In the new year, the opposition will be talking and listening more to those who wanted to take part in its national project, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this evening.

In his message for New Year's Day, Dr Muscat called on the people to fill themselves with courage. The people, he said, had already gone through difficult times which had made them determined, creative and hard working.

The opposition, he said, will work towards an improvement in the standard of living and will fight against poverty. It will also strive towards achieving equality between men and women and will defend the victims of domestic violence.

In 2011, the PL will promote the debate on the fight against criminality, victims' rights and the rehabilitation of offenders.

Dr Muscat spoke about the current difficult situaiton and said that the role of the state was central to ensure effective competition to the benefit of consumers.

The state should lead by example, it should not abuse its position and it should show how the country could have a competitive and social economy. This, Dr Muscat said, was not a contradiction.

Listen to Dr Muscat's message in the video above.