The Broadcasting Authority spent nearly €3,500 to send chairwoman Tanya Borg Cardona to Stockholm for the Eurovision Song Contest in May, the first time a chair of the authority has travelled to the contest.

Ms Borg Cardona’s presence at this year’s Eurovision had raised eyebrows.

Responding to a parliamentary question by Opposition MP Clyde Puli, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici confirmed that the BA chair had never travelled to the Eurovision Song Contest before.

Ms Borg Cardona did not form part of the official PBS delegation and expenses relating to the trip, a total of €3,453.25, were covered by the Broadcasting Authority, the Justice Minister said.

Dr Bonnici added: “It must be said that in the past the BA was a full member of the EBU [the Eurovision Broadcasting Union, which organises the Eurovision].

The Culture Minister has so far refused to reveal financial details of Malta’s participation in this year’s Eurovision

“In Malta the authority chairperson and officials have on occasion attended events organised by PBS.”

The Culture Minister has so far refused to reveal the financial details of Malta’s participation in this year’s Eurovision other than to say that PBS made a profit through advertising. 

A previous series of parliamentary questions on the total spent were all met with the same response: “This year saw a 120 per cent increase in advertising and sponsorship over previous years. The additional income will allow PBS to carry out is policy of self-financing and self-sustainability.” 

PBS receives around €3 million every year in taxpayer money, but the broadcaster has said the money used for the Eurovision did not stem from the public service obligation funds given by the government.