ADPD-The Green Party qed jisħaq li l-Budget 2027 għandu jindirizza l-prijoritajiet li verament jagħmlu differenza fil-ħajja tan-nies: pagi diċenti, għoli tal-ħajja, servizzi pubbliċi b’saħħithom, enerġija nadifa, tassazzjoni ġusta u l-ħarsien tal-ambjent. L-ekonomija għandha taqdi liċ-ċittadini u ttejjeb il-kwalità tal-ħajja tagħhom, mhux titkejjel biss skont it-tkabbir tal-Prodott Gross Domestiku (PGD). Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci, spjegat il-punti prinċipali ta’ dokument li ppubblika l-partit illum. 

ADPD jinnota li d-dokument ta’ konsultazzjoni ta’ qabel il-Budget tal-Gvern jitkellem dwar ir-reżiljenza, is-sostenibbiltà u l-benesseri, iżda t-tkabbir ekonomiku jibqa’ fil-qalba tal-prijoritajiet tiegħu. Il-partit jemmen li wasal iż-żmien li l-benesseri, il-ġustizzja soċjali u l-limiti ekoloġiċi (jiġifieri s-sostenibilità) jsiru l-kriterji ewlenin li bihom titkejjel il-politika ekonomika.

Is-sussidji għandhom jgħinu lil min jeħtieġhom, mhux jippremjaw il-ħela. ADPD jirrikonoxxi l-importanza li l-familji u n-negozji jiġu protetti minn xokkijiet riżultat ta’ żidiet fil-prezzijiet tal-enerġija. Madankollu, sussidji ġenerali fuq il-fjuwils u l-konsum mhux dejjem huma ġusti. Parti mir-riżorsi għandha tmur lejn l-enerġija rinnovabbli, l-effiċjenza enerġetika, it-trasport pubbliku u s-sikurezza fit-toroq, biex titnaqqas id-dipendenza fuq sorsi importati u volatili. L-għażla mhux sussidju lil kulħadd jew sussidju lil ħadd. L-għajnuna fil-forma ta’ sussidju tista’ tkun iffukata direttament lejn min għandu bżonnha.

Il-Gvern għandu wkoll jaċċellera t-tranżizzjoni lejn enerġija nadifa, b’mira ta’ 50% enerġija rinnovabbli sal-2030, investiment fin-netwerk tal-elettriku u sistemi ta’ enerġija bbażati fil-komunità. L-għajnuna lill-industrija għandha tkun marbuta ma’ titjib fl-effiċjenza enerġetika u d-dekarbonizzazzjoni.

Il-ġustizzja soċjali teħtieġ bidla fit-tassazzjoni u fil-pagi. ADPD jipproponi li jitnaqqas il-piż tat-taxxa fuq ix-xogħol u l-pensjonijiet fejn xieraq, filwaqt li jiżdied il-kontribut ġust minn min għandu ġid akkumulat u dħul minn investiment spekulattiv. Il-paga minima għandha tinbidel f’paga li tippermetti għajxien dinjituż. Żidiet fil-benefiċċji waħedhom ma jsolvux il-problemi tal-għoli tal-ħajja, fosthom kirjiet għoljin, pagi baxxi u nuqqasijiet fis-servizzi pubbliċi.

Il-partit qed  jitlob ukoll bidla radikali fis-settur tat-turiżmu F’pajjiż li diġà qed iħoss il-pressjoni fuq ir-riżorsi lokali , aktar tkabbir turistiku mhuwiex awtomatikament aktar benesseri. Għand jitnaqqsu gradwalment id-dipendenza fuq it-turiżmu u s-sussidji li jħeġġu espansjoni bla limiti, filwaqt li d-dħul mit-taxxa turistika għandha tintuża għar-riġenerazzjoni tal-lokalitajiet milquta.

Fl-aħħar nett, l-edukazzjoni u s-saħħa għandhom jiġu ttrattati bħala drittijiet u valuri fihom infushom, mhux sempliċement bħala investimenti fil-produttività ekonomika. Il-Budget għandu jsaħħaħ il-prevenzjoni fil-kura tas-saħħa, l-inklużjoni fl-edukazzjoni u l-opportunitajiet għal kulħadd.

ADPD jenfasizza li l-Budget 2027 għandu jħares b’attenzjoni lejn il-ġenerazzjonijiet futuri. Ma nistgħux nibqgħu ngħabbuhom bil-piżijiet tal-lum. Il-kejl tas-suċċess mhuwiex kemm tikber l-ekonomija, iżda kemm in-nies jistgħu jgħixu ħajja dinjituża f’ambjent b’saħħtu u f’soċjetà aktar ġusta.

***

ADPD: Budget 2027 must put people’s well-being, social justice and environmental protection at the heart of economic policy

ADPD-The Green Party insists that Budget 2027 must address the priorities that genuinely improve people’s lives: decent wages, the cost of living, strong public services, clean energy, fair taxation and environmental protection. The economy should serve people and improve their quality of life, rather than being judged primarily by growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). ADPD Chairperson, Sandra Gauci, referred to a document explaining the party’s priorities which was published today.

ADPD notes that the Government’s Pre-Budget Consultation Document refers to resilience, sustainability and well-being, yet economic growth remains central to its priorities. The party believes it is time for well-being, social justice and ecological limits to become the main criteria by which economic policy is assessed.

Subsidies should support those who need help, not reward waste. ADPD recognises the importance of protecting households and businesses from energy price increases. However, blanket subsidies on fuels and consumption are not necessarily fair. Public resources should instead be directed towards renewable energy, energy efficiency, public transport and road safety, reducing Malta’s dependence on imported and volatile energy sources. It is never an issue of subsidising everything or nothing, but an issue of focusing subsidies on those who really and truly need them.

The Government must also accelerate the transition to clean energy, with a target of 50% renewable energy by 2030, investment in the electricity network and community-based energy systems. Support for industry should be tied to improvements in energy efficiency and decarbonisation.

Social justice requires fairer taxation and better wages. ADPD proposes reducing the tax burden on work and pensions where appropriate, while ensuring a fairer contribution from accumulated wealth and income derived from speculative investment. The minimum wage should become a living wage that allows people to live with dignity. Increases in benefits alone will not solve the cost of living which encompasses  high rents, low wages and shortcomings in public services.

The party is also calling for a radical change in the tourism sector. In a country already experiencing pressure on its resources, further tourism growth does not automatically translate into greater well-being. Malta must gradually reduce its dependence on tourism and reconsider subsidies that encourage unlimited expansion. Revenue from tourist taxation should be used to regenerate localities affected by tourism.

Education and healthcare must be treated as rights and values in their own right, not merely as investments intended to increase productivity. The Budget should strengthen preventive healthcare, inclusive education and opportunities for everyone to participate fully in society. Education should develop critical thinking, creativity and active citizenship, while healthcare policy should recognise the importance of prevention, a healthy environment and community-based services.

ADPD also stresses the need for policies that prioritise  the youth along with future generations. Environmental damage cannot simply be offset by economic growth or financial investment. Budget decisions must account for their long-term social and environmental costs, including the consequences of climate change.

The party’s Green Vision 2050 offers an alternative economic framework built around moving beyond growth, beyond market priorities, beyond individualism and beyond greed. This means measuring progress through quality of life, equality, the strength of communities and the health of our ecosystems.

ADPD calls on the Government to use Budget 2027 to make a clear shift in priorities. The real test of economic success is not how much the economy grows, but whether people can live dignified lives in a healthier environment and a fairer society.