Opposition leader Simon Busuttil was facing his biggest test for the way he handles the case of former minister Joe Cassar, who allegedly allowed works at his home to be paid for by a Nationalist donor, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today.

Speaking at the party's Valletta club this morning, Dr Muscat said Dr Busuttil would have to take action against Dr Cassar, now a Nationalist MP, to prove he was not a man of double standards.

“This is a big test for Dr Busuttil. Will he prove to be Mr Double Standards?” Dr Muscat asked.

He was referring to media reports that Nationalist MP and former health minister Joe Cassar had a bill for construction works at his Dingli farmhouse paid for by controversial businessman Joe Gaffarena.

Mr Gaffarena allegedly paid €8,150 for the works including the construction of a staircase and garden landscaping at Dr Cassar’s home back back in 2011.

The revelation follows another last week that alleged Dr Cassar had been gifted a car by Mr Gaffarena for his 18-year-old daughter. Dr Cassar said he had paid for the car by donating €1,000 to the PN.

Dr Muscat said a number of Nationalist MPs were embroiled in scandal and this was only the latest in a series of allegations against the Opposition.

Most of Dr Muscat’s address centred on the government’s Budget measures. He said 160,000 would be benefiting from income tax reductions, some of which would be in excess of €200. This, he said, went over and above the average €600 families were saving on their utility bills.

Around 23,000 pensioners would be benefiting from an increase which was greater than the cost of living adjustment. A further 15,000 pensioners would be benefiting through a series of other pension measures.

Dr Muscat said the government had also managed to turn around the healthcare system. The average waiting time at Mater Dei Hospital’s Emergency department had been reduced from 13 to just three hours in 90 per cent of cases, he said.