The situation in Malta is such that there are a number of issues which need tackling.

The Budget for next year is round the corner, and many await to see how the Government will address them.

A major concern is undoubtedly the rising inflation.

The Government cannot be expected to control international inflation. After all, the inflationary pressures that the country is feeling are largely caused by outside factors. However, the Government must ensure that it supports those who have lower incomes, and those who are vulnerable.

A major measure which the Government had introduced was the subsidization of energy prices, which was generally widely welcomed, and the Prime Minister has said that this measure will continue.

The Budget must, however, contain more measures to make sure that they can live decently, especially given the rising prices. This must be a priority.

There must also be measures which could help lighten the impact of inflation on businesses.

At the same time, the Government needs to monitor the country's continued deficit, and ensure that it is kept under control and that the country's debt is kept in check.

Another concern relates to the population growth rate. Malta is a small country with limited space, and the pressures of having seen such a sharp rise in population over a small period of time are there for all to see. From the intensification of construction to traffic congestion, and the list goes on.

This has led to calls for changes in the economic model, while others are calling for adjustments for the current model instead. There are varying views on this, but we do need to have a discussion about it and indeed do something. Some have spoken about the idea of targeting new sectors which might not be as labour intensive, but that must also be coupled with training for the workforce, for instance. Another idea has been to reform various areas of our present economic sectors to make them more efficient.

The Government needs to come up with a plan. The Government also needs to clamp down on the abuse and exploitation of foreign workers. Prime Minister Abela has spoken about a new law that the Government is working on as regarding temping agencies, and one of the aims will be to cut abuse. But more needs to be done so as to make sure that such workers are not being taken advantage of.

Another issue that must be tackled is traffic and road works. Malta's traffic problem is still with us. The Government must do more to tackle this issue. Making Public Transport free was a good idea, but on its own, hasn't worked. So the Government should also look into improving the public transport service, in addition to looking into other ideas. And there are other ideas out there. The Malta Chamber of Commerce, for instance, has been suggesting an e-mobility wallet.

When it comes to road works, there are times when they just take far too long to conclude, or are conducted at time when they clash with other works going on in an alternative route. The Government must significantly improve the time it takes for road works to take place.

Another area that needs to be reviewed are the Planning regulations, and the review must be done with a focus on protecting the environment. By this, we don't just mean green areas, but also the urban environment, streetscapes and the like. We need policies that do not contribute to the uglification of the island, but which counter that.

There should also be measures to help people become owners of their first homes due to the sky high property prices, as there have been in past budgets, and measures to ensure that traditional buildings are renovated.

We also desperately need far better oversight on Government spending, particularly on agreements it signs with third parties, especially in the wake of the damning hospitals deal. More measures to ensure that public funds are used properly must be implemented. This should be a priority.

Another area that needs urgent attention is enforcement. This country has seen two major scandals over the past months - the disability benefits racket, and the driving license scandal. In the disability benefits scandal, action has been taken against the small fish, but, as far as this newsroom is informed, no action has been taken against those who masterminded or carried out the scheme. Then on the driving license scandal, the Prime Minister has opted to defend those who sent messages to the Transport Malta officials. His defence of that situation is wrong, and completely unacceptable. Action has to be taken.

We need stronger enforcement agencies.