Monday, 9th November 2009 - 21:28CET
An irresponsible Budget - Joseph Muscat
Labour leader Joseph Muscat today accused the Minister of Finance of having presented an "irresponsible Budget."
He said that it was shameful that in a two hour speech the minister had not told the people what they wanted to know - how the power tariffs would affect their cost of living and what the governemnt would do about it.
It was even more shameful, he said, that the government was saying it would spend €10 million on an allowance to ease the impact of the tariffs, when the government would rake in €85 million from the same tariffs.
It was also a disgrace, he said, that the government would remove the subvention given to Mepa and as a result fees would be revised upwards.
Dr Muscat, said soon after the Finance Minister concluded his speech, the government failed to tell the people by how much the water and electricity rates would go up, when this was what they wanted to know.
The people, he said, had been expecting a responsible budget which curbed the cost of living, created jobs, and fought corruption.
But this was an irresponsible Budget by a governemnt which was raising the cost of living, a decision that was also putting jobs in danger.
The government was also facing serious allegations ranging from commissions on the Delimara power station extension to the Fairmount and VAT scandals, the allegations on the Malta Tourism Authority, as well as allegations on breach of ethics and favours.
The government was discredited and the Budget was a half-hearted admission of failure.
At least, Dr Muscat said, the government had taken up some of Labour’s proposals including the setting up of a consumer agency, the monitoring of medicine prices and the revision of pitkali practices. He hoped these promises would not stay on paper.
He expressed disappointment that other proposals made by Labour had been changed, ignored or pushed aside, such as the proposal for the removal of VAT on restaurant services.
The government, Dr Muscat said, lacked the courage to say that a new tax was being imposed on people wanted to build their properties. The €6 million subvention on Mepa was being removed and the Authority would therefore have to raise its tariffs instead.
Dr Muscat asked how realistic was the promise that €429 million would be spent on capital projects when spending this year was less than projected.
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Comments
I agree with you that shop owners will increase prices cause of the electricity bills but I would also like to remind you that shop owners and agents also increase prices for the fun of it. For them every excuse is good to increase prices. To only way to fight it is by being smart. By being smart I am saying that we should start shopping more online rather than locally. Why should I pay 15euros for a dvd when I can buy it for 6euros online? Why do I buy food from a supermarket when there is a cheaper supermarket? etc....... If everyone was smart shops would have to lower their prices to sell......shops keep on increasing their prices cause we keep on buying from them
Surely MEPA still needs this money to operate, so where are these 6 million euros coming from next year?
Very simple. Increase its fees!
A budget without new taxes indeed!!!
In my opinion you are right to say that enemalta buy oil in advance, not aware how if 3 mts, more or less, but the point remains that the cost of oil went down during the recession at its worst and it is a fact that the benefit of this decrease in price was not passed to the consumer.
I do not agree with you when you say that inefficiencies are few. For eg 60% of the total water supplied by water services is wasted along its way to our meters, I am not sure about the figures of enemalta by I m sure they are high. 60% is a huge rate, you recognise that, don't you?
About alternative energy I condem this government categorically for not doing anything for almost a quater of a century. The gov is try to do something now, that we are faced with this problem. This is called managment by crisis, when someone act during a crisis instead of beigh capable enough to predict such problems when they are still on our horizon so we will be ready to face them when they approach us!
What you say is very very true and I agree with you 100%. It is true that when prices went down the cost of electricity tarrifs were still high..
The issue however is that the government does not buy oil in real time. What I mean is: the government doesn't buy oil on a weekly basis. To my knowledge and I stand to be corrected, enemalta (not the government) buys oil on a 3 month basis or depending on consumption. This means that if enemalta buys oil say at $80 today, then irrespective of the price in two weeks time (be it $100 or $60) the oil we get is at $80. So mostly it depends on the time we buy oil rather than the current price. Also, if there are inefficiencies in the production of energy (and if I'm not mistaken there were quite a few recently) the consumer has to make up for them otherwise the corporation goes bankrupt. Unfortunately this is how I see it..
But yes I agree with your point. I also agree that we should save on energy after all its our planet we have to safeguard for future generations.
Dr Joseph Muscat was right in saying that this was an irresponsible Budget because with the drastic increase in the water and electricity bills the majority of shop owners will increase the prices of their products as confirmed by Mr Vince Farrugia on Xarabank. MEPA will introduce new drastic tariffs on first time buyers because the government deducted 6Million subsidiary .There was a drastic increase in the prices of gas cylinders just months before this Budget. Last year's Budget we had a drastic increase on Car licenses fees,Higher taxes on plastic bags, yacht and swimming pool licenses and Cigarette prices will rose by 0.20c per packet. The Vat remained still at 18%.How can we trust DR Gonzi. Malta has the lowest wages in all European Union with the highest inflation rate.!!
I don’t really get your reasoning... budget or no budget... Electricity and Water bills are something you pay depending on consumption and use. I really cannot see how a tariff for "X" amount of cents per unit is referred to as a tax it’s a bill.
I also don't know, and this applies to both parties (the PL however exponentially differs from PN versions), how so much fuss is made on something which is purely dependent on fossil fuel price - OIL Price.. If we generate electricity by burning oil and not nuclear or hydroelectric or solar or wind or geothermal or whatever it is, doesn't it stand to reason that if the Oil price goes up, so do the fees? oh and yes another point. Again some people find so hard to grasp this concept.. If we don't have a source of fresh water other than rain, we need reverse osmosis plants.. now if these consume loads of electricity.. doesn’t it affect the price of the end product if electricity goes up?? it’s like a chain reaction. What's so hard to get??? irrelevant of which govt. rules the country the prices would still go up and down!
Not that there is any other colour! You see that is the problem - the opposition is irrelevant.
Ma tafx xinti tghid, Blue biss tara quddiemek. Taf li lgvern biegh kollox, xfadallu lgvern kollox iprivattizza bkundizzjoniet hziena ghal haddiem. Taf inti l-pagi f'Malta linqas fl- Unjoni Ewropeja bl-ghola rati tal kontijiet tad dawl u ilma. Taf inti li lgvern tieghek zied drastikament il licenzji tal karozzi. Taf int li l-gvern tieghek dahhal "parking space contribution" taxxa gdida li sofrejta jien meta bnejt il post tieghi li hija ingusta hafna ghax xorta ma jollokx parking. Taf inti li lgvern ghandu dejn ta 3.8 biljun. Taf inti li hafna familji mhux qed jlahqu mal ispejjez u lmara saret bzonn li tahdem ghax paga wahda tmur ghal l-ispejjez. Taf inti il PAR IDEJN SODI ta Gonzi tijak kemm sa jkissru familji fi frar li gej meta nibdew nircievu lkontijiet tad dawl u l-ilma bkontijiet drastikament gholjin.22 sena hlief taxxi ma ghamiltux !
