Opposition presents motion for repeal of new Mepa tariffs

The opposition’s spokesman for planning and housing Roderick Galdes has filed a motion for the repeal of new Mepa tariffs for development applications. Mr Galdes is also a member of the authority’s board, nominated by the opposition.

The motion, which was announced by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat on Sunday, said the new tariffs were excessive and constituted a new “tax” introduced without consultation.

No mention of the new tariffs was made during the Mepa reform process.

The motion said that, while the country needed to be protected from over-development, these new tariffs were disproportionate and an exercise for the government to collect more revenue.

Ultimately, the burden of the new tariffs would be borne by ordinary families and workers, even those who needed to make alternations to their homes.

The motion therefore called on the House to revoke the new tariffs, and for the government to consult the stakeholders and to introduce economically-viable and socially-fair tariffs after due studies on their expected impact.