ADPD-The Green Party said Wednesday that Budget 2027 must address the priorities that genuinely improve people's lives: decent wages, the cost of living, strong public services, clean energy, fair taxation and environmental protection. The economy should serve people and improve their quality of life, rather than being judged primarily by growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). ADPDChairperson, Sandra Gauci, referred to a document explaining the party's priorities which was published today ( https://adpd.mt/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Budget-2027-ADPD.pdf ).
ADPD noted that the Government's Pre-Budget Consultation Document refers to resilience, sustainability and well-being, yet economic growth remains central to its priorities. The party believes it is time for well-being, social justice and ecological limits to become the main criteria by which economic policy is assessed.
Subsidies should support those who need help, not reward waste. ADPD recognises the importance of protecting households and businesses from energy price increases. However, blanket subsidies on fuels and consumption are not necessarily fair. Public resources should instead be directed towards renewable energy, energy efficiency, public transport and road safety, reducing Malta's dependence on imported and volatile energy sources. It is never an issue of subsidising everything or nothing, but an issue of focusing subsidies on those who really and truly need them.
The Government must also accelerate the transition to clean energy, with a target of 50% renewable energy by 2030, investment in the electricity network and community-based energy systems. Support for industry should be tied to improvements in energy efficiency and decarbonisation, ADPD said.
Social justice requires fairer taxation and better wages. ADPD proposes reducing the tax burden on work and pensions where appropriate, while ensuring a fairer contribution from accumulated wealth and income derived from speculative investment. The minimum wage should become a living wage that allows people to live with dignity. Increases in benefits alone will not solve the cost of living which encompasses high rents, low wages and shortcomings in public services.
The party is also calling for a radical change in the tourism sector. In a country already experiencing pressure on its resources, further tourism growth does not automatically translate into greater well-being. Malta must gradually reduce its dependence on tourism and reconsider subsidies that encourage unlimited expansion. Revenue from tourist taxation should be used to regenerate localities affected by tourism.
Education and healthcare must be treated as rights and values in their own right, not merely as investments intended to increase productivity. The Budget should strengthen preventive healthcare, inclusive education and opportunities for everyone to participate fully in society. Education should develop critical thinking, creativity and active citizenship, while healthcare policy should recognise the importance of prevention, a healthy environment and community-based services.
ADPD also stresses the need for policies that prioritise the youth along with future generations. Environmental damage cannot simply be offset by economic growth or financial investment. Budget decisions must account for their long-term social and environmental costs, including the consequences of climate change, ADPD said.
The party's Green Vision 2050 offers an alternative economic framework built around moving beyond growth, beyond market priorities, beyond individualism and beyond greed. This means measuring progress through quality of life, equality, the strength of communities and the health of our ecosystems.