Despite a last-minute shift in government stance earlier this morning, ADPD-The Green Party joined, the Ramblers Association and Moviment Graffitti among other environmental NGOs outside Parliament this evening in protest against controversial planning reforms proposed in Bills 143 and 144. The protestors warned that the reforms threaten democratic oversight, sideline citizens, and favour developers over public and environmental interests.
President of the Ramblers Association, Ingram Bondin, thanked the protesters for sowing up in strong numbers despite the short notice of the protest. The President of the Ramblers Association, who already described the reforms as the most corrupt in history, has stressed that the reforms are intended to allow the government to steamroll over all environmental regulations and disarm environmental protections. Ingram Bondin also pointed out that the reforms intend to deter ordinary citizens from appealing planning decisions with fines of up to €5,000 on the appellant if the appeal is lost.
Moviment Graffitti spokesperson Andre Callus said that with these reforms, the Planning Authority will have the discretion to disregard the Local Plans and this will allow rampant construction. He compared the Planning Authority as a powerful institution which can steamroll over citizens’ rights without opposition.
ADPD Deputy Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo slammed the proposed laws as a “dangerous rollback” of safeguards, warning they would further entrench political and commercial control over Malta’s planning system. He pointed to clauses allowing the Minister to reinstate expired development permits- potentially overturning court decisions – as a clear case of “authoritarian override.”
Earlier in the day, Planning Minister Clint Camilleri struck a different tone during a press briefing in Gozo. He announced that government is no longer rushing the reforms through Parliament and that debate should take “as long as needed.” This marked a stark contrast from his July 8 comments that the bills would be tabled and debated before the summer recess. It also followed a failed government attempt in recent days to fast-track the debate – an approach the Opposition rejected.
The Nationalist Party said the delay shows the government has bowed to public pressure and called for the next step to be a full, inclusive consultation. It insisted reforms must not be discussed solely with developers and architects, as Minister Camilleri admitted had already begun, but also with environmental NGOs, local councils, and the wider public.
Criticism intensified after Planning Authority CEO Johann Buttigieg claimed no consultation was needed to “avoid speculation” – a statement widely condemned by activists. Protestors and political figures alike argue that meaningful consultation is essential in a democracy, especially when the proposed changes could significantly weaken environmental protections and limit citizen rights in planning and appeals processes.
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