The budget continued to expose an aging government that had run out of steam and was effectively repeating its policies of the past 16 years, Opposition leader Alfred Sant said.
"The budget repeats the mistakes of the past years. We are in a position where last year the tax burden on families was stepped up by Lm60 million; this year the government is increasing national debt by Lm100 million and taxes by Lm26 million.
"The budget does not address today's challenges and it lacks a serious analysis on the country' situation.
"Today we confirmed the urgent need for a change of government, because the present administration is just interested in safeguarding the interests of friends of friends," he said during a press briefing at the Palace following the budget speech.
Dr Sant criticised the budget as much for what it contained as for what it left out, saying, for example, that it proposed no opportunities or incentives for workers, young people or families.
On the issue of tax ceilings on income bands, Dr Sant said the Labour Party had expected something more substantial and what had been granted was too little, too late.
So did Dr Sant view this as a pre-election budget?
"A pre-election budget is usually one that reduces the burden of taxes or debt. This has certainly not happened and it's a budget that gnaws at its insides," Dr Sant said.
Dr Sant was also critical of the figures given out on government finances.
"The figures presented cannot be relied on, especially when it comes to the revenue generated from privatisation. The way the economy and public funds are being handled is out of control.
"We estimate that the deficit we are facing now is actually double if not nearly treble what Finance Minister John Dalli is telling us," he said.
The gist of Dr Sant's message was echoed in a statement issued by the Labour parliamentary group.
Revenue from income tax, VAT and stamp duty would increase by Lm25 million, which meant that over the past four years, revenue would have increased by Lm265 million in spite of promises before the election not to raise taxes, it said.
"The heavy squeeze from taxation that has been felt over the past four years has not gone towards improving the environment. The taxes were not spent on improving health services, education and roads. The crime rate has gone up, and drugs are more widespread, destroying young people and their families," the statement said.
"The budget for 2003 contains nothing new which would reduce the suffering of families due to taxation, insufficient money, increasing cost of living, unemployment and uncertainty at work.
"All the government is doing is trying to distract families and the elderly by giving them a few cents more every day, by making slight adjustments to taxes, pensions and children's allowances, which will definitely not be enough to make up for the increase in cost of living and taxes which continue to rise."
The budget also failed to give any boost to tourism, manufacturing and services, which would result in job creation, the MLP said.