Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment Jonathan Attard said that the proposed Planning Appeals reform seeks to balance appellants' rights with legal certainty for permit holders, as he delivered his closing remarks during Parliament's debate on the legislation.

Attard said the reform would give appeals greater practical value by introducing automatic permit suspensions, clearer timeframes and procedures, and digital tools to help the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal reach decisions more efficiently.

He described the legislation as a measure aimed at strengthening justice and public trust in the country's institutions, adding that people in a modern democracy should have the right to an appeal that can lead to an effective outcome.

The Minister said the reform was based on three main pillars: the automatic suspension of permits when an appeal is lodged, more efficient procedures and deadlines, and digitalisation and improved resources for the tribunal.

He added that the legislation also provided stronger enforcement mechanisms and clear consequences for breaches of a suspension.

In his closing remarks, Attard said government had continued consulting stakeholders throughout the process, while criticising what he described as the Opposition's silence during the consultation.

He welcomed the Nationalist Party's decision to vote in favour of the bill, while noting that it intended to propose amendments at committee stage.

The PN has said its proposed amendments would address shortcomings in the legislation and were based on consultations with environmental organisations, professionals, developers and residents.

It has also criticised government for failing to publish the results of the public consultation and for not adequately reflecting proposals submitted during the process.

Addressing concerns raised during the debate, Attard said the bill introduced a more structured system, including new procedures and digital tools.

He also referred to the handling of planning permits and appeals, saying the tribunal should be able to assess cases individually rather than apply a single approach to every situation.

He said the Planning Authority dealt with a substantial number of applications, while people continued to exercise their right to appeal decisions.

Attard described the bill as part of a wider series of planning reforms, adding that planning was not simply about construction but also about quality of life.

He said decisions had to respect democratic processes while balancing legal certainty with the protection of Malta's environment.

He added that government intended to continue working on further reforms while safeguarding the integrity of the planning process.