Muscat's speech full of mistakes, contradictions - Tonio Fenech
The speech by Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday did not include any economic proposals but listed strategic measures given "in a vacuum" to the global economic situation, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said.
Speaking to the media soon after Dr Muscat concluded his speech in Parliament, Mr Fenech criticised him for failing to deliver Labour's promised proposals to the government's water and electricity tariffs.
Dr Muscat had asked why the regulator had not commissioned an impact assessment of the tariffs.
Replying to this point, Mr Fenech said this was not done in other countries adding that Malta had a unique situation where the company that produced energy was owned by the government.
Had the regulator been brought in, he would have tried to reconcile Enemalta's expenses with the tariffs and this could have led to higher tariffs, he said.
"I am impressed at how Dr Muscat cannot distinguish between an economic and a strategic plan," he said adding that, in his speech, Dr Muscat spoke about the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and information technology but did not go into economic measures.
It seemed Dr Muscat had no idea as to the global economic situation and that the budget aimed to take measures to address such a reality.
The budget aimed at ensuring a strong economy that guaranteed employment while trying to strike a balance and put money in people's pockets by reducing the income tax bands.
Dr Muscat's reaction to the budget, he said, was based on "a rainfall of mistakes and contradictions".
While Dr Muscat called the government irresponsible for allowing the deficit to rise to €200 million, if his "so called proposals" had to be taken on, the deficit would shoot up to about €400 million, he said.
Turning back to the water and electricity tariffs he said it was irresponsible of Dr Muscat to suggest postponing the problem as that would only make the situation worse in future.
Dr Muscat also mentioned that the government planned to invest €5 million in industry over the next five years when the real figure was €40 million apart from the €5 million in energy incentives, he claimed.
Dr Muscat's reaction was based on unfounded comments backed up by unverified newspaper reports that, for example, stated that before the election, the government employed 500 people.
These were fabricated figures, he said, noting that National Statistics Office reports showed that between June 2007 and last June, the number of civil servants dropped by 600 people and some 4,000 jobs were created in the private sector.
The Opposition Leader had also made proposals that the government was already implementing such as the day-time and night-time tariffs. Some proposals were made without any knowledge of the expense involved such as the reuse of drainage water.
Mr Fenech said he was disappointed that education and the environment, which were two of the pillars of the Labour Party's vision, were only given two minutes at the end of Dr Muscat's speech.
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lgalea
Nov 13th 2008, 12:31
Joe Vella
Congratulations for confirming the thinking of those little elves in the NEW glasshouse further down the road from the MLP Headquarters.
V Fenech
Nov 12th 2008, 16:51
Joe Vella: Things are getting worse and worse due to the negligence of your party. But you're so busy attacking the Labour party while you mention nothing about the decreasing exportation and the new burdens introduced on SME's, something which the European Union is relying onto!
Muscat.Pat
Nov 12th 2008, 15:22
Before the elections Dr Gonzi and Mr T.Fenech " rawlna id-debba" and after the election" qabzulna il-hmara" This is the most evident contradiction dear 'minister!
Joe Vella
Nov 12th 2008, 14:56
@ l Galea
Thanks for explaining what is wrong with all those enclosed at the Glass building in Hamrun and all the little elves.
At last you made some sense!
lGalea
Nov 11th 2008, 23:17
Has anyone heard about the new regulation issued by Enemalta requiring that all letter boxes must be earthed?
When contacted about the reason for what at first looks like an absurd regulation, it was indicated that this was to prevented people from receiving a shock when they receive the electricity and water bills.
deb bugeja
Nov 11th 2008, 14:28
@ Dr Tonio Fenech
It is easy to critizise but difficult to take a right decision.
But I do know for sure that 8 months ago you promised the world to the people and now you are finding it hard to stick to your promises. You spent a lot of money to gain votes by giving allowances to people who were not actually in need. Now you want to fill up again through us the tax payers what Malta has lost financially .
No matter what you try to explain to people Dr Fenech, we all know the reason why Malta is going through this rough patch and that is why the government acted irresponsibly.
