Labour MPs have become "experts at being the opposition", Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday, adding that their trademark was to cast doubts on important projects.
He said he deliberately told Parliament last week he was leaving the Delimara power station extension for the Mepa board to decide upon freely and in the interest of the country.
"For two years I have been listening to people saying the government should not interfere in Mepa," he said, adding that Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat had called for an urgent parliamentary debate about the extension in the hope that the issue would not be first decided by Mepa.
Dr Gonzi said this "massive investment" would ensure the closing down of the Marsa power station and the reduction of emissions.
The large amount of tangible waste that would be generated by the new power station proved the pollution was not going into the air but could be exported, even if at a cost.
He lashed out at the Labour MPs who went to the Mepa hearing to "stay banging" and "making scenes" as they used to do in the past, insulting and threatening people who wanted to discuss things serenely.
"Twenty years ago they destroyed the benches in Parliament. Like the clever (Labour MP) Evarist Bartolo rightly said: the more things change the more they stay the same."
Dr Gonzi pointed out that, while the rest of the world was discussing unemployment and the recession, Malta was discussing censorship.
Talking about the public transport reform and the compensation given to bus owners, Dr Gonzi said he appreciated the difficulty they had in giving up their buses, which, in many cases, had become "part of their families".
However, the alternative would have been to continue subsidising them with taxpayers' money and with no improvement in the service. He said the compensation given was "fair and just".
Asked about a story in The Sunday Times about spring hunting, Dr Gonzi confirmed the government was considering having a limited season and said the issue now was about how limited it would be.
The government did not wish to see the country becoming embroiled in a new controversy and it was therefore seeking an agreed position with the European Commission in the interests of the country and as discussed in the EU accession talks.
Dr Gonzi deplored the "inconsistency" of the Labour Party, referring to the comment by deputy leader Toni Abela who, in 2003, said abortion could be considered in situations of rape, severe disability or when the mother's health was in danger.
Dr Gonzi reiterated his party's position against abortion in all cases and said that Dr Abela's comment was worrying because he was now the equivalent of the party's general secretary.