Having grown accustomed over so many years to governments who set out to fulfil part of their electoral promises almost towards the very end of a legislature, the fact Budget 2014 takes on so many components of the PL electoral manifesto with a sense of urgency and immediacy is sufficiently indicative of its sense of drive, purpose, commitment and resilience.
Without much flowery language and without getting bogged down with too many financials, it shows this is a government that delivers.
A government that not only has a sense of vision and direction but, even more importantly, has what it takes to incentivise more people to work while creating a genuine feel-good factor within the country.
This will encourage all of us to continue stepping up our efforts in the knowledge that a fairer society is being built while at the same time ensuring that sustainability will run across the whole spectrum – from the pension system in particular to public finances in general.
It has a sense of urgency and a sense of priorities.
Rather than glossing over problem areas, it commits itself to addressing them. Instead of limiting itself to formulating strategies, it sets out to implement them.
From the feedback that I have had so far, even those who might disagree with us were impressed with the determination shown to get things moving fast and without any undue delay, particularly when comparing and contrasting Budget 2014 with first-year budgets of other Administrations.
For once, here is a Budget that lives up to all that the pre-Budget document had hinted at, promised and or implied. I have seen far too many Budgets ending up like a damp squib when compared with the high expectations raised in pre-Budget documents.
On the contrary, the prudence shown by Government in the run-up to Budget day proper has shown how short-sighted the Opposition really was when it predicted until almost the eleventh hour that this would be a Budget of doom and gloom.
Strong on the economy, it was equally strong in its sense of fairness, in its commitment towards greening the country, whether from the energy or the environment angle, as well as through its strong emphasis on boosting the social side.
It showed that its ultimate objective was not simply making people feel better, but rather that of improving one’s quality of life – right across the board.
It would be interesting to know which Budget measures would the Opposition have chosen to drop had it been in government.
While showing that it is a government that cares, on the other hand it showed a sense of fairness particularly that it will not accept any more tax evasion or benefit fraud.
The Budget shows that it has been drawn up by an administration that has been in touch with the people’s needs and aspirations all along.
We have ultimately shown that people’s priorities have become our own priorities.
The core issue that people need to ask themselves is whether, particularly as a result of the sharp reduction in utility rates, there will be more money in their pockets , at the end of the day.
For many years, governments have urged more women to join the country’s labour force. This time round they are being incentivised to do so, with all indications suggesting there should be an increased female participation in the coming months and years thanks to certain measures announced.
For many years, the business community has complained that the eco tax system was not working as it should, with some even advocating that it should be abolished completely for working so unfairly and for not being efficiently enforced.
This government has committed itself, as we had already promised the constituted bodies during consultations and formal discussions, to review and address it holistically.
I have never heard people talk of a first-year Budget almost as if it was an election budget. On the other hand. no serious-minded people have claimed that it will undermine our public finances or break any fiscal rules.
It would be interesting to know which Budget measures the Opposition would have chosen to drop had it been in government
People will surely bear in mind that this is a Budget that comes at a time when we are under an excessive deficit procedure and when the EU itself is demanding so much more from any member state when it comes to their annual Budgets, in terms of transparency, accountability and financial sustainability.
It is a Budget with structural budgetary goals in mind and medium-term objectives too, rather than mere short termism.
Its promise of a reform of the fiscal framework speaks for itself.
Contrary to what many had implied, the focus was not merely on mega projects but also on measures to support small and micro enterprises.
True to its word, the Government will not only not fuel more bureaucracy but actually step up its commitment to reduce it.
Part timers will be incentivised for once, while the unemployed are being given the right tools and measures to re-enter and find a place in the job market.
If all this does not have the making of a job-creating Budget, as implied by the Opposition Leader, than if anything it reflects poorly on his own sense of political judgement and negative way of doing politics.
At the end of the day, it is a Budget aimed at making work pay.
Leo Brincat is Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change.