@Mary Ann Borg
Qed tkompli tikkonferma kemm int, bhall-apologisti tas-soltu MA GHANDEK EBDA ARGUMENT SOD BIEX TIDDEFENDI dan il-budget!
1. min fejn gibta din li DEJJEM imur zmerc fit-tbassir tieghu dwar id-deficit il-gvern tal-pn? Fejn kont qed tghix sinjura/sinjorina mill-1987 l'hawn. Ma tafx li KULL SENA kemm ilu l-gvern tal-pn il-pajjiz kellu deficit? Aqra ftit l-economic surveys tal-budgets u tara minn fejn gibta!
2. gonzi naqqas id-deficit! Min ghamlu d-deficit? Jekk gonzi nizzel id-deficit (anki jekk ghal sentejn biss ghax illum rega sploda u l-famuzi finanzi fis-sod illum kulhadd jaf li ma huma fis-sod xejn), illum deficit enormi rega ghandna. Mela tajjeb xi hadd jigi jkisser dar u wara jirrangahhielek BI FLUSEK u minn fuq jippretendi grazzi! Ghax gonzi hekk ghamel, l-ewwel kissru pajjiz bid-dejn u d-deficit hu u l-hero ta qablu, wara prova jirrangah billi ghabba l-poplu b'ruxxmata taxxi u minn fuq tippretendu l-grazzi!
4. Doom & Gloom? Ma kontx kapaci tmeri dan il-fatt u minflok irrepetejt frazi li dejjem treddnu u teqirdu biha. Mela nsejt zmien l-oppozizzjoni nazzjonalista - hemm il-veru kaz ta doom & gloom!
Dwar l-assocjament tieghek ta Joseph u l-bozza ma fhimtx xi trid tghid!
I might be young but am sure wise to know the diffrence how many times now have we heard these comments to hide the reality of the presents I suggest you start living now and wake up from your dreams the ones that left you in the past as if you had to ake a list of what happening now your list would be as double. In fairytales people like you would be called puppets living in a dream refusing to wake up ou have their own mind to think with
DIN MINN FEJN GIBTA LI DEJJEM MAR ZMERC? FL-EWWEL SNIEN PN ID-DEFICIT TELA' GHAX BIDDILNA MINN SISTEMA KOMUNISTA/SOCJALISTA GHAL WAHDA MODERNA U L-GVERN PN INVESTA F'MITJAR, ILMA, TELEFONIJA, POWER STATION ETC.
2. Jekk id-deficit ta dis-sena u s-sena d-diehla qed isiru minhabba r-ricessjoni, allura id-deficits li kellna kull sena mill-1987 l'hawn (kemm ilu l-pn fil-gvern) ghaliex saru, habba liema ricessjoni saru? GONZI GIE MFAHHAR MILL EU GHAL KEMM IRNEXXILU JNAQQAS ID-DEFICIT FI FTIT ZMIEN
3. kemm nistghu nemmnu lil ministru Tonio Fenech li l-ekonomija s-sena d-diehla ser tiekber 1% jekk is-sena l-ohra qal li ser ikollna tkabbir ta 2% izda minflok kellna tnaqqis ta 2%? ANKE JEKK TAQLA KAMRA TAL-BANJU D-DAR TMUR ZMERC AHSEB U ARA PAJJIZ SHIH
4. Ghal min qed jiftahar bil-budget, jista xi hadd jiggarantixxi li t-taxxi li nistennew li jinbidlu jew jizdiedu, dan isir fil-budget li jmiss u mhux matul is-sena, baxx baxx? SOLTU DOOM&GLOOM
Milli jidher il-bravi li tant huma konvinti mill-budget ta gonzipn m'ghandomx twegiba ghal dawn l-erba mistoqsijiet! LE, JOSEPH IL-BOZZA!!
Jista xi hadd jilluminani u jwegibni dan l-erba mistoqsijiet?
1. Jista l-ministru jkun kredibbli meta jghid li d-deficit ser ikun l-istess bhall-din is-sena, jekk dan il-gvern DEJJEM mar zmerc fit-tbassir tieghu dwar i-deficit? .... u zmerc mhux bi ftit tafux!
2. Jekk id-deficit ta dis-sena u s-sena d-diehla qed isiru minhabba r-ricessjoni, allura id-deficits li kellna kull sena mill-1987 l'hawn (kemm ilu l-pn fil-gvern) ghaliex saru, habba liema ricessjoni saru?
3. kemm nistghu nemmnu lil ministru Tonio Fenech li l-ekonomija s-sena d-diehla ser tiekber 1% jekk is-sena l-ohra qal li ser ikollna tkabbir ta 2% izda minflok kellna tnaqqis ta 2%?
4. Ghal min qed jiftahar bil-budget, jista xi hadd jiggarantixxi li t-taxxi li nistennew li jinbidlu jew jizdiedu, dan isir fil-budget li jmiss u mhux matul is-sena, baxx baxx?
Milli jidher il-bravi li tant huma konvinti mill-budget ta gonzipn m'ghandomx twegiba ghal dawn l-erba mistoqsijiet!
@Albert Gauci Cunningham:
Albert is one of those moderate youths, whom I admire. He is a model for all those who stand up for their rights. As him I come from a politically mixed family, and as a moderate, ma hsibtiex darbtejn biex nara f liema direzzjoni miexi il pajjiz. Unfortinatly the PN today is not the PN of 25 years ago. All of you have to admitt... Ghalekk idecidejt li ninghaqqad mal moviment progressiv li beda jinbena madwarna.
And for this reason, this nation has to stand up for his rights.
Iva wasal zmien il fatti... So people a little advice... Grow up a bit, jekk irridu li ninghaqdu flimkien ghal vera gejjieni ahjar ghal pajjizna!!!
