Reuben Fenech

Malta Labour Party spokesperson for industry Chris Agius set in motion Wednesday’s House of Representatives debate analysing certain budget measures for the year 2008 and highlighting the MLP’s proposals in such fields.

Amongst various proposals, MLP, Mr Agius said, is proposing that overtime work will not be subject to income tax. Such a measure will see more people having more money in their pockets.

Although the film industry in Malta has recently witnessed good periods, such successes have not been continuous. Mr Agius said that with better incentives being provided, the industry will see more frequent successes.

Mr Agius said that projects that have been on the agenda of the government for a long time but nothing or little work has been done in such a regard include works on Ta’ Qali’s Crafts Village and the regeneration of the Grand Harbour area. Mr Agius noted that one of the promises laid out in the Nationalist Party’s plan for regeneration of the Grand Harbour region has been promised for a number of years but has never been materialised.

More than eight years have passed since a new hotel in the Cottonera region was proposed. However, Mr Agius said that work has not yet started. In the Cottonera region there is also a car parking problem and thus something must be done to address this issue so that the Cottonera region will be able to generate more income.

From the government’s side, Parliamentary Secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said that the budget will contribute positively towards improving Malta’s economy. Dr Mifsud Bonnici focused most of his contribution to the debate on the measures of social justice found in Budget 2008. Among other measures, Dr Mifsud Bonnici mentioned the fact that the fostering allowance will increase by Lm5 (EUR11.65) to Lm17 (EUR39.60) per week, while orphaned children will have their allowance increased from Lm4.74 (EUR11.04) to Lm20 (EUR46.59).

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that another important budget measure is the one in which surviving spouses, with immediate effect, will be exempt from paying causa mortis stamp duty on the residential home, as long as the house is not sold before the death of the surviving spouse.

People with disabilities will also be benefiting from the budget measures, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said. People with severe disabilities requiring personal assistants will be exempted from payment of ETC permits if their assistant is a foreigner. The enactment of the Trusts and the Trustees Act of 2004 has been an important step in the field of social justice as trusts may be created in this regard. The allowance for children with disabilities will be increased from a minimum rate of Lm5 (EUR11.65) to a maximum of Lm7 (EUR16.31). In addition, it is worthwhile mentioning, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said, that the means test has been repealed.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that “like Chris Agius, I am a Cottonera boy as well”. There has been progress in the Cottonera area during the Nationalist Party’s term in office. Dr Mifsud Bonnici pointed out that one cannot ignore the fact that wine bars in the Cottonera region have been a success. The Parliamentary Secretary challenged anyone to go to one of the wine bars in Birgu on a Saturday evening without reserving a table, and see for themselves whether they will be accepted or not.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici concluded by saying that everyone will benefit from this budget.

Opposition MP Mr Joseph Cuschieri said that the Nationalist government is only giving back some from the plenty it had taken from the people’s money.

Mr Cuschieri said he remained surprised by the fact that Dr Mifsud Bonnici measured the progress in the Cottonera area by mentioning the sprouting of wine bars and their success.

Mr Cuschieri compared the budgets of the Nationalist government during its term in office to a football match. In his analogy, Mr Cuschieri said “the general public lost the match against the Nationalist government by four goals to one”. From five budgets, only one budget tried to remedy what has been done during the government’s term in office and this was only done for the Nationalist Party’s own convenience, Mr Cuschieri said.

Mr Cuschieri remarked that “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” – the pudding is sour.

Opposition spokesperson for health Michael Farrugia said that the budget is a “Father Christmas budget” and an “electoral budget”. The debate continues on Monday.