Divorce would protect children born in newly formed families which were currently unregulated, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning.
Speaking while he was being interviewed on One Radio, Dr Muscat said that the current situation of one divorce (from abroad) a week and two separations a day being approved in Malta would not be changed by divorce. The only thing that would change is that when these couples created a new family with someone else, the children born within that new family would be protected.
He said that he had not yet heard from those who were against the introduction of divorce, what was the alternative.
It was not tenable to retain the status quo, he said, pointing out that there were many families who were living in an unregulated way and their children were suffering.
Children, he said, suffered when their parents separated, be it through separation, divorce or annulment. This situation could not be changed.
Dr Muscat said he would respect the will of the people but he had a duty and a right to continue speaking without fear about what he believed.
On illegal migration, Dr Muscat said that he had expected solidarity to be shown with Malta by the EU in the recent conference but the results obtained were a humiliation for the government and for the country.
The US had, in fact, shown more solidarity with Malta than the EU.
Dr Muscat said that other EU countries worked in their national interest and Malta should do the same.
This did not mean to let the immigrants drown.
He said that the Danish government had recently announced that it was to suspend the Shengen treaty. Although he did not agree with this decision, Denmark had taken the decision in its interests.
Dr Muscat recalled that in the past two aircraft full of Eritreans had been sent back to their country and reports of their killing and abuse had followed.
Immigrants in Malta were working illegally in an abusive manner and the authorities closed their eyes while those who spoke about the manner were accused of being far right.
This was not the case. It was only if one did not talk about these matters, would they be far right.
The Opposition leader said that two years ago, the PL had come up with a plan on what Labour would do in government. This plan had not been disputed by the authorities and it was still relevant to the day.
What was definite was that Labour in government would not let others go over its head but would keep Malta's interests first and foremost, he said.
On the report on the VAT presented in Parliament last Monday, Dr Muscat said this seven-page report would have led to resignations in any other western state. But not in Malta.
He pointed out that no one had yet shouldered responsibility for the report and no resignations - administrative or political, had been forthcoming. The Finance Minister said he did not feel he should resign. When would he feel he should, Dr Muscat asked adding that this was one of the most damning report he had ever read about the situation of a department.
If the minister did not want to resign, Dr Muscat said, he should be removed by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
On the proposed Whistle Blower Act, Dr Muscat said that the government's proposal was to only protect people who uncovered corruption that would take place from after the law is enacted.
The proposal, he said, would hardly change matters.
On ministers' double pay, the Labour leader said that if the Prime Minister was judged according to performance, he did not deserve the raise he gave himself.
Currently, Malta had the highest ever paid politicians who were also the worst performers of all times.
He said that the Opposition had presented its motion in Parliament on the matter to set the record straight.
All those who did not agree with the double pay should vote in favour, he said, to avoid being all talk and no action.
The Labour leader again called for a public inquiry on the issue of the Pakistani nurses.