Sahha, u grazzi hbieb.
People here seem happy with the situation out there. And what about this budget? Believe me, it is full of promises, and retoric... Now Mr. Minister its time to get in action. Sincerament I'm a bit skeptic about promises. Just look at the 1998, 2003, and 2008 general elections... Il problema ta certa sezjoni ta maltin, hija li naraw kollox sabih, ta partit, u l ikrah ta l iehor.
Xbajtu to demonise the PL?
Xbajtu tfahhru it taxxi li gejjin fuqna?
Xbajtu tixtiqu il hazin lil haddiehor?
Tafu li f Malta ghandna iktar mill 15% tal popolazjoni tghix fil faqar?
Xbajtu tghaddu in nies biz zmien?
@Martinelli:
My friend, I followed your comments... Sincerament inti bniedem li taf tiddibatti, izda jonqsok xi haga... To bring in practice dak li tghid... In practice tfisser li tigi hawn Malta, u tmiss ir realta.
Proset... Kulhadd haqqu il proset. Titkellmu bit ton taz zejt. Issa ara jekk m ahniex ser inqablu dak iz zmien ma tal lum. Iva mal PN sar progress, but time is ripe for a change. The past is there to learn, mhux li nuzawh bhala arma, biex nahbu ir realta.
TF has taken Malta Today and other bodies, including PL officials to court. Not so the Zebbug mayor who may have some very interesting stories yet to tell.
Ghandek ragun, veru insejt insemmi l-income tax u National Insurance. Forsi ghaliex kienu tnehhew mill PN f-87 jew sejjer zbaljat?
Meta naqra certa comments, vera nara kemm is sur Joe Muscat ihossu jealous.
@Albert Gauci Cunningham:
Nammirak, but you're still young.
Don't let them fool you, bhal ma ghamlu maghna il haddiema kull meta kien hemm gvern socjalista. Ahsibha sew, u ghamel ezami tal kuxjenza, u tara kif Dr. Gonzi ghandu 100 ragun. The PN is the natural party of everyone ibda minn haddiema, u spicca minn manegers... MLP is simply NOT. Harsu ftit lejn nies bhall Mike Seychell, and others... Nahseb qedt kollox.
Least we forget the 1970's-1980's dictatorships. U ghalekk ghandna nirringrazjaw il PN ghal hajja well being li qeghdin nghixu ahna, u wliedna.
Tinsewx li ahna qedin fuq il blog grazzi tat teknologija, u zvilupp tal edukazjoni, moghtija minn amministrazjoni bilghaqal nazjonalista.
Ghamlu ezami tal kuxjenza, u taraw.
BUDGET HAS NOT RAISED TAXES??????
do you live in Malta? did you hear about the electricity and water charges going up again soon? or are you living in gonzipn wonderland?
Kemm infakkrek illi la l-bully beef u aqqas it-tuna ma' waqaf jigi fil-pajjiz ... xi hadd qed jieklu bilfors !
@ C camilleri. Insejt tnizzel l-income tax u National Insurance!! Imma halliha, ghax donnok nizzilt biss dak li jaqbel lilek. Apparti min hekk, l-Industrial Estates bdew fis 60's, tant u hekk illi Dowty u De La Rue kienu min ta l-ewwel fabbriki kbar li fethu dak iz-zmien. L-irhama komemorattiva f'Bulebel ghada hemm, jekk trid mur araha. Il-Banek, kulhadd jaf li iz zewg banek diga kienu joperaw imma Mintoff innazzjonalizzhom, ghax ried kontroll shih fuq is settur bankarju. Fil kaz tan National Bank it-'take-over' kien tal-misthija.
U l-universita??. Jekk ma kontx tmur skola tal gvern kien jiddiskrimina kontrik u iwahhlek 20punt, biex il-ftit postijiet (u mhux l-eluf bhal-lum) kienu jimtlew min nies mghazula.
Hasra li mal lista tieghek ma stajtx tnizzel affarijiet bhal :
Sistema ta TELEFON (li tahdem)
ILMA f'kul dar,
DAWL minghajr qtuh (KULJUM ghal xhur shah)
PACI
U XOGHOL !!! Mintoff stess ammetta meta kien PM li Malta ma kelliex problema ta flus, imma fil-holqien ta' postijiet tax-xoghol. Ghaliex? ghax kien imexxi gvern bla idejat, u bla visjoni. U ghalhekk Il-Labour ilu das-snin kolla ikkastigat.
Id-deficit li ghandna u li ser jerga jkollna s-sena li gejja l-ministru qal li minhabba r-ricessjoni.
Jista xi hadd jilluminani u jwegibni dan l-erba mistoqsijiet?
1. Jista l-ministru jkun kredibbli meta jghid li d-deficit ser ikun l-istess bhall-din is-sena, jekk dan il-gvern DEJJEM mar zmerc fit-tbassir tieghu dwar i-deficit? .... u zmerc mhux bi ftit tafux!
2. Jekk id-deficit ta dis-sena u s-sena d-diehla qed isiru minhabba r-ricessjoni, allura id-deficits li kellna kull sena mill-1987 l'hawn (kemm ilu l-pn fil-gvern) ghaliex saru, habba liema ricessjoni saru?
3. kemm nistghu nemmnu lil ministru Tonio Fenech li l-ekonomija s-sena d-diehla ser tiekber 1% jekk is-sena l-ohra qal li ser ikollna tkabbir ta 2% izda minflok kellna tnaqqis ta 2%?
4. Ghal min qed jiftahar bil-budget, jista xi hadd jiggarantixxi li t-taxxi li nistennew li jinbidlu jew jizdiedu, dan isir fil-budget li jmiss u mhux matul is-sena, baxx baxx?
F'Mejju 1993 kien hemm 50 tabib barrani.
F'Ottubru 1995 kien hemm 53 tabib barrani.
F'Marzu 2002 kien hemm 58 tabib barrani.
F’Novembru 2004 kien hemm 60 tabib barrani.
F’Ottubru 2009 kien hemm 66 tabib barrani.
Jekk kien hazin li kellna tobba barranin taht il-Labour, kif taht il-PN it-tobba barranin zdiedu?
u qed nghid dan biex norikom li intom tal pn dak li huwa tghakom tajjeb imma ta haddiehor mor qares u hazin
Don't worry! It seems there is going to be ample time for those pledges, because given Joe's performance so far he is on track to achieve the impossible, that is, loose the next general election!
