The government yesterday kicked off what finance ministry parliamentary secretary Tonio Fenech described as the “formal consultation period” on the pre-budget document, Strengthening our Future, published last month.

Yesterday’s initial session consisted of a briefing and presentation of the government’s budgetary plans to representatives of Malta’s constituted bodies, who gathered around a table at Castille outside what Mr Fenech described as the “restrictive” atmosphere of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

Mr Fenech highlighted how this year is the second in which the government has published such a document outlining the direction it aims to take the county through its budgetary measures. It is also the second running in which the government has opened its budgetary intentions to consultation.

He also stressed that the consultation period would start with a “blank sheet” and that the views of the constituted bodies, and indeed of the public at large, would be taken on board when the government turns to its final budgetary deliberations.

Speaking to The Malta Independent in the wake of yesterday’s first consultation meeting, General Workers’ Union general secretary Tony Zarb and Federation of Industry president Adrian Bajada both confirmed that concrete issues were not tabled at yesterday’s meeting, which mainly consisted of a presentation of the government’s budgetary concepts by Mr Fenech.

While the constituted bodies have until the month’s end to present their feedback and counterproposals, Mr Bajada described the gathering as ”amicable” and commented that the FOI’s overall view of the document was positive, but that it did present a number of matters to be discussed.

While certain topics appear budget after budget with no real implementation, such as certain initiatives for venture capital and research and development, he stressed what is important is that the government sees to implementing what it proposes this time around.

Mr Zarb, meanwhile, commented that yesterday’s meeting was a preliminary nature and that discussions over the pre-budget document were just starting.

With a budget expected to deal with thorny issues such as tweaking the tax bands, addressing rising inflation levels and dropping employment rates, a hefty water and electricity surcharge and a plethora of other difficult and contentious matters, feedback from the constituted bodies will be anticipated.

Emphasising that the government was keen to garner public feedback on what it is proposing, Mr Fenech added that a number of meetings with the public would be organised over the coming weeks.

Booklets synthesising the lengthy pre-budget document into its main points have also been posted to households and Mr Fenech urged the public to send in its feedback by post or email.

The consultation period draws to an end on 30 September. Hard copies of the full document can be collected from the Department of Information, while soft copies are available on www.doi.gov.mt.