Former journalist? She’s Konrad Mizzi’s employee at Projects Malta

And also a ‘consultant’ to the Gozo Minister, Anton Refalo. Julia Farrugia Portelli moved straight onto the state payroll immediately the Labour Party won the general election in March 2013. She was given, without an interview process or call for applications, a position in ‘communications’ at Konrad Mizzi’s Projects Malta, the outfit which oversees every government deal, including the shadiest ones involving the power station and the public hospitals.

Because her salary at Projects Malta was clearly not enough for her requirements, it was – disgracefully and brazenly – topped up with an additional €900 a month by way of a ‘consultancy’ to the Gozo Minister, on retainer. This was by a direct order. It is unclear how and in what way the communications officer at Projects Malta ‘consults’ the Gozo Minister, and this appears to be nothing more than a way of giving Mrs Farrugia Portelli €900 a month over and above her mandated salary at Projects Malta.

For several years while the Labour Party was in Opposition, the then Julia Farrugia was an employee of its television station, Super One. She then took up a post as editor of Illum, which is owned by the same media house as Malta Today.