All the motions presented for voting during Wednesday’s parliament session passed with 39 in favour and 31 against, with the Labour Party and Nationalist Party representatives voting with their party lines.

The first motion, which took up the focus of discussion leading up to voting, was Motion 253. This motion was proposed by the Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri, and called for Parliament to approve the estimate of income and expenditure by the Planning Authority for the fiscal year from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024.

Minister Camilleri said that the government can continue incentivising this sector further in order to raise quality. He said that it would be favourable for the sector to go in this direction so that the country would have better development which honours today’s society and future generations.

Ahead of the House being closed for voting, Nationalist Party MP Alex Borg said that the government’s track record shows that such proposals have no merit behind them. He referred to the issue of the Marsalforn Breakwater and the situation surrounding the Gozo General Hospital as examples of the government’s failure to deliver on promises where sustainable development in Gozo is concerned.

Borg also spoke of St George’s Square, and said that the situation there is further evidence of the government’s lack of serious planning and initiative.

He concluded that the PN is always prepared to work with the government when it is evident that such work would be to the benefit of the people, in this case referring to the Gozitans.

PN MP Bernice Bonello said that the Ministry for Planning would likely make more sense if it were called the “Ministry for Permits”, and added that the focus should be put on sustainable development in our localities.

“Building, building, building”, she remarked, as she was speaking on the state of construction and planning in Malta. She then questioned where the green areas and open spaces are, continuing that this aspect is lacking when it comes to planning. “Planning is not holistically considering the people’s health,” she said.

The other motions which were voted on and passed 39-31 were the following:

Motion 250 - Estimation of the income and expenditure of the Housing Authority for the fiscal year from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024

Motion 243 - Estimation of the income and expenditure of Heritage Malta and the Superintendence of Heritage Malta for the fiscal year from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024

Motion 236 - Estimation of the income and expenditure of Jobsplus for the fiscal year from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024

Motion 257 - Estimation of the income and expenditure of the Malta Tourism Authority for the fiscal year from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024

Motion 251 - Estimation of the income and expenditure of the Environment and Resources Authority for the fiscal year from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024

Motion 246 - Estimation of the income and expenditure of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority for the fiscal year from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024

Motion 258 - Estimation of the income and expenditure of the Lands Authority for the fiscal year from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024

Motion 255 - Estimation of the income and expenditure of the Water Services Corporation for the fiscal year from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024

Bill 79 - Bill to amend the Cultural Heritage Act - Third Reading (Voting)