Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1443447
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 JANUARY 2022 NEWS Thank you... for having bought this newspaper The good news is that we're not raising the price of our newspaper We know times are still hard, but we have pledged to keep giving our readers quality news they deserve, without making you pay more for it. So thank you, for making it your MaltaToday Support your favourite newspaper with a special offer on online PDF subscriptions. Visit bit.ly/2X9csmr or scan the QR code Subscriptions can be done online on agendabookshop.com Same-day delivery at €1 for orders up to 5 newspapers per address. Subscribe from €1.15 a week Same-day print delivery from Miller Distributors mt Labour will not move PN anti-corruption bills for first reading LUKE VELLA LABOUR Whip Glenn Bed- ingfield has said the govern- ment side will not be allowing a package of anti-corruption Bills moved by the Opposition, because they contain elements of a money bill. Bedingfield told MaltaToday the PN's motion to discuss 12 legislative proposals aimed at tackling corruption and trad- ing in influence, but also to in- troduce rules for governments during electoral campaigns, had characteristics of a money bill that precluded him from consenting to its first reading in the House. "I would be going against the rules of the House and the Constitution," Beding- field said. According to the Whip, Arti- cle 73 of the Constitution does not allow the House to proceed on any Bill that could impose any tax, charge on revenues, or which requests that provision is made for its purposes, unless it is 'recommended' by a minis- ter to the Speaker of the House. Bedingfield said Robert Ab- ela's administration had done the most to modernise the country's institutions, con- sulting and acting on the nec- essary changes that had taken decades to happen. "Only this week we took steps to imple- ment the recommendations of the Caruana Galizia public in- quiry with a committee of ex- perts to deliberate on a raft of laws prepared by the Office of the Prime Minister." Earlier on Saturday, National- ist MP Jason Azzopardi said on Radio 103FM that the Labour parliamentary group had de- cided it would not go forward to discuss the 12 Bills, which include appointing an anti-cor- ruption magistrate. In reaction, Opposition whip Robert Cutajar rubbished Bedingfield's claim that the Constitution or Parliamentary Standing Orders motivated the government's decision. "The government knows it has all the power and the final say on such matters. Every standing order could be resolved if con- sensus is reached between both parties," Cutajar said. He said the Opposition re- quested a first reading for next Monday, so that the Bill could be discussed on Thursday, a day on which the Opposition can put forward its agenda. Once every three months, in agreement with the govern- ment, the Opposition has the say on the Parliament's agenda, meaning that no time is taken from the government's side. "Money bill or not, the ball is in the government's court. If it truly agrees and believes in the Bill, a solution could be found […] The truth is the gov- ernment slept for six months after the public inquiry was published and now is not com- fortable with this unprecedent- ed bill from the Opposition," Cutajar said. Glenn Bedingfield (left) claims the PN's motion has elements of a money bill, but Opposition whip Robert Cutajar says Labour is just trying to prevent the laws from being debated in the House RESTAURANT MANAGER Jade Garden Chinese Restaurant are seeking the immediate employment on a full-time basis of a restaurant manager who have working experience in Oriental restaurants. Minimum experience 3 years. A salary of € 12000 per annum is being offered to the suitable candidates. Interested candidates can send CV by e mail on: jadegardensmalta@gmail.com not late then 23/01/2022.