Conclusion: Guys.. Budget and ALL... Come next January, thanks to the expected Savage Increase of the Utilities, more middle class families are surely going to hit UNDER the Poverty Line, in detriment to their present style of living......
WHAT A SHAME......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tal-biki, u aktar tal-biki l-fatt li Dr. George Abela setgha kien leader hu, bniedem kapacissimu.
/ o o \ >| Budget tat-Tonn taz-Zejt |
\ --- / \---------------------------------/
x
Nixtieq inkompli fejn hallejt int ta x'ghamel l-MLP fil gvern
Children Allowances
Pensjonijiet
Minimum Wage
Paga l-istess ghal mara u ragel
Bonus
Sptarijiet b'xejn
Health centers miftuhin 24-7
Housing Estates
Home Ownership
Air Malta
EneMalta
Mid-Med
BOV
Skola obligatorja sa sittax il sena
Vot ta tmintax
Vot lin-nisa
Universita accesibli anki ghal tfal tal-haddiem
Maternity leave
Fabriki bl-ghexieren mil Germanja
Ta bidu ghal industrial estates
Dar il-Mediterran ghal konferenzi
Leave
Sick leave
Inkompli?
Qtajt nifsi nghid, min jixtieq izid mal lista merhba bih.
Ejja inkunu aktar kredibbli u niftakru kollox u mhux x'jaqbel lilna biss.
these blogs have created a new term ...
- Budget tat-Tonn taz-Zejt -
in reference to old MLP 'responsible' budgets.
Hope this term will not be forgotten ...
Sur Bugeja, jekk joghgobkom biddlu naqra d-diska. Dejjem l-istess kantaliena fuq passat.
Il-PL patta qares ghall-izbalji li ghamel, b'20 sena fl-oppozizzjoni.
Ma jistax ikun tibqghu tilghabuha tal-martri meta f'dawn l-ahhar 20 sena kienu l-laburisti li
qalghu fuq rashom minhabba t-twemmin politiku taghhom, b'diskriminazzjoni politika kontinwa.
Illum il-poplu jimpurtah minn dak li qed jigri attwalment.
Jekk rajt il-programm ta wara l-budget, il-Ministru Fenech stess ammetta li setghu ghamluh qabel u m'ghamluhx. Tahseb li m'ghandix sens komun bizzejjed biex nasal ghal konkluzjoni li ghedt int?
Reality shows that with the W/E rise in tariffs, more than the little carrot the gov. gave us will be taken back. Prices will shoot up as W/E affect everything, therefore, less money in our pockets. Most probably fuel will shoot up too. Lesser money in our pockets. Because of the fuel too, prices will go up as it has a ripple effect on economy. And lesser money in our pockets.
I think there's a hole in the bucket dear Tonio, dear Tonio.
Forsi ghadek zghir u ma tafx il PL x pasta huwa...
Jien bhal hafna nies gej minn familja tal haddiema. My uncle was in the Times building, when socialist thugs attacked it. I remember coming to our home at floriana crying, and had to take him to hospital to try to cure his shock. I will never ever forget his face...
Those were horrible days... The dark ages of Malta.
X ghamel "il partit tijek":
Farrak il korp tal pulizija,
Farrak l universita'(fejn jien kelli ix xorti nattendi wara 1987),
Ried jeqred l iskejjel privati,
Tortures,
Il blue sisters,
Iggamja is sistema eccellenti tat tobba,
Rahhas it ton taz zejt hahahahahaha,
Nehha l istipendji lil l istudenti(sistema li dahlet mill PN),
Unemployment,
Bulk Buying,
1981 election,
Tridni inkompli Mr Attard. Ser tejdli li jien brainwashed?
Dawn huma farytails???
Farytails jigu mill PL, u ghalhekk qied fl oppozizjoni, ghax hemm postom.
Praise God li ghandna gvern ghaqli li ta futur lilek, u lil uliedek. Taf li ghandi ragun.
Proset Dr. Gonzi. By 2013 you will surely be reconfermed as PM fortunatly!!!
Iva! Malta genna ta' l-art hdejn pajjizi ohra!
Try living in countries whose unemployment is still growing, plants closing down, each throwing thousands of workers out of work. Try living in countries where food banks and soup kitchens feed hundreds, maybe thousands every single day or they go hungry! I am not referring to some forlorn third world country. I am talking about Western countries which until a year or so ago, were riding high and spending like there was no tomorrow.
You just don't know how good you have it and if you are not careful, your turn will come if you ever you put a party in power which has been promising impossible things. Either they will deliver, raise taxes and wreck the economy, or they will disappoint you one more time.
But then, some do not have good memories and forget (conveniently perhaps) the days of bulk buying, recently mentioned as an option by the beloved Labour Party leader!
Min jilghab bin-nar jinharaq!
Seems you are one of the few who are not living in reality or you refuse what did PL lose? and most important what did the people win.
The increase in electricity bills,all the latest scandals, Medicine prices, the sorry state of our health, the promises never kept ........ if this is what you are thanking your party for I suggest you try live the real life!!!!! and please keep entertaining us with your fairytales
Only then we will be in a position to debate the budget seriously.
Believe me I am not looking forward for the next Strina.
1.Wake up people, the recession is actually over abroad but in Malta we only started feeling the repercussions now. However the issues Malta has are far bigger than the international recession foldieri PN I would stop nagging about the recession.
2.Unemployment is not it's worst it's true, but it's not at it's best either so there is nothing to boast about really. However the deficit has sky rocketed and is much higher than the EU average.
3.Utilities Tariffs, it's true that the world does not go around these tariffs alone but every one should be fair with him/herself and acknowledge that these tariffs effect every one in a way or another, compared to our wages our tariffs will be ridiculous to say the least.
Do you actually believe that the rates reflect the price of oil?
They actually reflect the corruption, incompetence and monopoly of EneMalta along with the price of oil!
So forget any drastic measures during budget speeches, the situation is already very uncomfortable for the PM as it is, the dissenters in the PN many times talk louder than the Opposition.
Grazzi PN. Keep it up!!!
