Government opens its eyes on empty properties, continues in its slumber on traffic and pollution

Alternattiva Demokratika said it was satisfied that finally government has opened its eyes on the need to tackle head on the problem of empty properties and introduce measures for these properties to be put on the market.

AD agrees that it is the state that must guarantee adequate social housing for those who really need it. We insist that social housing should be provided together with focused services to people who need help putting their lives and that of their families on a sound footing.

The country’s financial surplus shows that there is a willingness to balance public revenue and expenditure after many years of neglect. But we cannot but ask about the contribution to this surplus of tax paid by so-called letterbox companies. The strengthening of laws against tax evasion in other countries, whatever the Maltese government wants and thinks, will certainly affect such income in the near future. This is income derived from the evasion of taxes in other countries. These countries are already working to tackle this issue. The budget speech ignore this fact.

While the agreement on the minimum wage is positive, substantial improvements to make the minimum wage a decent wage are needed. The reality remains that persons earning the minimum wage working still live at risk of poverty.

The government is afraid of being decisive. Its policies, a continuation of the previous government’s policy, will further increase air pollution and respiratory diseases. AD emphasises serious and immediate policy initiatives to incentivise cleaner modes of transport, priority to public transport on our roads and infrastructure and facilities for safe commuting by bicycles and pedelecs. The incentives for bicycles and electric bicycles are important and a leap forward, but we insist that “bicycle highways” along bypasses and road safety are essential to make people feel more comfortable using roads for commuting by bicycle and pedelecs. These policies are not only more effective and environmentally friendly but deliver value for money for the expenditure incurred. Studies on obvious things, such as school transport, is a waste of time. It is time for decisions.