Rather than addressing the increase in traffic, the government has treated this sector as an additional source of revenue by increasing insurance costs, taxes, licences and excise duty on fuel, the Opposition said today.

Addressing a news conference, PN finance spokesman Tonio Fenech reiterated the criticism levelled yesterday by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil that the Budget lacked economic vision and was socially unjust.

"This budget was a four-hour exercise on how to hide taxe hikes from the public," Mr Fenech remarked.

He noted that no measures were announced for the manufacturing sector in the wake of a decline in exports, registered since the start of the year. Proposals made recently by the Chamber of Commerce were completely overlooked, Mr Fenech said.

He criticised the allocation for the Malta Tourism Authority saying that the marketing budget was not increased. 

As for the price of fuels he said that before the election the PL had pledged cheaper prices and not just stability for its own sake. 

He also criticsed the reintroduction of VAT registration for individuals earning less than €7,000 a year from their private business. This measure contradicts the government's pledge to reduce red tape as it will only help to discourage small businesses, he said.

Asked about any positive measures, Mr Fenech referred to the Jobs+ initiatives but noted that these proposals had been floated by the UHM and not the government. 

Regarding the emphasis to combat social benefit fraud, he expressed his hope that these would yield the desired results as the authorities in charge of enforcement had not been strengthened.

Mr Fenech also lamented that people were once again left in the dark on the timeframes of the new power station and the agreement with Shangai Power Electric.

Touching on public finances, he expressed concern that for the first time ever debt would reach 70 per cent of the gross domestic product.