He should had called it - A Body Guard Budget ! But what do you expect from an Inexperienced ,m.l.p Kapo ? This Budget YES is Body Guarding Malta and all the Maltese Citizens from the, UNREALTY THE OPPOSITION IS ESCAPING ON THE RESSECION, THAT NOT ONLY US MALTA ARE HIT BUT WORLDWIDE !!!
Heqq did any of you pretended any other Comment ?? Same old Paroli as Usual........
I still see certain resembles to the 'old labour party'.......!!
Il-poplu jigifieri 50% + 3,000?
Commitments entered by the Govt. most of the time go haywire or a loophole is found so as not to be kept.
Also we are used that the big bombshells are delivered by Min. Austin Gatt not by the finance Minister or the Prime Minister. So with the situation the Min. T. Fenech is in at the moment, this was a good idea to divert the attention from his other problems, playing cool and business as usual.
It seems also some people forgot all the problems after hearing the budget speech, a nice illusion.
Budget day is everyday, when Min. A.Gatt gives us on a different tone, the newly revised (call them what you want, but not taxes). That is the real budget.
To Joseph Muscat, they are after your throat, they know the game well. Who ever opposes them, they send out the armada to shut him down.
What a joke. We're in November, not 1st. April. PL will will only in your dreams. Please note that its a non-constructive party, so its practially useless. If you want to be on the winning side... Taf x qed nghid. So grow up, u irringrazjaw lil dan il gvern ghal gid li gab, u li ghadu jgib. 22 years in goverment mhumiex cajta, u zgur, u mhux forsi, ghax il poplu ser ikompli jirringrazja lil PN.
Please note all of you.
Taf min hu mazzun habib, min joqod idu fuq zaqqu jistenna z-zejt jola minn $40 al $80 il-barmil biex jamel hedging agreement fuq iz-zejt. $40 taf x'qed tghid? Kemm huma c-chances li jinzel iktar?
True this government is launching a new stimulus programme through the budget. The packaging is good, but much of the content is a rehash of old promises.Most of last year's budget capital spending has not been utilised. Who is going to believe that the same thing will not happen?
Gonzi's government is very feeble; it has to cope with a large group of disgruntled MP's. Yesterday's show was well prepared and tried to hide this feebleness, but the truth is that with the economic downturn likely to increase in the short to medium term, many Maltese are going to face this economic downturn with increasing nervousness.
To win the next general election you'll need much more than a farcical budget that never reaches the targets set. It's a long way but you cannot expect to win again after 25 years in government. If Joseph Muscat was a monkey, Labour will still win.
Personally i think that it's one of the best budgets we ever had because it's all in favour to the people.
You've got nothing to boast about by voting Labour next time round. PN has ALWAYS been responsible and never made mockery of serious matters as the PL leaders always do. My wish that PL will govern is to watch the reaction of these PL bloggers who are quick to criticize the PN for anything without knowing of what stuff their own party is made of. God forbid....that will be a catastophe for Malta.
You have to be very very ashamed of yourselves, talking like that about our goverment. The PN in goverment gave a future, work, prosparity to you and your children. You have to be grateful, and bring up your socks, and work together. Stop being rude, and admit that the PN in goverment is our only salvation.
Talking about myself, I'm not worrying abour the tariffs, knowing that the gov will help us all. Is sewwa jirbah zgur, u is sewwa huwa PN.
Thanks.
@Martinelli. Jekk int daqstant konvint minn gonzipn tieghek ejja ghix hawn, sa ma taghmel dan kull ma tikteb hawn hu meqjus paroli fil-vojt.
You have been waiting for the icing to melt for 22 years or so..... Looks like you will need to wait a little whole longer! The difference between opportunist politics and responsible economic management was there for all to see yesterday - Joe Muscat's reaction vs Tonio Fenech's speech (and content!).
Wake up. Don't you see that this country is lead by a responsable, and profesional goverment with over 20 years of experience?
Dont' you see that Muscat and co. is taking you for a ride, bhal ma ghamel dejjem il "moviment tal haddiema" ops mlp, ops pl lool?
Wake up.
In Malta the only hope is laid with the PN.
Just look at the opposition. Believe me, they are only jealous.
Ghax tgergru dwar it tariffi? Kulhadd kiber benestanti hawn malta, u issa li ghanda ftit problemi fl ekonomija, tgergru. Jejdu sewwa li min ma jonqsu xejn dejjem igerger.
SO wake up.
The iceing sugar will soon melt , right after christmas. It's when January starts will we know what balbujata pudding is ready for us to taste.
What I mean that in light of the size of the discrepancies in revenues and spending are great. He even tried to curb inflation while he kept in place social programs and other projects which incur heavy spending, adventurous and creative in what and where? This is a Budget where nothing is gained and nothing is lost. The Minister is only postponing when the axe falls on government spending or the increase in taxes, if we are really going to remain attractive to foreign investments and competitive in a global economy.
You know why? Because he quoted the Budget as: "An Irresponsible Budget ".
And he said this quote because in Maltese we say: "Kultant il-kunfidenza hija bla prudenza" and we must be prudent sometimes.
When you mention the electricity rates in the same sentence expressing your negative opinion regarding the Budget, you illustrate how meager your understanding is about a Budget preparation. Just to spoon feed you: A Budget is a set of numbers describing how much and where government revenue is expended, including capital projects, social and health services, education, etc.
W&E rates, once subsidies are removed should be revenue neutral meaning that what Enemalta spends in obtaining fuel, maintain plants, reserve for future replacements, pay salaries etc., should be directly offset by the revenue from billing households and industry.
It's not such a difficult concept to understand unless one refuses to understand or is brainwashed by Utopian fantasies. When one goes grocery shopping, one pays for what he buys, at the quoted price which includes the initial cost of the goods plus a healthy profit for the merchant which enables him to recover his costs plus leave something in his pocket for the trouble and risks he takes.
So, what's so different for the cost of generating energy? What connection is there with the Budget? Instead of griping about the cost of electricity, why not conserve?
What use is a budget these days? And why in heck's name is it always a 'Good Budget' by the party in power and a 'Poor Budget' by the opposition leader? I recall reading the esteemed Dr.Muscat's comments about ten years back.
As always, us working people simply have to see how to make ends meet. I'm afraid I simply don't have faith in you all....not personally obviously, but I fail to see how the two parties cannot work together for the common good of the country...
....and all this in a nation hardly worth the title of a 'large town'.
Boqq....ma nifhimx...
