Australia Hall was re-claimed by a Nationalist administration after an architectural survey confirmed its state of neglect and the move to retrieve it was probably triggered by an NGO, a former Land Department head told the Public Accounts Committee, yesterday.
Paul Miruzzi, the department’s former director general, said he had clear verbal instructions from then Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi that all disused government property given to third parties was to be reclaimed.
He said the initiative to retrieve Australia Hall, a scheduled building, was triggered by a request “most likely” from an NGO.
The contract for the property was reviewed and sent to the Attorney General for advice following the architect’s survey. No reply was received from the Labour Party to the official communication and therefore retrieval procedures were initiated. Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici asked if other properties with perpetual emphytheusis were retrieved. As an example, Mr Miruzzi cited a parcel of land near Riviera Martinique at Għajn Tuffieħa.
At the request of Claudio Grech (PN), Mr Miruzzi explained that the post of director general was a very senior position. And replying to questions by Charles Buhagiar (PL), Mr Miruzzi said the policy direction had been communicated verbally to him by the Parliamentary Secretary.
Australia Hall had cropped up in discussion with NGOs, he said, adding that the department was veritably besieged by them with requests for properties.
He had no idea about a constitutional case over the property initiated by the PN and this was not recorded on file. The current director general, Ray Camilleri, and the Commissioner of Land Joe Bugeja said they had not been consulted by the government over the decision to drop the case against the PL as the decision had been taken before their appointment.
Mr Grech said the files should be exhibited so that the information given would be correct as the present incumbents had not been in their positions for long.
Committee chairman Tonio Fenech (PN) said the files should be exhibited.
He also said that the list of properties with the same conditions as Australia Hall is to be compiled.
Mr Camilleri and Mr Bugeja were to continue their evidence at the next sitting on February 12 when the files are to be tabled.