to give the public the right to access documents and information held by the authorities.

It is being proposed that several bodies will be exempt from the provisions of the new law, including the Electoral Commission, the Employment Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Attorney General's office, the National Audit Office and the Security Service. It also exempts Cabinet documents and some documents falling under the Malta Broadcasting Authority, among others, from being subject to the law.

AD is insisting that the exemption enjoyed by the Electoral Commission, the Employment Commission, the Public Service Commission and the National Audit Office be lifted in the interest of democracy, Mr Cachia said.

Mr Cachia also insisted that the right to freedom of information should not be limited to persons who have been residing in Malta for at least five years but to all.

He insisted that the limit to disclose information should be the exception and not the rule in terms of the proposed law.