Q&A | Championing civil rights | Deborah Schembri

What is your background?

I am a lawyer by profession, specialising in family law. In the past few years I have also been giving my services to the Faculty of Laws at the University of Malta and I have campaigned in favour of the introduction of divorce legislation as Chairperson of the pro-divorce movement 'IVA ghad-Divorzju, IVA ghaz-Zwieg'. I am currently doing a Masters Degree in Bioethics as I am a firm believer in life-long learning. Last but not least I am a mother to a lovely seven-year-old boy.

How did you get involved in politics?

I got involved indirectly at first through campaigning for divorce. A lot of people encouraged me to do politics because they felt I was cut out for the job given they enjoyed my way of campaigning, the way I delivered my message without the usual fanfare and my determination.

Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat came up to me at the very end of the campaign and encouraged me to form part of his team of candidates for the upcoming general election. After discussing some important issues with him regarding party policies, I decided to contest.

Campaigning brought me face to face with the problems faced by our families, something which strengthened my resolve to bring about a much needed change.

Why Labour?

I believe that today the PL has the best policies and has a formidable line-up of candidates and prospective members of parliament to help bring these policies to fruition should the PL be in government. The country needs a change in direction, a new way of doing politics and a strong resolve to put the people at the centre of the country's political agenda. The PL is adamant to do all of this and more.

The Nationalist Party, the party I believed in for a long number of years, has now changed beyond recognition. It has reduced itself to a party more interested in marketing and oratory than anything else. It has stopped listening to the people and, worse still, has stopped caring at all.

What will you bring to the table?

My interests are family matters and civil rights. I believe there is a lot to do in both areas in terms of new pieces of legislation and I am offering my experience as a family lawyer and civil rights campaigner to help bring forth important and long-awaited changes for the benefit of our families.

The PL has a wholesome plan for the coming five years and I am ready to help my colleagues actuate it. I am a good listener and negotiator and I believe that if things are worth doing they're worth doing well. My input will not only be a substantive one but I'm also looking forward to bringing about a change in attitude towards politics.

If elected, what will you be pushing for?

I'm all for more civil rights and equality of treatment between citizens of different sexual orientations, religious and political backgrounds and so forth. I am in favour of a holistic approach to the family and the promulgation of a national family policy in order to help our families be stronger and less susceptible to breaking down. There is also a shortage of legislation that has to do with bioethical issues that I would like to see addressed and would be willing to help out with.

I would also push for research-based legislation especially when it comes to family matters and therefore add to the importance of studies in the field, something which I presently find to be lacking.

How do you rate the Opposition's input to politics over the past five years?

The Opposition has done its duty to criticise government whenever it failed to meet its targets or achieve its goals. It has criticised constructively and forcefully where it needed to but it didn't stop at that. When it was in the national interest to agree with government on certain issues, such as laws regarding financial services or the nomination of Tonio Borg as an EU Commissioner, it did so very responsibly. It also pushed for legislative amendments and the introduction of a parliamentary Committee for Family Matters thus being pro-active and not just a reactive opposition.

So I believe the Opposition has done this country a great service during this legislature.

Both the PN and the PL are pushing forward new candidates, new blood. Is this just an image or is Labour really seeking to be the party of change?

No, this is not just an image, but the essence of the new dynamic movement that has been building up around the PL. While I believe the PN will promote young blood in an effort to win the election only to discard them later, as they did with people like Franco Debono, the PL is pushing forward new candidates because it believes that change starts from within.

Whoever is close to the PL immediately notices its resolve to do things differently, to give a chance to the young professionals within it to bring about the much desired change this country desperately needs.

Coming from the legal profession, which are the priorities that a new Labour government would and should work on if elected in this sector?

The legal system needs a total overhaul, there are so many changes that one can hardly be expected to produce a list of in a  few lines. However, on a general note, a new Labour government needs to ensure that the legal system becomes one that provides a good, reputable, reliable, quick and just service. There are priorities in different sectors but an overarching priority is the restoration of faith in the judiciary.

How would you rate the Labour Party in terms of civil rights and liberties? What should the electorate expect from a Labour government?

The PL has a long history as a catalyst of civil rights and liberties, starting from giving women the right to vote to Joseph Muscat's open support to the issue of divorce. The PL has already announced that it will promulgate civil union legislation and address transgender identity issues. Our country cannot keep on ignoring the needs of minorities because of fear of losing votes. The importance given to civil rights and liberties by the PL can also be seen from the fact that, if elected, a Labour government would set up a consultative committee to advise government on these issues and appoint a minister or parliamentary secretary responsible for civil liberties and equality.

You come from a Nationalist background. Yet, following the divorce referendum, you chose to contest with the PL. How would you rate the PL with regards to managing the economy and finances of the country, the creation of jobs and attracting investment? And why do you believe that the PL is ready to govern today, after losing six out of seven general elections?

I believe the PL has a very interesting and well studied set of proposals that will help the economy get back on its feet, create jobs and improve people's standard of living. It is ready to govern because it has a solid plan and a very good line up of professional prospective parliamentarians, many of whom are already high achievers in their own right and all very enthusiastic to make our little country a better place to live in. Malta is blessed with hard-working people, which is a big asset for any investor, but foreign investment hinges on a lot of factors, including competitivity. Lower utility bills, less bureaucracy and a stable economy provide fertile ground for competitivness to flourish and we are therefore looking at a bright future ahead.

After divorce, do you believe that a new Labour government should champion gay marriage?

A new Labour government will go further than any other government has gone before and give same-sex couples the right to a civil union between them, recognising them as families and therefore bettering their lives in general.