Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544987
ALMOST midway into this im- portant electoral campaign, we are confident that the Labour Party's track record in govern- ment is self-evident. So many pledges have been im- plemented and so many promis- es kept since 2013. The achieve- ments of every ministry are testimony to a party in power determined to steadfastly align this country with the EU elite. Like my colleagues, I am proud of the past four years and our achievements in the disability and voluntary sectors. I honestly believe these two sectors have seen remarkable progress and innovation. It is motivating to know so many reforms, up- grades and new schemes have been introduced and they con- stitute a track record which we are determined to emulate going forward. The disability sector has seen a tsunami of reforms, primar- ily aimed at making life easier to persons with disabilities and their families, offering them new opportunities, an equal standing in society, independent living, financial support, and legislative moves to help eliminate dis- crimination and inequity. We have embarked on a suc- cessful, ongoing project to help persons with disabilities stay within their communities. The deinstitutionalisation reform remains constant as we in- vest more in centres and hubs around Malta and Gozo. This very month sees the opening of a new respite centre in Kirkop, where eight persons with disabilities will take up res- idence as part of Aġenzija Sap- port's Soċjetà Ġusta programme. Other milestone projects were completed: Għajnsielem with an investment of €800,000 in Dar Madonna ta' Pinu; Żurrieq where €850,000 were invested in Ġiżimina; Qawra where in agreement with Dar tal-Provi- denza we invested €350,000 in Dar Akwarell; Dingli, where a dilapidated structure was con- verted into a respite residence at the cost of €1 million; Rabat with an investment of €200,000 in Ċentru Ġirasol; Bormla with an investment of €620,000 in Dar Tereża for mothers with mental illness; Qrendi where we invested €1.4 million in Ħolqa, the first Aġenzija Sapport centre for transitory services to persons with disabilities; and Żejtun with an investment of €2.5 million in Fondazzjoni Nazareth's homes within various communities. Other initiatives are testimony to our commitment for the com- ing years. These include a €5 million, five-year investment in a Malta Trust Foundation artis- tic programme for persons with disabilities aged between 5 and 35 in Rabat. This programme features music, dance, and ex- pressive art. Another invest- ment was of €350,000 in Għajn- sielem's community centre and €550,000 for an inclusion hub at Rabat, Malta. The Ċentru Ħajja Indipendenti Sonia Tanti at Ħal Far was supported with an investment of €700,000, while Ġnien Zaylen and Ġnien il- Ward opened as sensory spaces. The gardens were a joint project between Aġenzija Sapport and Project Green. Other projects that were start- ed were the Hearing Care for All pilot project and swimming safety for autistic children. Oth- er initiatives include an increase in the carers' grant and the New Hope Guarantee for persons with disabilities and medical conditions to help them buy their own home. We also provided financial support to Thalidomide victims, and supported the Peppa Pig series in Maltese with subtitles and sign language. A huge €9.2 million investment covers two agreements with Dar il-Kaptan, and a three-year, €1.5 million agreement (a 131% increase) with Embrace Diversity Organ- isation to help enhance day-cen- tre services. The voluntary sector has also had its fair share of government support. Some €18.2 million were allo- cated between 2013 and 2026, while1,063 projects were fi- nanced between 2021 and 2026. Add to that €1.1 million in 52 projects a spart of the Com- munity Support Scheme, and €300,000 from the Storm Harry Fund covering 56 projects. 10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 MAY 2026 OPINION A track record to emulate PN finance spokesperson and election candidate Adrian Delia Building DURING this electoral cam- paign, and rightly so. Taxation affects every worker, every family, every pensioner, and every business. But these pro- posals are not simply about reducing taxes. They are about something much bigger— changing the direction of Mal- ta's economic model. For years, our economy has been driven by one dominant approach—rapid expansion through increased economic activity, population growth, and continuous consumption. This model has undoubted- ly produced strong headline growth figures. Government revenues increased, unemploy- ment remained low, and GDP expanded steadily. Yet, despite this growth, many people feel financially weaker, not stronger. Families continue struggling with rising living costs. Young people find homeownership increasingly difficult to achieve. Workers feel that salary increases are quickly swallowed by inflation and taxation. Quality of life pressures are becoming more visible across the country. This growing disconnect be- tween economic statistics and daily lived reality is precisely why the Nationalist Party be- lieves Malta needs a different economic approach. Our tax reform proposals are therefore not isolated electoral measures. They form part of a broader strategy aimed at mov- ing Malta towards a more sus- tainable, productive, and peo- ple-centred model of growth. The most immediate aspect of the Nationalist Party's pro- posals is the restructuring of Malta's income tax bands. Income tax bands reform One of the central proposals is increasing the threshold for the highest 35% tax rate from €60,000 to €80,000. This is an important reform because it addresses a growing problem affecting middle-income earn- ers and professionals. Today, many workers who improve their salaries through promotions, overtime, or pro- fessional advancement quickly find themselves pushed into higher tax brackets. The re- sult is that part of the benefit of career progression is imme- diately lost through increased taxation. The Nationalist Party believes workers should be rewarded for effort and ambition, not pe- nalised for progressing profes- sionally. By widening the tax bands, workers will retain a great- er portion of their income, strengthening take-home pay and improving financial resil- ience. Another major proposal in- volves families with children. Under the Nationalist Party's plan, parents with two children would not pay tax on the first €35,000 of income. This builds upon existing reforms but goes further by substantially in- creasing the non-taxable por- tion of family income. This proposal reflects the reality that families are under growing financial pressure. Families are carrying significant burdens while simultaneously forming the backbone of Malta's econ- omy and society. The Nation- Inclusion minister and PL election candidate Julia Farrugia