The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee this evening continued debating the present government's decision to drop the court case instituted by the former administration to reposses Australia Hall in Pembroke, which was transferred to the Labour Party in 1979 and had since fallen into ruins.

Albert Mamo, former Commissioner of Lands, when asked why government action was taken over Australia Hall, said that then minister Jason Azzopardi had been working on a policy that former government properties transferred to third parties would be taken back when contracts were not honoured.

Action was taken in seven cases including property at what was known as the Riviera Martinique and St Thomas tower.

The same policy was applied to Australia Hall. When this property was transferred to the Malta Labour Party in the late 1970s, the contract laid down that it had to be kept in a good state or the contract would be rescinded.

The property was inspected by an architect who found the place in a dilapidated state. The Labour Party was given three months to carry out repairs. Court action was then taken.

Replying to questions, Mr Mamo said the contract for the transfer of Australia Hall was separate from the transfer of the Freedom Press property in Marsa from the Labour Party to the government at the same time. The argument that if the government took back Australia Hall it had to return Freedom Press did not hold any water.

Apart from the Pembroke properties, the Labour Party had at the time also been given a factory in Marsa to use as a press and now used as a TV station.

Labour was given properties of 14000 square metres against 8000 square metres taken by the government.

Asked about a case instituted by the Labour Party for the return of its property (Freedom Press), Mr Mamo said that the PL never made any complaint of any contract violations. In that case too, the PL would have needed to give three months notice for remedial action if that was warranted. No such notice was given.