South Australia has announced a conservative 2025-26 budget and the state will retain its AA+ credit rating.
The SA police will have new guns, new motorbikes and millions will be spent on boosting the number of SAPOL officers to 5000 to curb rate of crime.
About $395.1 million of the state’s budget will go to SAPOL, the state’s prisons and court systems.
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Good news also for families, as a 28-day metro card will from July 1 cost $10 for school kids, which is equivalent to 25c a trip.
But the biggest winner is Whyalla Steel project, which will receive $2 billion to bolster the production of steel at the rail manufacturer.
$172 million over six years (including $69.8 million to 2028-29) will be spent on recruiting an additional 208 police officers. Credit: 7NEWS The SA Labor-led government said that there would be no new taxes or tax increases in the 2025-26 budget.
WINNERS
Police
The government will spend $172 million over six years (including $69.8 million to 2028-29) to recruit an additional 208 sworn police officers by 2028-29.
A further $29.6 million will be provided over three years for the expansion of the successful Police Security Officer (PSO) model into regional areas, with an additional 98 PSOs.
When combined with the $9.7 million workforce civilianisation model, these two initiatives will enable more sworn officers to return to frontline duties.
SA Police will accelerate recruitment drives over the next three years with $12 million for more campaigns and academy courses.
The budget includes provisions for future SA Police infrastructure requirements including property storage, business unit accommodation and station facilities.
Additional new police related commitments include:
$31.1 million over four years to improve essential infrastructure to ensure police have the facilities and equipment they need $17.8 million over four years to double the police motorcycle capacity with an additional 33 sworn police officers $6.8 million over four years to replace the pistols used by SA Police $5.9 million over three years to support sustainment and security work at the State Communications Centre building $2 million over two years for the implementation of child sex offender registration reform. South Australia will keep its AA+ credit rating. Credit: 7NEWS Prisons
South Australia’s prisons will have greater capacity, with $72.4 million to be spent over five years to increase capacity by 116 beds across various prison facilities.
This brings the total prison capacity expansion across the last two budgets to 468 new beds.
An additional $1.4 million has been allocated over two years to set up and operate an additional 19 transition beds at Mount Gambier prison.
$6.8 million over four years to improve security at prisons – new security screening scanners and improved barriers will reduce contraband entering the prisons and improve the safety of staff, prisoners and the broader community.
Courts
Critical upgrades are required on essential courts infrastructure, with $20 million provided over the next four years.
The significant investments will include:
$9.4 million over four years to increase support for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions $5.5 million over four years for Forensic Science SA $4.8 million over four years for additional sheriff officers $4.4 million over five years for the Crown Solicitor’s Office Parents with school kids
$96 million will be spent to continue the $200 per student government school material and services charge reduction for the next four years.
$20.7 million over four years to reduce the metroCARD student 28-day pass to just $10 per month, a saving of $18.60.
This means a student catching the bus or train to and from school each day will pay just 25 cents a trip and will save families up to $242 per year, per child.
Families are set to save hundreds a year on transport cost. Credit: 7NEWS Whyalla Steel works
$1.9 billion will be invested in the steelworks’ future;
$384 million will be spent on the steelworks operations during administration;
$99 million will provide immediate on-the-ground support for the Whyalla community.
Drought affected farmers
$55 million will be spent on supporting drought affected farmers for the next five years.
Housing
The government will spend $552.4 million on the construction of around 2935 new homes.
The budget includes critical funding for the capital works at state government housing projects:
$270 million for Playford Alive East to create more than 1300 new allotments $104.7 million for Southwark Grounds for up to 1300 new dwellings $30.5 million for Onkaparinga Heights to provide at least 2000 residential housing lots. Cancer Network/Mount Barker Hospital and Aged Care/Mental Health.
$1.9 billion over five years to support increased activity in hospitals and the health system.
The funding includes new investment of about $117 million over five years to support mental health services.
The River Murray
$71.1 million will be spent over three years on River Murray constraints measures;
$20.9 million over three years will go to councils to reduce the reliance on River Murray water.
Health spending will be aimed at aged care and mental health care to free up beds in SA hospitals. Credit: 7NEWS LOSERS
Emergency wards and Ambulance ramping
Aside from the more than $500 million blowout of the health budget, there were no changes to help ambulance, or fix wait times in emergency wards.
There will be a big spend on aged care and mental health clinics to free up hospital beds.
New schools
Only one new school has been earmarked for Adelaide’s north, with many new schools currently being built.
A new $70 million birth-to-Year 6 school will be built in Adelaide’s north.