Haven't you bothered to notice?

The need for consensus politics is hitting the headlines and the airwaves again. The last time it did was in the aftermath of the 1998 general election when the government called upon the Labour opposition's cooperation in dealing with national problems.

Each and every time the Nationalists find themselves in dire straits, as is the case now, they turn to the opposition for consensus. They do so notwithstanding the fact that on the eve of the general election they assured the nation that "finances are on a sound footing." They still insist they said the truth because, they contend, they possess the acumen to heal the country's finances. So, may I ask, why call for consensus if they are so talented and capable as to handle the problem themselves? Or is the call one that is merely meant to save votes for an administration in distress with its own people?

The Nationalist leadership has discounted Labour's offer to deal with the problem of illegal immigration by finding long term bipartisan solutions through the organisation of a national conference. It seems that to the Nationalists this offer has little political value in terms of votes. What they want is the beef of involvement in fiscal, social security and education reform as they know they are on record in denying there existed any problems in this regard. Reforming these areas would bring about serious pain for the country and spell serious trouble for the Nationalists at the polls. Their call for consensus cannot but be interpreted as a masterpiece in political opportunism.

But since the last general election Labour has not wasted time in its efforts to build bridges with the government on particular aspects which have always been the source of great political controversy. In spite of these efforts, in which I have been playing a pivotal role as shadow minister for home affairs, the opposition has not yet been given credit either by the government or by the media.

Firstly, there is the drugs issue. It is a well known fact that the Nationalist Party and Labour have always been at loggerheads on this issue. I insist that the Nationalists were wrong to push legislative changes in 1999 without proper prior consultation with the security forces, NGOs and the opposition. But I am also the first to admit that Labour could have been less forceful in its criticism of particular aspects of the drugs issue.

I have urged the government to discuss the issue at the Social Affairs Committee of the House, a call that was snubbed in 1999. I have renewed the call again this year but before it was accepted I was subjected to a barrage of criticism by the Deputy Prime Minister himself who accused me of shifting positions simply because my parliamentary group and I voted against his amendments in 1999. I was not the least moved. On the contrary I am proud to have taken that position and prouder that now Tonio Borg and I are sitting side by side at the Social Affairs Committee. I am hopeful that together we can reach an equitable solution that would be satisfactory to our parliamentary groups. How more difficult it would have been for him to pass legislation without the cooperation of the opposition this time round. If this is not consensus building politics by the opposition then what is?

And on illegal immigration I had brought up the issue at the Social Affairs Committee which I consider to be the proper forum for discussion and for consensus building efforts. This is another national problem that requires urgent and long term solutions. For the first time Labour managed to bring together all the social forces working on the matter as well as the government and the opposition. But the effort was in part subverted by the committee's insistence that the matter be discussed in two sittings which were used mainly to identify problems. There was of course not enough time to deal with solutions properly.

It is in this spirit that Labour has proposed the organisation of a national conference that would continue the work started by the Social Affairs Committee. The government made a colossal mistake in refusing this offer, a mistake that was addressed between the lines in an editorial of The Times last week.

The government is also erring in failing to give credit to the opposition where credit is due. The Nationalists are always very careful in making sure Labour does not score points when it tries to reach out to the government on delicate issues. This is why they always make believe they are looking the other way when consensus building efforts are made by the opposition.

It is because the government is only interested in seeking national consensus in areas where the PN can profit in political and partisan terms.

Dr Gulia is shadow minister for home affairs.