The government's expenditure programmes in the next budget should be sustainable while aiming to improve environmental, social and economic targets, Alternattiva Demokratika said.

Chairman Michael Briguglio said:

"In a global context of economic crisis, AD believes in fiscal discipline, meaning that budgetary deficits and public debt should be manageable."

AD supported progressive income tax and believed ceilings for low-income earners should be raised, so that tax-free income for such these people is increased.

Property speculation should be taxed from third vacant property onwards, especially since Malta was a perpetual building site with a quarter of its properties being vacant.

This would also encourage the renting and selling of properties, which were kept vacant for speculation purposes and the use of existing buildings.

"AD is also reiterating that the minimum wage in Malta should increase and should be extended to part time and contractual workers as well as those who are being forced to register as self-employed by their employers.

"We are also proposing measures such as tax breaks, venture capital initiatives and soft-loans for the generation of green jobs in areas such as education, IT, transport, tourism, waste management and agriculture," he said.

AD general secretary Ralph Cassar said it was now more than clear that the public transport service agreement had been designed to keep subsidies as low as possible, with routes merged together and the minimum possible number of buses.

It was also clear that systems which were promised months ago, such as electronic route displays on buses and electronic route timetables on bus stops were not yet working.

"Lots of people are being left stranded in the rush hour, with timetables ignoring completely the surge in bus use early morning...

"A good public transport system needs to be adequately funded to guarantee a good service."

Mr Cassar said that a serious and extensive programme to utilise available roof space to generate clean energy should be embarked upon.

Sites for an onshore wind farm, or offshore in suitable locations, for which experimental data by experts already existed should be identified as soon as possible.

Additionally, given the downward trend in prices for solar water heaters, these should replace electrical water heaters in all buildings.

Spokesman for social policy Angele Deguara called for genuine efforts to address acute social problems such as the thousands of people living below the poverty line, the high labour market inactivity rates and the need to reach vulnerable groups more effectively.

AD's proposals can be read in the pdf link below.