A future Labour government will offer “lean and mean” governance that will not hinder business, according to opposition leader Joseph Muscat.
I will be the enemy of bureaucracy that stifles opportunity
He delivered this sales pitch for a business-friendly Labour government in the most unlikely of settings, in front of party activists at the Rialto Theatre in Cospicua yesterday.
In what was a re-run of his Budget reaction last week, Dr Muscat started his hour-long address by saying that a Labour government will be “safe for businesses”.
He repeated the statement at least twice and insisted that companies that were doing well would have the opportunity to make more profit and those in difficulty would be helped to get back on their feet.
“A government led by me will offer a lean and mean administration that will be at the disposal of businesses and not vice versa,” he said, adding that a Labour government would be a partner to large and small businesses and the self-employed.
“I will be the enemy of bureaucracy that stifles opportunity,” he insisted.
Dr Muscat said a Labour government would offer the private sector “a stable relationship” and criticised the government’s decision to introduce a hefty service charge for factories that was later scaled down in the Budget.
He also spoke on the importance of an education system that delivered results and, turning to the audience in front of him, Dr Muscat said it was the key to eradicate poverty.
Referring to recent statistics that showed 20 per cent of children were living in poverty with a higher rate in the inner harbour area, Dr Muscat said he would make it “a personal commitment” to ensure children will be given the best future possible. This statement hit at the heart strings of the people present and was greeted with rousing applause, even if silence ensued when he said “children and poverty” will be anathema.
Applause followed when Dr Muscat said parents had to understand that the best investment was in their children’s education to ensure social mobility.
Moving on to other issues he reiterated Labour’s commitment to reduce water and electricity bills and introduce a civil union for gay couples.
“For 30 years there has been no change in the quality of life for homosexual people and their concerns cannot be ignored. This why a Labour government will be introducing a civil union for gay couples,” he said to applause.
Dr Muscat reiterated his commitment that one of the first decisions he will take as prime minister will be to reverse the €500 weekly increase ministers gave themselves in this legislature.
He also criticised what he said was a decision taken recently at Air Malta that removed the condition for cabin crew to be able to speak Maltese and English.
Dr Muscat claimed that cabin crew are now only required to know English, opening the door to foreigners who did not know Maltese.
“I have yet to see a situation where Air France decides that its cabin crew do not have to know French,” he said, insisting that the Labour Party had no problem safeguarding jobs for Maltese.