Updated | Farrugia joins Opposition in voting against two Environment Act amendments

Labour MP Marlene Farrugia has joined the Opposition in voting against two amendments of the Environment Protection Act, currently being debated at committee stage in parliament.

Two government amendments were rejected with 33 votes against and 22 in favour.

The sitting has been ongoing since 2pm, with both sides of the House going through each and every clause with the government and opposition putting forward their thoughts and amendments.

At one point however, shadow environment minister Marthese Portelli and PN spokesman Ryan Callus insisted that the law should define the term of the appointed members, “rather than allowing their reappointment for eternity”.

Another issue raised was the number of NGOs that can be placed on the authority’s board, with Portelli saying that the law should clearly state an amount, ensuring that the NGOs are thus represented on the board.

Farrugia also supported calls by the Opposition for parliamentary scrutiny of the executive chairman, nominated by the government.

The environment minister however insisted that the proposal was not in line with past practices. Such a proposal, he added, was not applicable across the board.

Arguing that her vote against the two clauses was not a vote against the Labour Party or a vote in favour of the Nationalists, Farrugia said it was time for the government to move away from past practices and increase parliamentary scrutiny.