In maltese we say "geddumhom fix-xghajr"
Maybe it has never dawned on you but no one is born free - all are born into a more or less structured society. Those who cannot understand this spend most of their lives as fundamentalists battling institutions rather than trying to influence change. They are also usually seen waving an anarchists flag. Get this straight and then come back and try to understand the budget and the context in which it has been drawn.
We can only judge the budget next January when the new Water and Electricity tariffs are published.
The fact that the government is refraining from saying what the new tariffs consists of, and then he says that he is going to help those effected by the new tariffs, gives me a feeling that we are in for a real beating.
Hope that I am wrong.
@The rest - You should hear from an unbiased source, such as Wayne Criggs'.
I don't have to comment on anything else, he puts my words nicely.
balant partisanship of some and the apparent naviety of others. The minimum requirement of any budget is to set straight the mistakes of the previous budget's efforts and to put in place remedies for these mistakes. Secondly, it's neccessary to create policies which geniunely provide help and assistance to those in society who have the greatest need. Thirdly, it's obligation is to create a climate which promotes wealth and goodwill to all persons in society. Unfortunately inmy view this budget fails in all three categories. It's uncreative, unadventurous and full of ambiguity. Personally I fail to see how anyone who is geniunely concerned about living in a dynamic, creative, adventurous society which openly adheres to the principal that we are all born free with god given abilities couldn't agree.
Ha ndumu nidhku bin-nies?
Imbaghad Ganni taghna jmur jivvota ghax jaghtuh 100lira rebate fuq il-kont meta nefaq 1000! Kemm ghadna fjakki fil-mentalita....
Nafu li qed jixtruna bix-xejn u nibqghu nibelghu il-lixka.
The MCESD does not represent all workers. Shamefully enough in our democracy we are excluding the FORUM group of unions, a confederation made up of more than 11,000 workers/professionals. FORUM were brave enough during these last years and expressed clearly the difficulties workers and professionals are experiencing in Malta.
When i hear the GRTU, UHM and CMTU leaders talk, I get the impression they are following the PN's rhetoric.
I worry when I think that this democracy is hiding after simple tricks. How come UHM is the major union represented in the CMTU, and then it is again representing itself as UHM in the MCESD? How come then the FORUM, are left out from this 'social council'? Could it be that we leave out dissidents? is this the way forward in a democratic country?
Malta Is making Progress... In Collapsing...
... Property Slow down
... Higher tarrifs... (When price of oil goes down.. bills remain high)
... Increase in Car Licence... More Taxex from Speed cameras
... What about corruption ?
When you receive your next estimate bill for W&E, clap your hands...and say Malta is IMPROVING
If we do not fall in line, we might end up losing EU funding and getting fined, and yet the Minister forges ahead without not only failing to solve the problem but with making it even worse. There are so many costs that can be cut without increasing the taxes or utility rates that it should be no wonder that non-short-termist institutions are calling the budget an irresponsible one.
What a mess!
What? Are you mentioning pre 87? Are you referring to the times when water and electricity was available on certain days only, when having a coluor tv/video was illegal, when telephone system was a farce, when university only contained a handful of students, when there was no airport, freeport, power station, telephony, zammit clap, old people homes, new st vincent de paule, mater dei, new raods all over malta, new gozo ships, etc, etc, etc. When you could only have a telephone if you were a member of the MLP club? Hallina my friend!!!!
PL: Joseph Muscat is wrong in saying that this is a responsible budget, because with "irresponsible" people expect a budget much worse than presented yesterday. He should have been less extreme in his words, at least for now.
PN: It's too obvious that those of you who are saying this is a good budget are PN sympathizers who will always think blue is right, red is bad. by now, everybody who is not biased knows that GonziPN is famous for nice words but lack of action.
Floaters (since I'm one of them): Muscat, for sure this wasn't your best "peformance" since becoming PL leader. You showed that you can do better and Malta needs someone fresh, but don't get stuck to the usual "this is bad, this is bad, this is bad".
Gonzi/Fenech, before you prove with action what you say on paper I cannot believe you anymore. You have time to prove I'm wrong but too many times now you've showed you lack motivation. Gonzi's Govt is very weak compared to EFA's. It's more similar to Sant's.
Reasonable budget. Well Done Again PN.
I was disgusted by the way the Labour MPS behaved. They showed themselves that they are arrongant and very RUDE persons.
We all know that it's the usual with GONZIPN, they don't introduce taxes in the budget, but these are issued as the year goes on.
Till now we know that the water and electricity tariffs are going to be high, they are giving the people 10 million euro, but will be gathering 85 million. The tariffs will stay and the allowances will cease, but the tariffs will stay.
We got an increase of 5.82 euro, but has anyone heard the minister say that tax bands are going to be adjusted so as these want be taxed. NO, so there goes more money from the COLA.
Tariffs issued by MEPA will be increased, to make good for the government subsidy which is going to be removed.
We will be waiting also to see if fuel prices will go up again, as i think these will go up also come end of November.
We are used to this government that taxes aren't introduced on budget day.
So, not everything is on a bed of roses as it looks.
Tonio Fenech confirmed that the Gov’s last year projection were totally wrong. This despite economists were already seeing the economic crisis approaching. The only one not seeing it was Tonio and his Gov.
The second aspect of a budget is how he plans for recovery. On paper there are some good measures. Although it is a fact that here we are only looking at half the story.
Firstly one has to see how the incentives will be put into practice. People in business know what I mean here. A good measure could easily become impossible to access because of the entry requirements.
Then of course the utility tariffs will have a significant impact on spending power. On their own, these will neutralize the good measures. Saying neutralize I am of course being optimistic.
This is another budget in which the main bomb taxes are excluded but then they are introduced during the year.
The Minister didn't mention the 50c tax on accomodation, the steep raise in the W&E bills which will erode completely the COLA. Submitting a MEPA application is costlier, this is one of he many.
I am also amused at how many people in here shoot statements like "A budget that stimulates the economy" when they have no idea of what economy is. They just regurgitate what they read on the PN media. I call that pathetic.
The Union privilged by PL!!!!! Yet Joseph Muscat and PL are negative and what is positive they put it negative unbelievable!!!!!!!!!,,,,Joseph Borg this is what you are proud of, this PL.
