Budgets are serious business and are all about planning ahead – something that has so far been the hallmark of the Gonzi Government. It seems a bit strange to be talking about budgets in the height of summer, when we all know that it is not until November that we have the parliamentary presentation of the Government’s financial plans for next year. But it is precisely the characteristic planning credo of this government that has resulted in this discussion, because while a budget in itself plans, it also needs to be planned for!

The recently published pre-budget document is an exercise in planning and in a wider participation in decision-making. The introduction last year of consultation on the budget was a breakthrough in the way of doing business, effectively involving the population in the decision-making process that most affects their lives. The exercise of having a pre-budget document, therefore, is a commendable exercise in its own right. However, the merits of this document do not lie solely in its existence. We have a document that is light years removed from the farcical budget presentation of the dark Labour years, when it would have been more appropriate to have had the budget presentation at the height of the carnival season. Gone are the days when a budget speech made a hoo-haa over a one cent reduction in the price of a tin of tuna!

The document is based on the principle of a better quality of life, and this is not a term that can be dismissed lightly. The material quality of life of the Maltese people has improved beyond all limits of the imagination under successive Nationalist governments. What were previously considered as being luxury items have now become standard fare for the majority of households – mobile phones and air conditioners are just indicators. Leisure activities such as dining out, boating and travel have become much more common-place, while education levels have shot up, with an ever-increasing percentage of the population, of all ages, opting for tertiary education. This is not the time to rest on one’s laurels, however. The current world situation, with mushrooming oil prices and uncertainty fuelled by the crises in the more volatile areas of the world, have a knock-on effect on all economies, particularly one as small and vulnerable as ours. And yet, this document has managed to tackle these bread and butter issues wisely and is still able to look ahead at such concerns as the environment, sustainable energy, research and innovation. Although it is a financial planning document, there is also room for the human and social aspect, and we find that the move towards a more inclusive and participatory society is one of its main priorities. Gozo and its particular dimension and identity are also tackled separately, in recognition of the specific circumstances there, from both a social and from an economical perspective.

All in all, we can say that this document is not just a concrete base for planning next year’s economic policy, but is another step in a move towards attaining a higher standard of living in a sustainable and productive manner. Having a pre-budget document helps prepare the way for the actual budget, and is a reflection of the dynamic transparency that has become Dr Gonzi’s trademark for action. It is yet another feather in his cap.