Abela lists some Budget measures as he outlines the government's priorities

Improving the quality of life is at the core of the Labour government's unprecedented fourth successive term, Prime Minister Robert Abela told parliament on Wednesday.

Speaking during the debate in reply to the President's address at the state opening of parliament, Abela said that these are turbulent times for the world, but the government will provide stability, consistency and direction while seeking new opportunities so that Malta can continue to grow.

In his address, Abela listed the government’s legislative priorities leading up to the October Budget. They are:

• Reform of the IVF law, building on previous reforms, to make this process more easily available for people to undergo genetic testing without needing to go abroad;
• Reform of the planning process so that construction work may not start until appeals are exhausted. The reform will include clear timeframes within which any appeals need to be decided;
• Legal protection for new parks and gardens so that they cannot be replaced by development;
• A law on personal autonomy giving legal protection to vulnerable adults. This will include constitutional amendments to protect people with disabilities.
• An overhaul of the law on non-government organisations, removing bureaucracy and easing reporting requirements, also ensuring there is a level playing field.
• Appointment of a National Commission for Human Rights and Equality, building on recently introduced civil rights. This will be a watchdog of civil rights, which, in effect, would also be a watchdog over the government.
• The Budget in October, which will be an investment in the people and business, bringing new prosperity for Malta while other countries focus on austerity.

Budget plans

This, Abela said, would be a Budget that would give incentives for young people to buy their property, with the government assisting them up to 25% of the property value. It will be a budget that will improve financial support to young parents, introduce a scheme where social security contributions may be transferred between spouses, support business start-ups by young people who can have a three-year tax holiday for up to €30,000, enable parents to transfer property to their children by donation, and recognise elderly people who are downsizing as first-time property buyers.

This government's activity, Abela said, will be focused on the electoral manifesto and its Vision 2050 strategy, which set out clear targets that the government is committed to achieving.

This, he said, was the first time that a political movement had gone before the people with a set of clear proposals and specific targets which can be measured by a wellbeing index, the ultimate aim being to improve the quality of life by 25% by the end of the legislature.

Those targets, Abela said, included improving Malta-Gozo connectivity by 25%, and reducing government debt to 40% of GDP from the current 46.4%.

These, he said, were extraordinary times characterised by major international challenges. "We are giving stability, certainty, and direction in an unstable world, which is what the people demanded of us."

Malta, he said, was the envy of other countries as its economy continued to grow by a consistent 4%. But there were forks in the road ahead.

“We must embrace AI but also be careful it does not cost people their jobs…We also need to make the climate transition in a way which strengthens us, when the risk exists that it could destroy us. It all depends on our approach. We will not opt for punitive actions, but incentives to make the best of the opportunities which digital and climate change can give us. They should not be burdens, but opportunities,” Abela said.

“This government has the experience and competence to pick the right roads, which will determine the future of the people. We have to get this right, there are no second chances. Only in this way can the government give the people “success, success, and more success,” Abela concluded.