Late last week, with the pre-budget rumour mill in full force, I toyed with the idea of asking for yet another pro-budget article from a self-confessed PN activist to be printed in this newspaper. I decided however that I would only assess the situation afterwards and would not churn out yet another piece of propaganda undeservedly praising the budget as the answer to all our prayers. That has never been my style and I am not about to change it now.

As I listened to the budget speech, it was clear that my fears had been largely unfounded. Granted, it is not the answer to all our prayers – but neither is it as unbearable as we all thought it might be a few weeks ago, or as some would still have us believe now. For while a number of measures will have an adverse impact on some of us, it is a budget that, given the current economic climate, manages to offset the harder measures with the good, provides for those who are worse off and gives a boost to the environmental credentials of this government.

Calling it “irresponsible” is simply a partisan knee-jerk reaction that betrays a lack of insight into our country’s finances. Continually repeating that the government wants more money in its coffers rather than in people’s pockets does not make it true nor does it convince many of us who actually heard Tonio Fenech on Monday. It’s not even a very good catch phrase.

I was glad to hear that the government will continue to invest in our education, infrastructure, environment and industry – measures which might even see Malta come off the bottom of the Lisbon Agenda rankings. One might say that these plans do not concern us to the same extent as our bread and butter issues; however, they best illustrate the responsible vision that our country needs right now. A vision that discards quick (and unsustainable) fixes and proposes a holistic approach based on targeted investment in all of us and our resources.

This is a budget that addresses that somewhat abstract yet fundamental issue of sustainability, starting off with the implementation of the government’s unjustifiably mocked electoral promise to support the introduction of energy saving lamps in every household. This measure, together with other financial incentives encouraging energy efficiency and the use of alternative energy sources, will go some way to cushion the effects of the raised electricity tariffs. Now that I am being asked to pay for the full amount of electricity that I actually consume, I am more than willing to look into better, cleaner and cheaper ways for my family to consume energy.

Having given birth to two boys in 2007 and in 2008, I understand just how much young mothers will welcome the announced 12-month tax holiday. This, coupled with similar tax breaks given to mothers who have children under 16 and are returning to the working world after five years, will go a long way in encouraging women who would like to raise a family while at the same time contribute to the labour market, to be able to do so and helps address the lack of participation of women in the workforce.

The measure that will oblige those who have been on unemployment benefits for more than five years to give their services to the community is inspired. It will both give renewed purpose – and increased income – to those desperately looking for work and help ingrain the concept of community service among us.

The revised income tax bands will not leave us much wealthier than we are today and the price for keeping the beloved family car will most likely cost us some more euros per year. Collective responsibility however will be strengthened by the application of the polluter pays principle. This principle will apply to a number of areas ranging from our daily use of plastic bags to the purchase of a new vehicle – the latter now being covered by the long overdue reformed car registration tax regime.

Some might (hopefully) also be tempted to exploit the government’s offer to reimburse 15.25 per cent on every bicycle bought, and both help the environment and us to keep fit – although let’s face it, while we had to start from somewhere, without adequate information campaigns and decent bicycle lanes we are hardly going to turn into Amsterdam any time soon.

While the Leader of the Opposition invites us to attend his “national manifestation of courage” we can, in the meantime, appreciate Minister Fenech’s budget speech, which is not based on artificial rhetoric but on the credibility and consistency of a government which has, through subsequent legislatures, allowed us all to reap the benefits of its efforts.

Roberta is a PN candidate in the June 2009 European Parliament elections.