Family Minister Michael Farrugia said he found it amazing that the PN, which had bankrupted itself, now expected the taxpayer to make good for its bad administration and the debts it had accumulated.
He preferred an Opposition that was financially stable and constructive for the benefit of democracy, but the PN could not expect the public to pay for its mismanagement.
He had expected the Opposition to speak about arrangements made for its own party clubs.
Chris Said had said that the PN headquarters was built by the sweat of its supporters. But, Dr Farrugia pointed out, the same could be said of the ex-Freedom Press in Marsa.
There was history behind that building, which represented the roots of the party. It was built on land owned by the PL. It held so many memories but was eventually handed over for the good of the country. Did the PN expect this to happen without any compensation?
PN governments were experts in the art of compensation. A “worthless” parcel of land, with rundown buildings, had been included in a big development plan by Mepa and “by coincidence” it was suddenly needed for public use. Hence, compensation was given.
The minister said there was great pressure for this building to be torn down because it was dangerous, but on the eve of the election an agreement was reached and the land’s value was calculated based on how much it would have cost if the development had taken place.
The compensation took the form of other properties which were estimated to be of a lower value but which were in fact worth much more. The stamp duty was not calculated.
Dr Said objected to this and asked whether the minister was alleging that the PN was being financed by these kind of deals. He asked him to clarify what he said or else withdraw it.
The Speaker asked the minister to verify what he was implying. Dr Farrugia said that if Dr Said felt this was in reference to PN properties, he should mention them. Opposition spokespersons had not said that previous PN administrations sought to take back Australia Hall from the PL, a property that was given to the party as compensation for taking over Freedom Press.
They also failed to acknowledge the contract stipulated that should the government take back Australia Hall, it had to return Freedom Press to the party.
Dr Farrugia said that those who did not tell the whole truth sought to fool the people, the lesson of which was evident after the last general election.