State Budget 2025: What we know so far
The Malinauskas government has revealed some key investments ahead of its fourth State Budget on Thursday. Here’s a snapshot of what we know so far.
Affordable housing
An unspecified amount will go towards the new “Rent-To-Buy Affordable Housing Initiative” scheme, which the government says will create a pathway for eligible long-term renters to buy one of 100 homes currently under construction by the South Australian Housing Trust.
Under the scheme, homes would be rented out to eligible renters for up to three years at 75 per cent of market rent.
At the end of the rental period, tenants will have the first right to purchase the home, with the price fixed at the time they move in.
Eligible renters are those who have been renting for a minimum of 24 months, are residents of South Australia, do not currently own a property and meet HomeSeeker SA eligibility requirements.
Arts
More than $80 million will be spent over 10 years on the state government’s new cultural policy, “A Place to Create”.
A spokesperson for Arts Minister Andrea Michaels said that only $13 of the $80 million represents “new money” to be allocated in Thursday’s state budget. The remainder of the $80 million encompasses previously announced projects and initiatives.
The policy includes:
- $15 million for the Art Gallery of South Australia to deliver “world-class programs”, including a new “Winter Art” series.
- $3 million to build the international profile of South Australia’s arts, culture and creative industries.
- $2.5 million for Adelaide Youth Orchestras, Carclew and an “interactive new language-rich experience for young children” at the State Library of South Australia.
- $1 million to boost philanthropic opportunities and attract private investment, including dollar-for-dollar matched fundraising programs for cultural organisations such as the Adelaide Festival.
- $1 million to increase grant programs to support arts organisations and to support South Australian artists creating original works.
- $2.3 million for First Nations arts and culture in South Australia.
- $500,000 for arts and culture in the regions, including through programs delivered by Country Arts SA.
Business Events Adelaide
More than $10 million will be injected into Business Events Adelaide, with the aim of increasing visitation and tourism to South Australia.
Business Events Adelaide said it “is the peak independent body for South Australia’s business events” with its goal “to win business events for SA and provide guidance to event organisers”.
Child safety
$2 million will go towards hiring six new staff members for the Child Abuse Report Line in response to an increasing number of calls to the hotline.
The additional staff will assist mandatory notifiers such as teachers, doctors and emergency services personnel to report child safety concerns.
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Consumer watchdog
$10 million will be invested to hire an additional 16 full-time staff at Consumer and Business Services over the next four years.
Twelve of the new roles will be within enforcement and compliance, which is fighting against illicit tobacco and vapes.
The extra funding will also provide for additional resources in births, deaths and marriages and regulatory services.
COP31
$8.3 million will be invested to begin preparations for Adelaide to host the COP31 climate change conference in November 2026, including planning for security, transport and infrastructure.
Adelaide would need to beat out Türkiye to host the conference, which the government says would deliver a potential benefit of $511.6 million to the South Australian economy.
Emergency services
An extra $21 million will be invested in emergency services.
This includes:
- $5.9 million over four years to improve training for Country Fire Service volunteers responding the structure fires.
- $2.8 million will be spent over four years to improve bushfire risk mapping based on automated modelling for likely bushfire impacts.
- $2 million over four years for the ongoing replacement of drones used by State Emergency Services to provide reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and hazard assessment at incidents.
- $859,000 over three years for development assessment activity associated with state-wide bushfire hazard overlay code amendments.
- $687,000 over three years to continue supporting Volunteer Marine Rescue associations.
- $250,000 towards the replacement of Surf Life Saving South Australia’s Lifesaver 3 jet rescue boat.
- An unspecified amount to support the ongoing replacement of emergency service vehicles, equipment and facilities.
The Emergency Services Levy will also increase from $157.85 to $164.55 a year for residential properties in the Adelaide metropolitan area, while regional properties will see their levy increase from $95.75 to $99 a year.
Local exporters
$5 million will be allocated to support key sectors in responding to “continuing challenges in the global trading environment”.
This includes $2.5 per annum towards programs to support industry to diversify and connect with importers in new or growing markets across the world.
The programs will focus on market intelligence, targeted business missions and supporting importer visits to South Australia.
Mental health
$13.9 million will be spent over five years to continue and expand the Mental Health Co-Responder Program across metropolitan Adelaide.
The co-responder program means that a health clinician and a police officer are sent out together to respond to Triple Zero call-outs relating to mental health.
The additional funding will allow the program to be extended to the southern suburbs from October.
New primary school and preschool
$70 million will be spent on building a new primary school and preschool in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, as well as upgrading infrastructure at schools across South Australia.
The new school will have an enrolment capacity for 400 students from Reception to Year 6, while the preschool will accommodate up to 60 children.
$40 million will be spent on upgrades at public schools across the state, including replacing old heating and air conditioning units.
Preschool loans
The budget includes a $171 million expansion of the non-government School Loans Scheme to increase eligibility for preschool infrastructure projects.
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The loan scheme, which is open until July 31, will prioritise infrastructure projects that increase enrolment capacity in high-demand areas, support retaining students, and refurbish existing facilities.
All non-government schools and not-for-profit early childhood and care providers are eligible to apply for the low-interest loans of between $500,000 and $10 million.
Prison security
$6.8 million will be spent over four years to improve security at prisons across the state.
At Adelaide Women’s Prison, new barriers will be installed on the perimeter fence to prevent contraband from being thrown over to prisoners.
This also includes the roll-out of high-tech security scanners and the installation of cameras with built-in artificial intelligence.
SAPOL
$17.8 million will be invested to double the number of motorcycle officers in the South Australian Police, enabling an additional 33 sworn police officers to undertake motorcycle policing duties.
The new motorcycle officers will be deployed across the state to enforce road safety measures.
South Australian defence businesses
$3.3 million will be spent over two years to support South Australian businesses to enter global supply chains for nuclear-powered submarines.
The “Defence Supplier Uplift Program” will provide financial and technical support to local suppliers and help them meet the “stringent requirements” needed to enter the United States and United Kingdom naval shipbuilding supply chains.
The Embrace Collective
$1.5 million will be spent over four years to support the Embrace Collective to roll out its programs in schools, health precincts and sporting settings.
The programs will focus on teaching young people to build a positive body image, to develop resilience, and to reduce the risk of mental health issues and eating disorders.
The Embrace Collective is a non-profit founded by Taryn Brumfitt and Dr Zali Yager to support parents, educators and sports coaches to help young people “build better body image”.
Transport safety
$9.6 million over four years will be invested in transport safety, including a new security taskforce to combat antisocial and violent behaviour on the Adelaide Metro network.
The Transit Compliance Team will see 19 dedicated officers recruited and deployed across the public transport network.
Meanwhile, $1.5 million will be spent on installing new artificial intelligence cameras at key interchanges and stations.
Wildlife conservation
$7.6 million to care for injured native animals and to support wildlife conservation.
The funding allocation includes $1.4 million over four years to support the Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre.
A further $6.2 million will go towards the volunteer wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sector, including a new grants program to allow carers to access veterinary services.
24-hour pharmacies
$2.2 million towards 24-hour pharmacies, including the state’s fourth pharmacy in Hallett Cove Pavilion Shopping Centre on Lonsdale Road.
The funding will also allow pharmacies to expand the medical conditions pharmacists can treat.
Pharmacists who have completed additional post-graduate education will be able to assess, manage and treat skin conditions, ear infections, wound management, nausea and vomiting, reflux, musculoskeletal pain and rhinitis.
InDaily will be at the Budget lockup and will publish a special edition on Thursday afternoon.
