PN economic vision proposes tax incentive for greener businesses

The Nationalist Party has presented a 55-page-long working document, on which the Opposition will aim its political manifesto for the next general election.

Shadow Minister for the Economy, Claudio Grech, said the document - “An Economy for the People” - was not a finite operating plan, but as a basis for concrete policies.

The document touches on a vast number of sectors, ranging from economy and infrastructure, transport and Gozo, with 20 priorities and 145 recommendations or policy drivers for the Opposition if elected to power. “This document will focus on the role of the people within our economy,” Grech said. “We want an economy that serves the people and not the other way round.”

In an opening statement, PN leader Simon Busuttil said he was "not attracted by an economy which is intended to transform the country into a playground for the rich but one in which knowledge and innovation is given equal or even more importance to personal wealth."

In an informal briefing ahead of a press conference, Claudio Grech said that the document would be taken to the public for feedback. A final plan will be laid out at a later stage, closer to the election date.

Every month, the Nationalist Party will be giving more details of each of the 20 priorities presented in the document. 

One of the measures presented in the document relates to a tax incentive on businesses' carbon footprints, which will be used to determine "the intensity of the fiscal benefit to be granted" to on the environment of businesses. It proposes a new taxation for businesses, based on the gross value added, built-up space and number of employees.

It also mentions the promotion of policies to support new projects adopting low-carbon technologies.

One of the top priorities also sets out the plan to develop an underground master plan. It aims to define the planning parameters of underground infrastructure and basement spaces.

The PN is proposing a 10-year infrastructural plan, which is to be agreed by the two parties in Parliament. 

A major initiative also mentions the designation of path-finding localities to enter into strategic alliances with industries. This will help in the integration and funding of local and specific urban technology application programs so as to be able to showcase pilot projects for the next generations. It also mentions the integration of intelligent transport systems.

‘Busuttil censuring the media’ – Labour

In a reaction, the Labour Party accused Busuttil of “censuring the media”, accusing him of selectively choosing which media houses to invite to a press briefing on the PN’s proposals a few hours prior to the press conference.

“Moreover, he didn’t take any questions during the press conference,” the PL said in a statement.

It added that it has requested the Institute of Maltese Journalists to issue a reaction on whether they deemed Busuttil’s behaviour to be acceptable or not.

‘Several PN proposals already introduced’ – government

In a separate statement, the government said that several of the Opposition’s proposals have already been introduced – such as establishing a development bank, getting Malta to host high-profile meetings, setting up infrastructural PPPs and providing employment incentives.

“Also, while the document says that Gozo should be a main priority, it doesn’t propose a single tangible measure to address the island’s needs.”