Julia Farrugia
Nov 11th 2008, 13:39
Dear Minister,
Kindly note that your so called "unverified" reports were based on figures provided non other than the Office of the Prime Minister.
MIKE MAGRI
Nov 11th 2008, 12:12
*****************************************************************************************************
@ Hon. Tonio Fenech - Minister of Finance..
Dear Minister..... Why don`t you ALL at GonziPN, STOP trying to impress us that YOU and ONLY YOU are ALWAYS RIGHT.....!!??!!??!!
After last night`s IMPRESSIVE speech by Dr. Joseph Muscat, Leader of the Opposition and the M.L.P., i don`t blame you a bit in trying to find all kinds of excuses to deminish the heavy political blow Joseph has done to you all at GonziPN Government...
YOU WERE ALL ABSOLUTELY STUNNED ..... AND YOU ALL LOOKED IT TOO.... by his SMART reply to your CONFUSED budget presentation...
WELL DONE JOSEPH......
*****************************************************************************************************
Joe Galea
Nov 11th 2008, 12:01
What do you expect from Tonio Fench? I think nobody expected a pat on the shoulder from Tonio to Joseph. What is salient in the PN epxonents speeches is sheer arrogance and unfounded attacks. Please change the disc, maybe you will be more credible.
Joe Borg
Nov 11th 2008, 11:53
@Catherine Calleja
In the absence of someone independent saying who is right, i weigh in my own judgment what i've been promised a few months ago to what i have now. i think this should be enough to determine who you cannot trust.
i don't think there is anyone independent enough to give us an unbiased overview.
i say its high time for change in our country too!
philip pace
Nov 11th 2008, 11:40
The best form of defence is to attack.
From what I read the attack was not very convincing.
It is to Tonio Fenech advantage not to lose the argument by speaking the people's language that of understand why there is less money in their pockets and that could be for a very long time.
He had two golden opportunities to do that. One was last Friday at Xarabank and yesterday.
He still have a long way to go but being stubbornly dogmatic won't help as there is a vast majority of Maltese and Gozitans who are trying to come to grips with this incredible U turn since March.
The next thing for you as you are in a corner is to start patronizing us, an attitude that your leader has used countless of times with no effect, he even mentioned that we don't understand.
What comes up must come down.
Regarding the 'theatrics' that Dr.Gonzi mentioned, yes he is right as in the theatre the best way to drive a message through is to shock the audience. He did it quite well as he has shocked the whole nation with these hard and quite illogical decisons!
Catherine Calleja
Nov 11th 2008, 10:27
We have heard both parties in parliament give their own interpretation on the utility tariffs. They are trying to convince us all that they are giving the true picture of the situation. But according to my view they seem miles apart. The government is saying that the tariffs were necessary but the opposition is arguing that the tariffs, not only are exagerated, but could also be avoided completely. Who is saying the truth? Can we have an independent expert explaining to us the real facts?
N Zammit Alamango
Nov 11th 2008, 09:57
I heard Austin Gatt with my own ears admit in parliament, last monday just before the budget... saying that yes they did employ 600 people. So before attacking Muscat for his contradictions mr. Fenech, pls check about contradictions with prime minister number 2 !
I Abela
Nov 11th 2008, 09:52
@ Tonio Fenech - The time when politicians take the people for a ride is almost over. A social impact assessment would simply Assess the Social Impact which the tariffs would bring to the people. Nobody will beleive your spin that a social impact assessment would have increased tariffs. I don't know why you are still waiting for Joseph Muscat to come up with alternative tariffs, because he already did. He said lower the surcharge to 61% (according to figures and workings published by GonziPN). What else do you need? Now to back his statement, Joseph proposed various strategies with which Enemalta will lower it's production costs. Most prominently is the task of purchasing oil now at a low price to lower the average cost of our stock thus lowering production costs. This proposal has been put forward by various common citizens on The Times blogs, so Joseph Muscat didn't actually discover the americas, but the worst thing is that Government hasn't even started sailing yet, let alone discover anything. Even such common sense is lacking in the government administration and we are asked to foot the bill. TONIO, STOP TAKING THE PEOPLE FOR A RIDE. It's 2008 not 1960.
Please choose the reason of your report below: