Government is taxing the country dry – Muscat
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat this evening accused the government of taxing the country dry and said that the key to economic growth was actually fair taxation.
In the last part of a two-hour speech about the Budget, Dr Muscat listed 10 points which he said, would characterise a future Labour government.
He said that a future Labour government would base itself on meritocracy not mediocrity, as at present. This would be a governemnt based on a movement which went beyond the limits of a traditional political party.
A Labour government would build on what was good and would not bring in changes for the sake of change but would instead focus on the country’s real needs.
A Labour government would be honest with the people. The people would accept sacrifices when the country’s real situation was explained to them rather than being told one thing before the election, and something different afterwards.
This would be a governemnt which would put the country’s not the party’s interest first.
It would ensure that it was the well off who carried the heaviest burdens and now those with a small income. The people would understand the need for sacrifices when they could see that taxes were raised fairly and spent wisely.
Labour would be radically different from the current government with regard to economic growth. For Labour, the generation of wealth would come first. The government was taxing the country dry. But Labour believed that the key to economic growth lay in taxing less to earn more, by stimulating consumer confidence.
There was a limit to how much a governemnt could reduce its spending, but a Labour government would invest more in key areas of the economy that yielded growth, such as tourism.
And when spending needed to be reduced, that would be spelt out clearly and within seat deadlines, in contrast to the current Budget, which was very vague, saying that spending would be cut by 2% without saying where.
A future Labour government would destroy the tax of corruption, in all its levels, Dr Muscat said. It would also bring about a generational change in tax collection, shifting taxation from income to environmental issues. In this way, people who were enterprising and were successful because of their hard work would not end up being penalised by paying more tax.
In the EU, Dr Muscat said, it was time for Malta to stand up and be counted. Malta should insist on being given what it was promised, and it should no allow itself to be strait jacketed in the financial measures which it needed to take. After all, the big countries did what they wanted when they wanted.
In this context, Dr Muscat said, he was surprised at comments by Dr Gonzi backing the British position to cap the EU’s budget growth. Had he not realised the repercussions on a country such as Malta, which was said to be a beneficiary from the EU budget?
Labour, Dr Muscat said, was in favour of an extended maternity leave and the introduction of paternity leave. Having longer maternity leave would mean a higher participation rate of women in the employment sector. It would ultimately mean more taxpayers, and hence, more sustainable pensions.
Labour would also promote a discussion on the living wage to ensure that all workers had a salary which enabled them to have a proper standard of living. This, he said, would not be an imposition, but a discussion leading to consensus.
Earlier, in his remarks on the various ministries, Dr Muscat reiterated, when speaking on education, his view that Malta should have a second university which did not replicate the current one but offered a choice to students and academics in several areas . Furthermore, he said, the budget of the education ministry was lacking in support services to vulnerable services.
In the health sector, he said, the people would pay more and wait more for the cancer facility to be set up, when this should have been set up already. Furthermore, only €1 million for the new cancer unit were being allocated for next year.
There were still many question marks on the Rehabilitation Hospital, not least where and when it would be set up. The governemnt had also said it would buy St Philip’s Hospital, without saying what its use would be.
The government had lost credibility in its efforts to reduce the waiting lists. This year the government was to have spent €4 million more to cut waiting lists, but it only spent €206,000. The waiting list for cataract operations was supposed to have been eradicated by this year, yet 5,436 were still waiting for operations.
Furthermore, Dr Muscat said, the reform of the primary health sector had made a disappearing act in the Budget and it was clear that the ultimate aim of the government remained to introduce charges. Indeed, charges were being introduced by stealth because medicines were not available in government dispensaries, and, because of the waiting lists, people were opting for private surgeries.
Turning to the environment, Dr Muscat said air quality should be top of the agenda. This was a problem which was affecting all of the country and needed urgent attention. However, the black dust problem was a certificate of government incompetence.
Dr Muscat said it was not credible to introduce a tax on cement as a means to protect the environment. This was only a revenue raising measure which home-buyers would suffer.
The pollution pays principle was something laudable, but taxes in this sense should only replace other taxes, and not be used to raise revenue.
Dr Muscat asked when the wind farm studies would be completed and whether Malta would achieve the EU clean energy targets on time.
Another problem, Dr Muscat said, was how the water table was being rapidly depleted. A proper strategy was needed to cut waste, store rainwater and reuse water for agriculture. Malta could not continue to dump into the sea as much water as it produced from reverse osmosis.
Dr Muscat said much had been made of the Mepa reform, but the Budget speech made no mention of the new tariffs which consumers had to shoulder – house adjustment applications would increase by 400% and applications for garages had doubled, among others. The application to demolish a building would cost 17 times more. This was what the people were getting from the Mepa reform.
Near the end of his speech, Dr Muscat insisted that the government could make considerable savings by eliminating corruption and inefficiency.
For example, €4 million could have been saved on the BWSC contract commission, €40 million on the Fairmount ship conversion contracts, €23 million on the value of the land given away when Maltacom was privatised, €2.5 million on the breakwater bridge to nowhere, and the squandering of millions at Transport Malta and other agencies such as MITA, where a particular driver was paid as much as a lawyer, not to mention Arms Ltd and the VAT Department, where a performance bonus was also to be given to the persons under whose noses the VAT scandal had taken place.
Dr Muscat also mentioned other cases of excessive spending, including high salaries for Mepa officials and for consultant David Spiteri Gingell and thousands spent on the refurbishment of the offices of the Enemalta chairman and the Finance Minister’s secretariat.
In all, he said, without going into the line items, the governemnt could have saved €72 million.
It was that way, he insisted, that the government could get its money, not by austerity measures such as the water and electricity bills.
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A. Vassallo
Nov 3rd 2010, 22:43
@ gcForte
Wara d-diskors ta' nhar it-Tnejn ta' JC nahseb li ikun ahjar ghalik jekk tibki bikja sewwa.
Li l-`Income tax " tinzel min 35 % ghal 25 % hija weghda elettorali u mhux tal-bagit 2008, tghidx hmerijiet. Mhux ser nghalmek jien fuq il-politika izda veramnet tidher kemm tifhem fil-politika. Ghad fadal sentejn u nofs biex dik il-weghda tigi mwettqa.
Kellimna qabel l-elezzjoni tas-sena 2013. Il-Gvern tal-Prim Ministru Dr. Lawrence Gonzi ghad irid jghamel zewg bagits ohra sa dak iz-zmien.
A. Vassallo
Nov 3rd 2010, 15:48
@ M. Camilleri
Kieku gara bhal ma ried JC tal-PL kieku llum ghandna dizastru finanzjarju u nies ma jahdmux bir-rimi. Kien ikollna deficit darbtejn aktar min 2.8 ghal 9.6 tal-GDP.U nistaqsi jien ghaliex il-perit Charles Mangion hareg stqarrija biex jghid li l-figuri ta' Bondi+ huma hziena? Ghaliex dawk il-figuri ihammgu wicc il-PL u jwaqqghu dak kollu li qal JC nhar it-Tnejn.
A. Vassallo
Nov 3rd 2010, 15:32
@ gcForte
Nahseb li jaqbillek tiehu "brejk brejkun" u xi ftit twil ghaliex issa nhaseb li inti tbazwart biex tipprova tlahhaq u tirrispondi lil kull min jikteb kontra JC tal-PL fuq dan is-sit popolari.
Madanakollu, tidher li l-anqas taf li l-ezercizzju li jghamel il-gvern ta' kull sena imsejjah "bagit" huma propju u mhu xejn izjed hlief ezercizzju ta' tbassir ekonomiku ghas-sena li tkun ser tibda dalwaqt, dejjem skond kif jghidu l-inglizi "if all things being equal". Jekk matul is-sena 2011 jigri xi haga straordinarja bhal ma kellna l-krizi finanzjarja u ekonomika dinjija, hekk haga ohra. F'dak il-kaz, il-gvern ikollu b'xi mod jaggusta, izid jew inaqqas skond il-bzonn kif fil-fatt sar.
Il-"bagit" mghadux ezercizzju ta' kemm ser jorhsu l-bulubif, il-makkarell jew il-perzut. !!!!!!!! Dan huwa ezercizzju ferm aktar serjumin hekk.
gcForte
Nov 3rd 2010, 16:56
@ A.Vassallo..Kull tant ma inkunx naf jekk nidhaqx jew nibki, jien x`imkien semmejt li jien kontra il bugit ? Pero meta kien ikollna il bugit fejn jorhos il bulibif, konna inkunu nafu li ghal sena shiha ma kienx ser jghola il bulibif. Illum ghal liema bugit qeghdin nireferu ? ta kull sena ?, sitt xhur ?, tlett xhur ?, xahar ?, gimgha ?, KULLJUM ???. Jekk ghal principju naqbel mieghek; ghalhiex Dr, Gonzi ma zammx kelmtu u nizzel l`Income tax " min 35 % ghal 25 % bhal ma weghed fil bugit tat 2008.Tinshiex li il krizi ekonomika kienet ghada ma bdietc. Mela ma tafx li ghal dan il gvern kull gurnata li tghaddi ikun hemm xi haga straordinarja. Telf ta zmien fl MCESD, maratona ta aktar min satejn fil parlament, imbaghad tigi matulek ja sena u jibda iffaqqalek left right and center.Kull hadd jgholli kemm irid u kemm jghogbu, u ikollna nisimaw min Dr. E.F.A, u noghqodu nigru min hanut ghal l-iehor ha insibu l-irhas, bulibif u tonn taz zejt. Ibqa zgur li la il P.L.u aktar u aktar Joseph Muscat ma ghandhomx bzonn lili sabiex niddefendihom. Pero hadd ma hu ser jghallimni fuq il politika.
c falzon
Nov 3rd 2010, 14:04
@carina borg Issa naraw lil Dr Gonzi llejla jekk isemmix il 100,000,000 ewro interessi ghal 6 xhur fuq id dejn li ghamel .....success taht dal gvern eh!!!! Gonzi jesmmi proposti kieku imma ma jwettaq xejn min dak li jwieghed. Dahk fil wicc.
Carina Borg
Nov 3rd 2010, 12:47
Two and a half years since his election as party leader and not one single proposals on how to create more jobs and generate more investment
gcForte
Nov 3rd 2010, 13:51
@ Carina Borg..........Int qatt rajt lil dak li jghamel il " Magics " jurik ser jghamel min qabel. Fadal sentejn u nofs ohra ghal l-elezzjoni. u li kieku hemm xi hadd jazzarda ibbassar x`ser jigri f`dan iz zmien kollu........Nostradamus jinzel gharkuptejh quddiemu. Ma tahsibx li qeghedin nipretendu hafna ?.
L. Gatt
Nov 3rd 2010, 18:33
@gcForte.. m'hmmx ghalfejn tkun 'Nostradamus' biex JM jghid x jghamel issa, kieku kien fil gvern. qatt ma smajt proposta ohra minghandu.
Dik hazina ghax ****** . Kieku jien nghamel hekk ****** . Jekk jghamel hekk, u jkun qed jghid affarijiet li jghamlu sens nibda nghati kasu, il bqija....
gcForte
Nov 3rd 2010, 09:15
Part 2. @ A.Vassallo..........Issa fuq is somom. Jien nismahhom jghejdu li " KIEKU u KIEN qatt ma qaghdu flimkien ". Int semmejt KIEKU hames darbiet. Ghawn xi hadd fid dinja jew fl univers li ibbassar x`KIEN jigri KIEKU sar li ma sarx. Ghal figuri u is somom ma tanc jien tajjeb ghax sas sitt sena tal gvern ilhatt mort skola, pero la ghandna nies bhal ta Bondi + , mhux ahjar inhallu lilhom jivvintaw is somom sabiex jaqalaw lira ( jew ewro ). Ara int jew xi hadd bhal ta Bondi + tafux x`kien ser jigri fis sena 2011, meta fid dinja ghawn dan it taqlib kollu, u kollox qeghed jinbidel ma kull gurnata. Issa jien ser niehu " break " bhal ma ghedtli int, forsi niltaqa ma Nostradamus. He He
gcForte
Nov 3rd 2010, 09:15
Part 1 @ A.Vassallo.........Li tghejd li wicci qeghed ma jimpurtax, ghax meta iggib lil dak li ikun daharu mal hajt, ovvja ser jaqa fl-insulti. Ara jien elf oggettiv nista nghejdlek talli ikkwotajtni hazin. Ha nerga nikkwota x`ghedt jien fl-ahhar kumment ta Gorg Zammit. " Pero jien (gcForte) xorta MA NAQBILX ma J.M. Il mazzra tad dejn kbir li ghandna ma sarx f`dawn l-ahhar 4 snin, kemm ilu Dr. Gonzi. ILU JIKKOMULA min Dr. EFA mid 90`iet. Nixtieq nghalmek li xoghol l-oppozizzjoni specjalment fil bugit hija li tmur oppost, ghanke jekk il gvern jghati 20 ewro zieda fil pagi, l-oppozizzjoni tohrog tghejd kemm hu hali. Meta kien hemm gvernijiet laburisti, l-oppozizzjoni tal P.N. kienu jivvutaw kontra kull "social benefit " li dahhal il gvern .Mhux ghax ma kienux jaqblu, imma ghax dak huwa xoghol l-oppozizzjoni. Trid tghejd ukoll, li Jos. Muscat qal li jekk ikun P.M.jibqa immexxi fuq it tajjeb ta kull P.M. li kien hemm. dan iffisser li J.M. kien ragel bizzejjed li ammetta li gvernijiet Nazzjonalisti ghamlu tajjeb ukoll. Fuq din jien ukoll naqbel.
simon borg
Nov 2nd 2010, 20:14
I followed closely Dr Muscat's speech. we need to assess the message and not the messenger. is the country being taxed dry? YES, did the govt promise suprlus? YES, did Dr Gonzi fall back on promised projects? YES, are we paying more interest than we are investing in education? YES, are there clear signals of curruption in BWSC? YES, did govt expenditure increase out of proportion? YES, was AIRMALTA management flawed? YES. are electricity bills reducing our purchasing power? YES, were we better when we were worse? YES. is there a larger propensity to save rather than consume? YES (and given that our economy is based on consumption rather than industry this is the most worrying factor). employment? r we not living on the same piece of rock jew? there is a humongous mismatch of skills which is not being addressed otherwise we would not be biting our teeth to find nurses or skilled IT people just to give an example. we need to assess the current government at all times. How will Dr Muscat fare when PM is an argument to be tackled when we put him in power.
Gianni Xuereb
Nov 2nd 2010, 19:24
If you cut through the speeches, rhetoric, marketing and PR the events of the last few days lead one to conclude that: dejjem bil-politika tal-babaw tippruvaw tinqdew.
Fleur Borg
Nov 2nd 2010, 18:40
Two and a half years after he became Party Leader the best he could come up with was an emblem in the form of an ice cream cone
simon borg
Nov 2nd 2010, 20:49
what's in an emblem fleur? the US republicans havean elephant, the democrats have a donkey! and they tend to share the largest power in the world. it could have been a mosquito for what i know. trying to demonise a group of people is not on. i am certain Dr Gonzi and Dr Muscat have Malta and Gozo deep in their hearts. you can either agree or disagree. but do it in style. nevertheless, if you insist i maybe tend to agree with you on the ice cream but if you delve deeper into the meaning of the black background of the PN emblem then i would rather keep on licking.
Mike Magri
Nov 2nd 2010, 17:45
Dear Dr. Muscat.. Your WHOLE Reply speach to the GonziPN`s Budget, was so purely great and fantastic to say the least... But most of all, it was reflecting a down-to-earth, Young Political and Future NATIONAL Leader.. Dr. Gonzi looked so tired, disturbed, stunned and confused that he had no idea what was hitting him so hard...(politically, ofcourse..), at the time.....!!!! PROSIT DR. MUSCAT... Keep up the good work...
R Agius
Nov 2nd 2010, 17:32
If you cut through the speeches, rhetoric, marketing and PR the events of the last few days lead one to conclude that: . Malta has done very well CONSIDERING the economic mess the world is in . Jobs have been saved locally and our financial system is robust . We need to be careful not to extend ourselves because there are major problems beyond our shores We were also shocked to find that the PL's proposals would take the deficit up to almost 10%. I find it amazing that reading through all these comments there has been no one that has criticised the 400 Million blow out - and yet so many are commenting that Joseph Muscat's speech show him as a visionary and a great leader etc etc. This 10% deficit revelation is a shock and scares the living daylights out of me as it will mean the ruination of an economy that is finely balanced. I really wish we could be less partisan and act responsibly to call a spade a spade. The PL proposals are unachievable - you don't save 400million by cost cutting so where's the money coming from?
M. Camileri
Nov 2nd 2010, 18:08
You can't compare Malta to France or England! Since they are large countires, the economic crisis would be much harsher. We should compare ourselves to Cyprus which is a small island and which depends on tourism like us! It is politically unfair and incorrect by GonziPN to say we did much better than other bigger countries as stated above! Its an easy way for this gov to compare with England, Italy and France . . . but again . . . what about CYPRUS!????
A. Vassallo
Nov 2nd 2010, 16:32
@ gcForte
Ara trid tkun wiccek vera qieghed biex issa xi hadd "lejburist" bhalek u bhal J.M. ifahhar it-tmexxija fi' zmien il-Prim Ministru Ediie Fenech Adami fejn jirigwardjaw il finanzi. Mela insejtu ukoll kemm ghedtu kontra John Dalli u kemm maqdartu l-bagits li pprezenta hu.
Mela kieku afdajna dil-PL ta' JM fis-sena 2011 kieku kien ser ikollna deficit ta' 9.8 fil-mija tal-Prodott Domestiku Gross. U kieku afdajna fil-PL ta' JM fis-sena 2011, il-mizuri ta' JM kieku jiswew lill-butna u lil but tieghek gcforte €444 miljun. Ara kieku afdajna fil-PL ta' JM fis-nena 2011 kemm kienet twahhalna multi l-Unjoni Ewropea. Mitt miljun Ewro ghal tlett darbiet.
Give us a break gcForte!!!!!!!!!!!!!
M. Camilleri
Nov 2nd 2010, 17:29
La int tajjeb daqshekk fil-kalkoli tal-miljuni (jew qed tikkwota l-figuri ta' BONDIPLUS) imissek tkun tajjeb biżżejjed biex tinduna li dawk il-miljuni kollha li ffranka l-gvern minflok naqqas it-taxxi, ħariġhom kollha l-poplu Malti, inkluż jien u int sieħbi! LEJBURIST u mhux!
Gorg Zammit
Nov 2nd 2010, 14:28
Ghaziz Joseph,
Trid tkun vera ma tisthix biex tfahhar lil Eddie li meta kien Prim Ministru int kont taghmel artikli horox kontrih u anke artikli fejn attakkajtu personalment.
Int kont il-persuna li hdimt kemm flaht biex Malta ma tidholx fl-UE , kontra Eddie li hadem bis-shih biex nidhlu fl-UE
gcForte
Nov 2nd 2010, 15:03
@ Gorg Zammit........Ma nafx min fejn gibtha li Joseph Muscat fahhar lil Fenech Adami.... J.M. fahhar it tmexxija fiz zmien EFA fejn jirigwardjaw il finanzi li kienu taht John Dalli. Pero jien xorta ma naqbilx ma J.M. Il mazzra ta dejn kbir li ghandna ma sarx f`dawn l-ahhar 4 snin kemm ilu Dr.Gonzi. Ilu jikkomula min Dr. E.F.A.mid 90 jiet. Issa qeghdin intuh aktar importanza ghax bil bravura li ghamilna li thallna fil E.U. spiccat id deroga ta 7 snin, tawna sentejn ohra ghax il bambin habbna u inqalat il kwistjoni tal banek ta barra min Malta. Kieku min din is sena bdejna nigu ikkastigati mill l U.E. li tant tiftahhru biha. ( Fuq hekk biss naqbel ma l-U.E. ) ghax kieku il P.N. fil qamar tellawna bid dejn.
M. Camilleri
Nov 2nd 2010, 14:07
Jien għandi ammirazzjoni kbira lejn in-Nazzjonalisti għaliex biex tibqa' nazzjonalist b'dak kollu li qed jiġri fil-pajjiż: korruzzjoni, kontijiet, proġetti mhux f'lokhom . . . trid tkun veru kuraġġuż u ta' guts!
Prosit Joseph! Nemmen li l-maġġoranza tal-poplu tinsab warajk!
G Portelli
Nov 2nd 2010, 13:40
Do not forget that Joseph Muscat was wrong about EU membership, he was wrong about Euro adoption, his predecessor Alfred Sant was wrong about devaluation and Joseph Muscat is wrong about tax cuts at this point in time. In a few short minutes Bondi+ managed to destroy the myth that Joseph Muscat had spent 2 hours delivering. He is superficial and has no clue what to do when he becomes prime minister. His motley crew are worse.
Yesterday he was shown for the superficial amateur he really is. There was no substance and could not substantiate his proposals which were mainly hot air anyway.
We are living in an era where he claims the utility bills are an austerity measure yet most of us may much more on mobile calls or on TV subscriptions. Given that 91% of the tariff is made up of fuel cost pray tell me how he can bring down the price of electricity by more than 5% - how? According to many in here he is the future and the visionary - gaze into that crystal ball and explain how the bills will come down and by how much?
gcForte
Nov 2nd 2010, 14:28
@ G Portelli..............You and all the P.N. apologists are so afraid of Joseph Muscat, that you are trying to assassinate his character. This was always the P.N. strategy, like the Red Indians. If you will kill their chief they will retire. If we go back to the thirties, it happened to Strickland ( the founder of this paper ), they attacked ferociously Dom Mintoff, they tried to make a fool from K.M.B. and they had dis respect to Dr. Alfred Sant. Now next Dr. Joseph Muscat. The name of the game is ...Do not kill the massage, but kill the messenger. Il verita twegga hafna, ghax kieku tghoqodu kwieti. Mhux ahjar ghalikhom jekk huwa hazin ?
P Runz
Nov 2nd 2010, 14:55
I dont see a character assassination here - what I see is legitimate questions about how the PL will fund these proposals. Be positive and answer the questions - don't talk about scare tactics!
gcForte
Nov 2nd 2010, 17:05
@ P Runz... Quote from G Portelli`s comment ." Yesterday he shown for the superficial amateur he really is. There was no substance and could not substantiate his proposals which were mainly hot air anyway ". P Runz,....G Portelli did not argued the message ( what J.M, said ) but attacked the messenger ( J,M himself ) that is the difference. Everybody have the right of opinion, and one should respects others opinion, but it is a known secret what I have said in my comment, that the strategy of the P.N. always have been to assassinate the character.
Karina Borg
Nov 2nd 2010, 13:26
Jm as PM would weaken Malta's finances and scare off investment
Joe E Galea
Nov 2nd 2010, 14:01
Under GonziPN the economy is strenthened for example:
4million euros in commission on the BWSC contract
• Over 40million euros on the two Fairmount boats
• Salaries for MITA where the Chairman’s driver earns as much as a company lawyer.
• 280,000 euros in annual salary and perks between 5 managers at ARMS
Gonzi is very thrifty and a very good economist!!
A. Vassallo
Nov 2nd 2010, 13:19
@ Pat Hobson
One comment on his speech - Whatever he said was not substanciated by figures. During Bondi+ just after his speech, it transpired that if it were for JM, the measures he would have taken, Malta would have ended up with an astronomical deficit of 9.8% for 2011.
It would have been simply a TOTAL DISASTER if JM was Prime Minister. Beware of JM and his PL and their short-sighted vision for Malta.
Jonathan Mifsud
Nov 2nd 2010, 13:24
After 20 years with the PN on a spending spree Dr Gonzi is trying to sell us the virtue of thrift !
P Farrugia
Nov 2nd 2010, 13:14
Reminds me of that song - parole parole parole
A. Vassallo
Nov 2nd 2010, 12:26
The COLA issue should be once and for all understood well.
The COLA is the mathematical answer of a mechanism which has been with us for many many years. It is something agreed upon by all the Social Partners, that is, Government, the Employers and the Unions (INCLUDING THE GWU).
@ Toni Zarb tal-gwu
Ta xejn tippruva ixxerred il-biki tal-kukkudrilli fejn tidhol il-COLA biex taparsi m'ghandekx x'taqsam. Int taf tajjeb li ghandek persuna fuq il-bord li jara u jezamina l-prezzijiet. Jekk trid tista` tipproponi tibdil ta' kif tinhadem il-Cola u tmur bihom l-MCESD ghad-diskussjoni. S'issa dan inti ma ghamiltux.
james grech
Nov 2nd 2010, 12:24
I wonder whether Dr. Gonzi and his finance minister have looked at the poll which this news paper has running atm. For the question "Do you feel the Budget was good for the welfare of your family in the long term?" Out of a staggering 3277 (and the number is increasing), almost 70% are saying No and less then 20% are saying Yes. I think that these are some quite significant figures which unlike what some PN apologists are fervently stating below, goes to show that what Dr. Muscat said yesterday in his speech is significantly true and that people out there are really feeling the austerity measures (even if government is not labelling them in this manner for obvious reasons), which were introduced during the past couple of years and which will increase next year.
VV Bartolo
Nov 2nd 2010, 12:12
if you had to squeeze all comments written hereunder all you get is "die hard blues & die hard reds" ... with this mentally we'll never move forward. we need a change in the maltese mentality ... malta needs floaters! they're the only ones which can help us survive and improve the local situation!
Joseph Cauchi
Nov 2nd 2010, 12:07
Hearing Joseph Muscat’s budget speech yesterday, one would dare to ask “Where is the beef?”
JC.
Pat Hobson
Nov 2nd 2010, 11:56
@all PN commenters (elves!!!). You haven't criticized one iota of what Dr. Joseph Muscat stated in Parliament. You are shooting and ridiculing him personally. What you're doing is shooting yourselves and your party in the foot. Many know through first hand experience that what Mr. Muscat said is true. Only you blue-eyed and heavily-blinkered PN apologists won't admit the truth that is looking at you straight in the face. Of course character assassination has always been your forte!
R Gauci
Nov 2nd 2010, 13:21
That's because he did not say much of substance and what little he did was shot down in the costings exercise later in the evening.
Francis Caruana
Nov 2nd 2010, 11:51
Yesterday's speech from the Leader of the Opposition was such a breath of fresh air. Whether some people like it or not he showed character, determination, and a will to put malta in a better position. Coming from the engineering sector i must say that we lack loads where Research and Development is concerned. Latest Eurostat figures put Malta at the bottom of R&D return on investment. Most investment is financed from the govt with little or no private participation. The govt has increased the expenditure sharply and return is still miserable. Somewhere we are failing. Where's the money going? Again this is food for thought on how the govt is running not only the country but sectors which matter for long term stability of this country.
In my opinion a new era is needed in our country and yesterday's speech was not only a rhetoric of critical arguments but also an insight to try matters differently and looking at the people first without making disruptive decisions.
Stories like last week's couple which were forced to make an affidavid on how they voted to benefit from money which was their by right is very dangerous to democracy.
Christopher Farrugia
Nov 2nd 2010, 11:30
I must congratulate Dr Muscat for his fine speech. He is a fresh breeze in Malta's archiac establishment.
Goverment is turning on the people, taxing them even more...instead of leading by example, and hardly doing anything to open up avenues and encourage investment. These can only be counted on the fingers of one hand.
With such a scenario, high taxes and people finding it difficult to make ends meet, I wouldn't be surprised, if the number of suicides in a year's time will increase...
Karl Abela
Nov 2nd 2010, 10:43
FACT:
Joseph Muscat is a future prime minister.
Joseph Muscat has no clue about economics.
Joseph Muscat does not care that Malta's economy is rated as one of the best in Europe.
I thought that yesterday was supposed to be a budget speech when all he did was mainly speak about polluted air in Marsa, the building of the new theatre and the so called tax on corruption. They are issues that need to be tackled, fine, but they have got nothing to do with the budget.
J Zerafa
Nov 2nd 2010, 10:40
Allura jekk skond Muscat, Eddie kien ahjar minn Gonzi biex izomm il-finanzi tal-pajjiz fis-sod, allura ghalfejn meta Sant kien Prim Ministru kien jghid li sab hofra u Muscat kien jaqbel mieghu?!
J. Formosa
Nov 2nd 2010, 10:37
the superficial and pathetic speech of Muscat shows the big mistake labour has done by not choosing George Abela.
albert leone ganado
Nov 2nd 2010, 10:34
The content of the government budget speech has changed radically for the better in the last few years. It was time for change in the way the leader of the opposition replies to the budget speech. It makes no sense for the opposition leader to spend all his allocated time just criticizing the content of the Government budget without achieving any effective change in what has already been decided. Therefore that part of the budget speech reply where Joseph Muscat announced his ten principles to guide a future government in waiting was a positive development . Unfortunately in modern politics ideology has disappeared giving way to expediency and pragmatism. A principle based approach is therefore welcome for it gives an indication of the political objectives and route map which will guide future allocation of Government resources under a PL government. Of course the principles laid out are still rather general and abstract at the moment and need to be fleshed out and developed into future practical courses of political action. It is important not only for our country to generate more wealth but also to have equitable distribution of it and these principles point in the right political direction.
Pat Hobson
Nov 2nd 2010, 10:23
@PN apologists. Despite your orchestrated efforts to belittle and ridicule Joseph Muscat, you have only ridiculed yourselves. Not one comment on his speech. Not one valid criticism. Not one valid argument to overthrow all of Joseph Muscat's arguments. You're all musicians playing to the maestro's baton. Attack the messenger but not the message. Typical PN style.
Norman E Grech
Nov 2nd 2010, 10:22
Dr Joseph Muscat.... Fresh... Honest... Inspirational.... clear... and down to Earth!!! Malta is behind you.... Well done!!!
Mark Vella
Nov 2nd 2010, 10:20
Istra, ghadni kif qrajt id deskrizzjoni tal gvern ideali tieghi, wow, qatt m'emmint li il holma tieghi tista tkun realta.... Ghandi nemmen?
Muscat Pat
Nov 2nd 2010, 09:25
If Malta is going to continue with more of the same, without questioning anything done in the last 10 years , we are going to end stuck in doldrums, that is a period of stagnation and slump. Joseph Muscat has realised that if we are going to stick with the familiar and hope that this will work in the ever changing markets and global environment, we will be in for a shock. Luckily, Joseph Muscat is young and has recognised that unless we innovate and change, change will bypass us. The ten balanced points suggested by Joseph Muscat is a new beginning. The question being poised by Joseph Muscat is not whether the governmnet can pay its bills, but who pays what and when. Simply counting beans-as is being suggested by DR Gonzi-wan't solve our present and future problems; conventional measures of public debt show the legacy of past borrowings, what Joseph Muscat is suggesting is completely different; we need to think out of the box, we need to think ahead and become active seed planters and not simply bean counters.
Karl Consiglio
Nov 2nd 2010, 09:22
Only thing that's dry is a concrete alternative.
gcForte
Nov 2nd 2010, 09:16
Fl`opinjoni tieghi l-akbar zball li qeghdin nghamlu ghawn Malta huwa, li qeghdin inwahhlu fil problema finanzjarja li laqtet lid dinja f`dawn l-ahhar tlett snin. Il verita hija, li f`Malta ilna f`din is sitwazzjoni prekarja, min ftit snin wara li il gvern tal P.N. ha il gvern f`idejh. Ma ninsewx li meta il P.N. ha il gvern, (1986 ) sab kwazi BILJUN ewro fil " prosperity fund " li kien halla il M.L.P. Kif bdew is snin 90`jiet, wara li harbtu kollox, bdew iduru u ibieghu intraprizi tal poplu, fejn ghadhom jghamlu hekk sal lum. Id dejn rikibna wahda sew. Kif thallna fil U.E. (2004 ) hsibna li sibna l-Amerika bhal ma ghamel Kolombu. Tawna cans 7 snin sabiex nehilsu mid dejn. Issa bhal ma ghamlu dejjem, qeghdin iwahhlu fir recessjoni li laqtet lid dinja mentri l-fatti huma li qatt ma kienu kapaci iffaddlu ghal meta nigu bzonn, bhal ma kien jghamel il lejber. Il pajjizi Ewropej, l- Amerika, u pajjizi ohra hadu id daqqa ta harta bil kwistjoni tal banek. Ghawn Malta il banek kienu u ghadhom b`sahhithom biss sahha ta l-imghaxxijiet qawwija li qeghdin ihallsu il Maltin, fost ohrajn.
R Busuttil
Nov 2nd 2010, 13:02
Meta il-PN telgha fil-Gvern sab ma wiccu 6,000 impjegat gdid mal-Gvern. Ibazat fuq salarju ta €15,000 il-wiehed (u mhux qed inqis spejjes ohra), dawn qed jiswew il-pajjiz €90 miljun fis-sena! Fuq medda ta 25 sena dawn gew jiswew il-pajjiz izjed minn zewg biljun Ewro.
U dan minghajr ma kkonsidrajna kif zvinatna it-Tarzna.
Il-PN kellu ir-ruh socjali li ma jkecci lil hadd u hemmhekk ghamel l-akbar zbal - imma il-PN ma jilghabx ghal gallerija kif jaghmel Joseph Muscat.
Il-bierah d-diskors ta Joseph Muscat kien superficjali u l-aghar wiehed f'dawn l-ahhar snin. Kien qisu qed jindirizza mass meeting. Sustanza XEJN!
gcForte
Nov 2nd 2010, 13:51
@ R Busutill..........Nibda min ta l-ahhar, Jien nirrispetta l-opinjoni tieghek, jekk J.M. ma ghagbokx tibzax, ghallahares kullhadd jaqbel. Ara jien meta jitkellem Dr.Gonzi waqt li nirrispettah niddejjaq ghax naf li jitkellem ghal lasta, pero nisimaw xorta wahda. Ma nafx min fejn gibt il figura ta 6000 impjieg gdid. Sa fejn naf jien il P.N. dejjem il figura ta 800, kien jghejd, u hadiemhom ic cimiterju.Jekk int taf fejn haddiemhom, nitolbok tghejdli. Issa int ghedt li il paga tahhom kienet ta 15000.00 ewro, jew ekwivalenti ghal Lm 6500.00. Taf li dak iz zmien dik il paga kien jaqbadha manager go Lukanda....Taf li qeghed titkellem fuq Lm 124.00 fil gimgha. Ma tahsibx li int qeghed superficjali. Rigward it tarzna, huwa sigrit mgharuf li il P.N. qatt ma raw ghajn ghal haddiema tat tarzna. Min dejjem ridu jeqirduha. Ghamel tajjeb il gvern nazzjonalista jew ghamel hazin ? Min jaqbel u min ma jaqbilx. Pero hadd ma jista jichad li kienu in nazzjonalisti stess li qerdu lid dockyard ghal ta l-apposta. Ma ninsewx il kas jew ahjar il misteru tal Fairmount. Ghad irridu nisimaw bih il quddiem.
c falzon
Nov 2nd 2010, 08:15
Congratulations to Joseph Muscat.....a brilliant speech which shows how a serious government should be. Malta needs asap a LP in government.
G. Grech
Nov 2nd 2010, 07:47
Joseph's words really sound good. I can't wait to see him in governemt !!! I bet that will sound different :)
joseph mifsud
Nov 2nd 2010, 07:01
prosit dr.muscat ta diskors kbir li ghamilt p risposta tal budget.dan il pajjiz wiehed bhalek ghandu bzonn.keep it up joseph.
A.RAPA
Nov 2nd 2010, 00:37
I wonder why Joseph chose to compare our life in Malta with the life in Cyprus out of all countries. I travel there very often for business and even though their wages may be a little higher than ours, what Joseph did not dare mention is that everything in Cyprus is much more expensive than here. He didnt mention that if you had to go to eat out, you'd have to pay nearly double as much as what we pay. he did not mention that taxis are double as much expensive than in Malta. He did not mention that in a 3 day holiday, one would have to spend double as much as you spend in a 3 day holiday in Sicily. Anyway, we now take Joseph for granted but i would expect much better homework from a leader of the opposition.
james grech
Nov 2nd 2010, 12:13
Maybe the issues you are referring too are as you said, I take your word for it. However you might appreciate that holidaying in a country is usually one thing, and yet another living there. Have you for example considered the fact that maybe they have higher wages? Furthermore by mentioning these other issues, such as energy, tax and wages, was Dr. Muscat correct about those facts? I would be highly surprised if Dr.Muscat was trying to feed us lies. By what he said he shed more dark shadows over how Government is actually playing around with figures to show us a different picture.
David Gatt
Nov 1st 2010, 23:14
Title says it all!
Adrian Sciberras
Nov 1st 2010, 23:06
Every one knows that Dr. Muscat is the Right political man for our Country! we are counting the days to see him as PM!
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 1st 2010, 22:54
St Thomas Moore....utopia....dreams....but what else can one say?
J.Goodlip
Nov 1st 2010, 22:33
Typical Maltese Businessmen mentality. Take take take. In some aspects it was a sensible budget. The 100 euros per month for re-training is a good idea but the think that is hurting the maltese most, gas bills have not been tackled therefore everything positive regarding the budget was marred by not tackling that single and most hurtful issue. Nafuha l parabbola ta dawk li kellhom munita ta deheb. dak li kien hanzir u difinha baqa b lira wahda filwaqt li dawk li investuha spiccaw b mitt munita.
Norman e Grech
Nov 1st 2010, 22:13
.... And history repeats itself.... The PN has a history in not only excelling in drying up any reserves which previous labour administrations built up but also manages to reach all time records in deficits and public debt. And who is paying for this? the man in the street... especially the hard-working, heavily taxed middle class. The endless list of unkept promises, the Power station story, the continuous unscruplous spending of money and unchecked corruption are a few of the issues faced by the general public today. I don't know how Gonzi can save face.
In the 80's, when a wage freeze was put into force for 3 years, the PN had made a big issue out of it! I wonder what the PN call the Euro1.16 wage increase per week just annouced in the 2011 budget!!!
Joseph Muscat is so right... The PN have long been expired...
Jennifer Depasquale
Nov 1st 2010, 22:03
In the EU, "Malta should no allow itself to be strait jacketed in the financial measures".
Joseph Muscat disagrees with the EU monitoring member-states' budgets and deficits.
He wants to have no limits on what to spend on his bażużli.
Has anything changed in Labour?
If Muscat is elected PM, could the last man out of Malta turn off the lights?
J.Scicluna
Nov 2nd 2010, 22:15
WHAT lights, Jenifer?!?! Your GonziPN makes sure that it is OFF most of the times!
Get a life!
P Sammut
Nov 1st 2010, 22:01
Not one single mention about jobs! Unbelievable
George Debono
Nov 1st 2010, 22:01
This is one of the most pathetic speeches i have ever had the misfortune to hear. It reminds me of a little boy in school saying "iss hej" all the time. No substance or even a modicum of colour, or at the very least, a frisson of exitement that there may be something in Joe Muscat. Nothing. Maskra bahh. Thats all there is. Il-Gizwiti hlew hinhom ma dan ir-ragel. The only people who gave him hed were the Icelanders....and they have been truly freezed out of everything. Is this our future PM ? Sadly yes....because the Governmnet is only Gonzi's to lose. It's time the PN , its activists, and its rank and file woke up and started behaving like a true party in Government, not a caretaker in the wings.
Roberto Vella
Nov 1st 2010, 21:59
Even if there might be few items of policy on which one agrees with Muscat there can be little option but to agree 100% with him on this. The tax burden has been on a constant increase and little effort seems to be devoted to curbing government's unnecessary bureaucracy, inefficiencies and sensible cost cutting measures. The fact that Muscat appears to be conscious of this is but a feather in his cap
Gorg Pisani
Nov 1st 2010, 21:45
Dr Muscat is rght. The people cannot face more taxation, direct or indirect. People need more money in their pockets to help the country's economy.
Mark Galea
Nov 1st 2010, 21:45
Min jaf kieku x'taghmel int, Joseph Iceland Muscat !
J.Scicluna - Rabat
Nov 1st 2010, 21:29
WOW! No comments from GonziPN apologists?!
How droll...are are you so KEEN on paying Corruption Taxes that, "as long as it is done by the PN, its OK"?
Christian Ellul
Nov 1st 2010, 21:28
A future Labour government! ... ask the British for their opinion!! ... even saying such phrase scares me!
Mark Abela
Nov 1st 2010, 21:27
Corruption is probably the biggest challenge any Maltese PM will ever have to deal with. Dr Gonzi clearly failed to prove, over and over, that he is capable of putting our minds at rest that no one is squandering our money. Time to give Dr Muscat a chance!
Peter Brincat
Nov 1st 2010, 21:26
Joseph Muscat qed idahhalna fi sqaq. Xi zball ghamilna ma tellajniex lil Gorg Abela.
Phyllis Cilia
Nov 1st 2010, 21:24
ghallimna joseph please...bhal manwel cuschieri.
Karl Pace
Nov 1st 2010, 21:19
Joseph should pack and go. Now we are realize what a mistake it was to have left Joseph leading instead of George Abela.
Randolph De Battista
Nov 1st 2010, 21:15
Joseph Muscat is proving to be the better of the two leaders in Parliament! Today's speech, and his performance during the press conference, truly shows his different style of politics!
What can we say for Dr Gonzi's reaction?! Same old, same old!
joe farrrugia
Nov 1st 2010, 21:11
Joseph qal 'qatt ma kont laqi'. Int temmnu?
M. Mifsud
Nov 1st 2010, 21:10
Well Done Dr. Muscat ...
mark borg
Nov 1st 2010, 21:10
Il-veru joseph muscat...meta Eddie kien Prim Ministru kien imaqdru, issa jiddeciedi jfahhru.ma nistax nifhmu
Mark Cassar
Nov 1st 2010, 21:09
Autstin Gatt kien weghdna li meta jorhos iz-zejt, jorhsu l-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma.
Iz-zejt rahas u l-kontijiet ghadhom l-istess. Grazzi Gonzi!
allan schembri
Nov 1st 2010, 21:08
Despite all the rethoric, I am still waiting for the tax cuts. Life should have been much better under this government. Gonzi always speaks of waves, of the ugly scenario there is out there in the world. True, there are troubles worldwide. But not all countries are doing bad. Cyprus, our most comparable country, is doing much much better than we are. our disposable income is shrinking year on year, but the cost of our basic needs is spiralling every year. Its not fair.
John Farrugia
Nov 1st 2010, 21:08
Did you notice Dr Gonzi's face when Joseph Muscat was delivering his speech? He looked tired and worried!
Keep it up Joseph! That was a statesman speech!
E. Mifsud
Nov 1st 2010, 21:08
Dr. Muscat is the person who can really change this country.
simon dalli
Nov 1st 2010, 21:07
il-vizjoni ambizzjuza ta' joseph muscat li jsir prim ministru! Ivvota Labour biex Joseph ma jaghmilx f'qalbu!
Paul Muscat
Nov 1st 2010, 21:07
Will joseph muscat use a donkey to go at castille when he becomes a prim minister so he saves money to the country and be harmless to the environment?
Hazel Borg
Nov 1st 2010, 21:07
Mhux kulhadd tafx ghax hawn min isuq karozzi lussuzi; jibghat lit-tfal fi skejjel privati u ghal pool wiehed ghandu tnejn id-dar...hux veru Joseph?!
A Schembri
Nov 1st 2010, 21:06
Jien ma tantx jimpurtani minn politika partigjana. Ivvutajt kemm Labour kemm PN kif ukoll AD. Pero jien konvint li Joseph Muscat ghandu ragun. Qatt daqs illum ahna ma konna hazin daqshekk.
Dal-gvern gheja. Ghandna bzonn tmexxija gdida.
martin borg
Nov 1st 2010, 21:04
nitkellmu dwar il-living wage.....qas kien jaf jispjegha fuq bondiplus issa jridna niddiskutuha. l-ewwel irid ikun jaf xi jrid jaghmel, imbghad niddiskutu l-proposti. X'inhi l-living wage ta' joseph muscat. min se jhallas ghaliha?
Franco Agius
Nov 1st 2010, 21:02
Mur immagina x'kien jaghmel kieku kien Prim Ministru hu fl-eqqel ta ricessjoni internazzjonali! Kieku aghar minn Spanja ta Zapatero li hu tant jammira u li llum ghandha 20 fil-mija tal-popolazzjoni bla xoghol
Gina Caruana
Nov 1st 2010, 21:02
This is why the Labour is the MOP (Malta Opposition Party) - this is the good side of the history