Lawrence Gonzi’s Independence Day pledge to strengthen anti-corruption laws and deliver the long-awaited Whistleblower Act may materialise sooner than expected, The Sunday Times has learnt.

The Whistleblower Act, which aims to protect people who flag wrongdoing, ensuring greater transparency and good governance, will be published “in the coming days”, according to the Prime Minister’s spokesman.

Simultaneously, the government would also publish legal amendments to strengthen the Commission Against Corruption, which investigates allegations of corruption.

However, Labour spokesman for public services Helena Dalli expressed scepticism.

When contacted, she pointed out that back in 2007 the government had argued against a Whistle-blower Act, claiming that the Public Administration Bill was enough to protect whistleblowers.

Although she was pleased the government had finally agreed with the Labour Party on the matter, she still wondered whether there was the commitment to introduce it with the required urgency.

She recalled promises made last year that the Act would be delivered by the end of 2009. In that same year, Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici later went on record saying it would be enacted by the end of 2010.

“But so far all we’ve had is a notice in Parliament, before summer recess, that it would be presented. I’ve asked for a copy of the draft law but it hasn’t been published yet.”

Across the political divide people have been calling for such legislation for years – including government sympathisers such as Pippo Psaila (who hopes it will tackle corruption in football) and former MEP candidate and private hospital owner Frank Portelli. Another long-awaited law is the Freedom of Information Act, which was promised in the 2008 manifesto, and is also in the process of being gradually introduced through legal notices.

When asked, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said “significant progress” had been made: “Considerable parts of the law are already in place and the Code of Practice for Public Authorities will be published in the coming days.”