No wonder PL, will need years and years to arrange and make a change from A to Z ,not A to D, so they can be one day in government. Dear Joseph Borg no faith in PL, faith in PN at these times, you need the help of Mary Poppins.
umbad jivinta xi taxxa gdida issa drajnih hux fan i taparsi budget jitfa kliem li m ajifmu hadd u matul is sena iwaddab il bombi
This budget is the kick start the economy needed and it is the flame that will raise the PN Phoenix. Who said that the PN Government is dead and burried? Who was of the impression that this government has run out of ideas? Who said that this Nationalist Government has passed its sell by date?
Remember that one thing was not mentioned in yesterday's budget. A very important thing.
How much are the water and electricity tariffs are going to increase.
If your only problem is W&E bills than you should be joining the list showering praise on Tonio Fenech , 97% of households will be handed a subsidy approximately the same amount of the increase in bills.
Btw the price will be fixed for a whole year, it carries a risk, if the oil price goes down we have to pay as if the price remained the same.
Malta is making progress but thanks to the PN government!!!!!!
I hope that you know better than this. Now i'm getting confused whether you really knows the right meaning of irresponsability.
would it be an irresponsable budget , if the goverment had listed to your stupid list of proposals for the budget. Would it be irresponsable if govt. deared to believe you that you really want good for our nation. you're pathetic..... you is the persons which can be labeled irrisponsable, and this is logical, coming from the MLP / PL ...... Its a case where we can state that " il-passat u garanzijja tal-futur ".........
i do not think that this is the new way how to make politics. Admit, and declare that this time , Tonio Fenech came up with a very good budget.......Admit it , Be A GENTLEMAN !
So that I may understand: following the MEP elections, despite what was promised during the election campaign, the MLP in the person of Louis Grech embarrassingly belied the then PL general secretary Jason Micallef that the PL in government would be in a position to revise the utility bills downwards. So, if the according to Joseph the expected rise is scandalous can we have a commitment (maybe tomorrow) that whatever the oil price is in 2013 the utility prices will be kept at the current levels. Lest this commitment is forthcoming there is only one thing that is clear - the PL does not have half a leg to stand on and if that half a leg is Joseph then might as well do without; UTTERLY EMBARRSING.
Malta deserves better!
When are we going to wake up? We have been hearing the same budget speeches for the last fifteen years- " ..investment in education.....helping the industry.....investment in the infrastructure restructuring this and that , taking care of the deficit ( catching the bull by the horn Dalli once said) ", and when the year comes to an end we still end up with a mountain of problems like a huge deficit, disastrous infrastructure, uncompetitiveness, corruption, scandals etc etc. Don`t you realize that our salaries are the lowest and the taxes the highest amongst the European block? The budget became just a political exercise and propaganda to the party in government, telling us about the goodies (most of them lies) and then the sufferings will creep on us during the course of the year in the form of new taxes, rise in utility tariffs etc etc. So to all the PN elves-THE MAJORITY OF THE MALTESE DOES NOT BELIEVE A WORD THE MINISTER SAYS IN THE BUDGET SPEECH, AND PLEASE STOP HIDING BEHIND THE RECESSION, THE PROBLEMS IN OUR ECONOMY WERE CREATED BY THE GOVT YEARS AGO.
@ The other blue noses: No wonder why the social partners are happy about it. This budget just continues to destroy families to sustain the few of the few such as the 'social partners'. The problem one fails to notice is that if the workers don't have money, they don't spend! So long for the 'happy' social partners and the rest of you who only see till the tip of your nose, and not beyond.
@Pn Bloggers
In Malta it is a fact that all prices, utility tariffs increase after the Budget. It was a very irresponsible Budget because Dr Tonio Fenech did not mention the drastic increase in the water and electricity bill in two months time.Hope that all PN bloggers who are seeing this budget as a positive one would also comment next February after they open their first water and electricity bill. Our Wages are the lowest in the European Union.The tariffs of Mepa would increase drastically which would give a blow to first time buyers. Kindly note that the majority of all maltese people have a high IQ and would not be tricked By Dr Tonio Fenech!!
All those you mentioned are gonziPN sympathizers, their reaction is irrelevant and biased, their word means nothing since they are gonziPN's puppies
@Mary Ann Borg
THe l-Orizzont might have shouted"It-tonn taz-zejt rohos" but a MLP government left Lm470 million in Malta's coffer when EFA took over, what is your party's legacy.
€4 billion + national debt. I prefer the tonn taz-zejt era then gonziPN's heaven on earth.
All unions said that this was a positive budget. You have to be honest in your opinion
I, thought that the PL, was really working to a better democratic free political understanding
but sorry to say,you have done what other PL, leaders done in other budgets.Your personal
consultant should work more on this issue.I, am more than sure that if you expressed what all unions said about this budget,could have been more positive to your party .Changing the colour of your tie is not enough.You have to be more honest in your opinion ,even when
giving your view about such national matters.You can fool the die hards, but surely you cannot fool the younger generation.
THE BUDGET has long stopped being a Country`s WINDOW as where to look,how to shop,how to gain in spending less for more - THAT IS PAST.Over the years,the Marketing Forces have taken over.BUDGET SESSIONS are the signs of an antiquated political and social mentality,a must in the Political Calendar which consumes much with no returns at all,much to the constertaion of our Parliamentarians most of whom attend these Sessions only to be seen,at times snoozing too!!
Country requires competent politicians who direct the People correctly as most are not any wiser after these prolonged expositions of very often incoherent phraseology where many pretend to be erudite only to demonstrate that they are as incomprehensible as the proverbial village idiot,alias GAHAN !
The bottom line is : how are people going to cope with the ever increasing expenses and where to find the resources to make both ends meet:THAT IS THE QUESTION!!!
an opposition reaction as expected, no matter what the budget would have included...no more to add.
This was an extremely poor and half baked effort to criticise the budget measures. I will limit myself to just one comment.
What is wrong with the measure of stopping the government subsidy for MEPA? Would Dr. Muscat prefer it if the 6million euro keep being forked out from everyone's pocket through our hard earned tax contributions? Doesn't it make more sense to just collect this sum as a direct tax only from the people who apply for a MEPA service?!?!
I'm sorry - much as I respect Joe Muscat, I regret that this time he is making cheap political capital out of the unavoidable rise in utility prices as a result of rising oil prices.
