Opposition puts forward stakeholders’ amendments to the planning appeals law

The PN will vote in favour of the law but insists that much more remains to be done in the planning sector; Opposition to present amendments at Committee stage

The Opposition will enter the Committee stage with a set of amendments arising from its public consultation with stakeholders, once the Second Reading of the new planning appeals law concludes next week. The amendments will close the remaining loopholes in the law and ensure that it works in practice.

For years, the Partit Nazzjonalista has called for works to stop while an appeal is pending, and will naturally vote in favour of this law. However, it must be said that this reform has taken far too long to materialise.

In 2023, the Prime Minister promised that works would be suspended during appeals. That same year, he launched a public consultation, but matters went no further. Then, in the middle of summer 2025, the Government tabled the notorious Bills 143 and 144 without any public consultation. Those bills went far beyond appeals and would have made it more difficult for citizens to challenge permits, alongside other controversial provisions. Environmental organisations, residents, students, professionals and the Opposition spoke out against them, thousands marched through Valletta, and the Government was forced to back down. Those bills never became law.

Despite this, during the debate on this planning appeals law, the Minister for Planning described it as a “courageous reform”. Unfortunately, it is nothing more than a drop in the ocean — the bare minimum the Government could do, because it lacks the courage to undertake real planning reform. The planning system needs much more than this.

Furthermore, yesterday the Prime Minister said that consultation is solely the Government’s job. The Partit Nazzjonalista strongly disagrees with the Prime Minister. This summer, departing from its frequent practice of steamrolling over everyone, the Government held a public consultation on the appeals law.

However, it never published the outcome of that consultation, and the legislation it tabled in Parliament was practically identical to the draft issued for consultation. This shows that the “consultation” was merely a cosmetic exercise carried out under pressure, after which the Government ignored the feedback it received. Consulting people and then ignoring what they tell you does not mean you are listening.

The Opposition knows its duty. It held its own public consultation and spoke to environmental organisations, professionals in the sector, developers, residents and people who had themselves been through the appeals system. Most agreed with the principle, but also identified areas where the law needs improvement. That is why the Opposition will be presenting its amendments.

The amendments that will be put forward at Committee Stage are based precisely on this consultation. This is how Parliament should work — including the Government.

The Partit Nazzjonalista takes its work seriously, and this means speaking to all stakeholders involved and acting on what it hears.

The Government, by contrast, has failed to do so. But this is not the first time.

Rebekah Borg
Shadow Minister for Planning

22.10.2026