Deputy leader for parliamentary affairs, David Agius presented his party’s vision at the second sitting of the PN’s General Council on Thursday as one based on values and principles.

Agius said that Malta “is pleading for a long-term plan. A plan that brings to reality our vision for Malta 2030 and beyond.”

He said that the PN believe in the local councils and will be empowering them with esteem, funds and power they deserve. “We will not use them simply as offices that take care of waste collection and customer care.”

Agius described the Labour’s solutions as being only for the now, whilst not planning for the future and for our children’s future.

He paid tribute to previous PN’s governments and even Labour ones, acknowledging the good they had done whilst saying that what is bad, however, should be heavily criticised.

“As Opposition it is our duty to scrutinise government’s work, criticising and keeping government accountable and responsible, however, at the same time we have the duty to propose serious alternatives,” Agius said.

Agius said the PN is working on plans in different aspects including education, jobs, environment, transport and infrastructure, as well as energy and health, local councils, youths and sports.

He insisted that jobs should be of high quality with decent wages, that raises everyone's standard of living, that gives workers and youths the deserved income to grow a family, without taking away time from their loved ones.

“We have to think about the worst-case scenario,” Agius said in relation to Malta’s increase in buildings and population. He said a contingency plan is required that is sustainable and viable to safeguard Maltese workers and industries if the economy dies down.

Teachers and school principles will be given the respect they deserve, Agius said. “We have concrete proposals to overcome the challenge of lack of teachers and to entice university students to choose this career.”

Agius also referred to the document proposed for this General Council which includes the PN’s vision on small to medium enterprises, families with minimum wages that cannot afford a place to live and raise their families.

The PN is also proposing an economic program based on the concept of clustering, through the adequate legal framework, to increase research and innovation that in return will attract professionals and companies that pay well and offer opportunities for students.

The opposition will be putting pressure on the government to stop police stations from closing for long hours or even days, Agius said. Also, proposals for the environment, efficient transport, traffic and congestions are all items high on the PN’s agenda.

The saga of water and energy bills was also on Aguis’s mind, promising that the PN will give back all the money stolen by Labour government.