This is unfair and, as I said before, keeping prices artificially low is unsustainable AND encourages wasteful practices. This is wrong.
There is a socially equitable solution and that is to force the heavy consumers to bear most of the load. ---as I wrote 5 minutes ago.... This is in line with the polluter-pays principle.
G
Statistics shows Unemployment has increased, let's just say the truth instead of coming up with a made up claim. 'Par Idejn Sodi' - say it when the E&W tariffs increase in January.
"This was a budget that continued to show the Maltese electorate that PN gives Malta 'Par Idejn Sodi'"
that's why you did not get outnumbered by 35k in the MEP election. i am not labourite but it irritates me when people speak from their illusions. it's a balanced budget nonetheless, at least for now.
Budgets are compromises. Given the bad times the financial world is going through,this budget is remarkably benign and full of goodies.
The Q of electricity and water tariffs is a matter of OIL PRICE........AND pollution.
Apart from being unsustainable, keeping the price artificially low by subsidies sends the wrong message that energy is an endlessly abundant commodity which encourages waste. For instance, so many households(&restaurants!) keep television on all day (= a steady 500 watts wasted) and consumers (better off consumers, admittedly) keep the AC running even when it is not too hot (a steady 2,000-8,000watts) &c &c. If electricity is realistically priced then it will be used with care (as I do for the planet's sake)
There is the social aspect in respect of lower income groups. The answer here is to maintain an unchanged fixed (LOW & unchanged) price for low consumers and increasing the price for high consumers. This would also encourage the (better-off) high consumer to invest in domestic renewable energy and energy-saving devices which are not affordable to the less well-off low consumer. QED.
The effect on businesses and industry could be offset by generous subsidies towards the cost of energy-saving practices.
A careful analysis of performance is the cornerstone of any future-looking document.
why did we fail to reach the important capital-expenditure targets? why did we fail to secure our eu funds targets? why are so many school-leavers falling outside of the 'system', why inflation when the economy actually contracted? why did the number of jobs contract?
Why do we continue to flog a limp education system and not open up to an informal appraoch, at least at post-secondary stage and for those who can not respond to formal info-pumping?
I believe that this is a key reason why we lack behind other economies at the creative level.
And why do we keep insisting on comparing statistics such as unemplyment so horribly out of context? unemplyment statistics go hand in hand with the level of female participation in the economy. Ours is among the lowest and hence our unemplyment rate must also be seen in this light.
when a budget speech lacks an honest performance analysis, the rest becomes, by and large, a navel gazing exercise.
The budget was even more irresponsible because the 80 million euro Valletta Piano project is going to give jobs to immigrants, working with building contractors and not how the PM said, to Maltese families. Every building project the government has now going, employs thousands of cheap labour from Africa.
The Nationalists just don't want to listen. I have concluded that Joseph Muscat is more Maltese, to deserve to be our prime minister.
This Budget which has not raised taxes, is not good, but under the circumstances, it is an excellent one!
Compare budgets of other countries, then make comments. Compare unemployment in Spain (example) which stands at almost 20% and compare to Malta's.
Your esteemed Leader has toyed with your minds regarding the electricity rates, but he has not told anyone how he proposes to lower the rates while the oil prices are going up! And you believe someone who consistently abdicates his responsibility as Leader of the Opposition and places his and his party's gain before the interest of the Nation!
He makes a statement and labels the Budget as 'irresponsible' when at the same time refused to answer any questions from the Press. What lack of responsibility, which only proves one thing - he has no answers - he has no vision - he has no solutions, just cheap talk and there are those like yourself who believe every word he says! Pity.
Same tactics as Alfred Sant's which belie Joseph's boasts of the 'new way of doing politics'. The only changes in the MLP under Joseph's stewardship is no more than dropping the 'M'!
in my opinion this was a good budget,
what a good idea to give tax credits related to employment of new staff. Helping businesses and creating jobs. 2 birds with one stone. spot on.
please dr muscat be coragious enough, admit and declare what is black is black, and what is white is white. this time considering the situation, tonio fenech did a fantastic job.
@ A Farrugia: We recently (1997) did have a budget that tried to fill the hole (remember the famous 'hofra'?) by cutting down on the stipends, cutting financial aid to local councils and introducing a 50c charge each time one goes to pick 'free' medicine. Now that was a very responsible budget, so much so that the same party was gone from government by the time the next budget was due.
This was a budget that continued to show the Maltese electorate that PN gives Malta 'Par Idejn Sodi' and that notwithstanding the economic turmoil all around us, we managed to keep check on unemployment, actually increased the number of people having a job and still
provide for a €5.20 increase as per COLA.
Can be described as a 'left-leaning' financial exercise.
It's about time we get some proper comment and decent criticism.
Investment in Education, job creation and Industry is quite encouraging
Let's sing along than!!!
"With a spoonful of sugar and the medicine goes down....the medicine goes down...the medicine goes down"
no comment other than that!
@ John Schembri
@ Dario Azzopard
@ M. Azzopardi
@ Mark Portelli
@ Joseph E Briffa
@ J Martinelli
@ Edric Micallef Figallo
@ jbusuttil
So you are saying this budget is good???
So you mean that you don't mind the electircity and water bills shooting even higher up? Or are you so dumb to be tricked by Minister Fenech since he hasn't mentioned them for now?
The key question for this budget was whether it set out a credible and rigorous path for restoring the public finances to health and to stop once and for all speculation on the price increase on the water and electricity tariiffs. In brief, the present administration failed to tackle the most important issues to the middle class and hard working families, namely the high cost of living, incentive to boost employment and corruption.
The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister are running out of ideas and out of steam. The Maltese citizens deserve something different.
General Workers Union - "welcomed incentives to Industry and full COLA"
Chamber of Commerce and Industry - "welcomed the provisions on micro-financing, assistance to SMEs and the increased investment in job training schemes"
MHRA - "Budget was positive with regard to investment in tourism and embellishment of Malta, particularly the investment in roads"
UHM - "a Budget of solidarity and economic stimulus which upheld stability, job creation, fiscal morality, inflation control, investment in education and health"
GRTU - "praised the government for the assistance being given to SMEs and the self-employed and also welcomed the investment being made in worker training"
JOSEPH MUSCAT - ." An irresponsible budget"
Who's to argue with the LP and Joseph Muscat?