Demonstration Outside Parliament Against Planning Reforms

Yesterday, activist group Moviment Graffitti, along with a number of organisations, led a press conference in front of Parliament calling for the immediate withdrawal of two controversial Bills put forward by the Government last week.

The proposed amendments to the Development Planning Act and the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal Act have sparked outrage among civil society groups, who argue the changes will seriously undermine Malta’s planning laws.

Moviment Graffitti accused the Government of presenting these Bills as long-promised reforms to the planning appeals system, while in reality they would strip away key legal safeguards.

The group warned that the amendments go far beyond appeals and would hand disproportionate power to the Planning Authority and the Minister for Planning.

Under the proposed changes, decisions could be made arbitrarily, policies could be changed without consultation, and illegal developments could be regularised with ease.

Local Plans would be rendered meaningless, and expired permits could be reactivated at will.

The public’s right to appeal would also be drastically reduced, with tighter deadlines and the risk of heavy fines, the groups argue.

The organisations present criticised the Government’s decision to publish the finalised Bills in mid-summer without any prior consultation with NGOs or the public. They also noted internal dissent within the Labour Party regarding the proposals.

Calling the situation a serious threat to the country’s future, Moviment Graffitti and others demanded the Bills be withdrawn immediately and replaced with a genuine, transparent consultation process beginning with a White Paper.

#MaltaDaily