Malta’s film industry (and where taxpayer money goes) continues to make headlines, especially after it was revealed earlier today that €143 million went to cash rebates to films and TV series in the last five years.

Now, with the Nationalist Party mounting pressure on the government and questioning the economic benefit of Malta’s 40% cash rebate, the Tourism Ministry has hit back… going so far as to say its critics are directly attacking the nation and its workers.

Reacting to the Times Of Malta report revealing the eye-watering cash rebate total, the Tourism Ministry not only called the past few years “among the best for the film sector in Malta”, but also called out the system’s criticisms as “irresponsible, systematic attacks” against Malta, jobs and the sector’s investors.

“In this industry, our country is competing with the whole world. Attractive financial initiatives will strengthen the country’s competitiveness. Jobs and careers and films are more than a voucher for whoever works in the sector.”

The ministry’s statement also came as a direct reaction to the one issued earlier today by PN MP and Shadow Culture Minister Julie Zahra, who questioned what the country was really getting back from the system.

“After all the money spent on gala dinners and dinosaur statues so that more foreign films are produced in our country, one question remains,” Zahra wrote. “What income is Malta’s economy actually seeing?”

“All these millions are going to pay for foreign crews while they’re in our country,” Zahra claimed, saying today’s reports were “more clear evidence of the callous spending of the nation’s money for the interest of only a couple of people.”

Zahra even finished by saying Prime Minister Robert Abela’s government is “fooling Maltese people into thinking they can have a career and future in the film industry, while fully knowing this is completely not true.”

In its reaction to Zahra’s comments, the Tourism Ministry said the government was “determined on strengthening the film industry and creating more work that can result in more careers in the industry.”

“From a part-time or periodic industry of the few, the government’s work has resulted in the country now having an industry that works all year round, where everyone can reap the benefits, directly or indirectly,” the ministry continued.

What do you make of these two conflicting statements? Where do you stand? Sound off in the comments below.