Moviment Graffitti has slammed new planning Bills the government has presented in Parliament, describing them as a "disaster for Malta's environment and democracy."

Moviment Graffitti said that it is "shocked and outraged by the two Bills: one amending the Development Planning Act and the other establishing the Environment Planning and Review Tribunal."

"These Bills were introduced without any public consultation and without engaging NGOs. They effectively represent a developer's wish list, dismantling nearly all remaining legal safeguards. "

The NGO said that among their "many alarming provisions, the Bills would allow: 1) the Planning Authority's Executive Council to alter Local Plans without restrictions; the elevation of planning policies issued by the Planning Authority above Local Plans; the PA Board to deviate from planning polices; and enable the Planning Board to disregard environmental considerations, among numerous other destructive measures."

"Most concerningly, the Bills severely restrict the public's right to appeal planning decisions. Appeals would: be limited to legal issues raised during the objection phase; subject to unrealistic deadlines for submission; and handled through an inaccessible process."

Moreover, the NGO said that the Tribunal "would be granted excessive discretionary powers, including the ability to alter plans mid-process."

"Astonishingly, the Bills would also remove the courts' authority to revoke a planning permit," it said.

"This represents nothing short of a full-scale takeover by developers - one that will inflict irreversible damage on our country's planning system and environment."

Moviment Graffitti urges the public "to prepare for the fight ahead."