A Labour government will lead the country responsibly with social justice, said opposition deputy Leader Michael Falzon yesterday.

Dr Falzon was speaking during a radio programme broadcast on Super 1 Radio.

The Labour party will not only tackle the issue of development zones but also social housing, he said.

The price of property, that is increasing at 15 per cent annually, is burdening Maltese young people and families, said Dr Falzon, adding: “A Labour government will give this problem priority and consider the possibility of a private public partnership to build housing that is accessible to everyone.”

Speaking about this year’s budget, Dr Falzon said that the government had not come up with anything new.

“The Nationalist government is a dangerous one, as it is attacking democracy, and each monitoring body that is there to ensure there is no overstepping by the government is attacked,” he said.

Dr Falzon said this had been the case when the government did not agree with the verdict of a trial by jury, when the broadcasting authorities were attacked, and recently when the Auditor General simply pointed out that thousands of liri had been squandered on Voice of the Mediterranean.

“The Labour Party has a positive outlook for the future,” said Dr Falzon, adding that by next January all Labour’s plans will be complete. “These plans are the basis of the electoral programme for the next general election,” he added.

Labour spokesman on Housing Stephan Buontempo asked what was preventing Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina from publishing the names of 40 landowners who want to sell their property to the government.

“If these names are withheld, it is possible that the whole procedure is between friends of friends,” said Mr Buontempo. He said there were other serious issues, such as social housing sold by the Housing Authority for Lm85,000 per property.

Labour MP Joe Sammut said the government was raising the price of property due to measures it had introduced itself. This issue is closely linked to the development zones approved by the government, he added.

Mr Buontempo said Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi gave the impression that the change in development zones was for social reasons. However, land that was worth Lm5,000 is now worth Lm120,000.

He added that there are over 35,000 empty dwellings in Malta and the government has not taken any action to use them, but has instead decided to build on the few green areas that are left.