The South Australian State Budget for 2021-22 has been released today. Although $20 million has been pumped into startups, the main focus of the budget is on health and housing instead of extending the $250 household power bill rebate for the 420,000 SA households. The Treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis, has prioritized the needs of those most in need in the community, but they have also included the $172 million already committed to power bill relief in this year’s budget.
The 2021-22 budget has announced a comprehensive housing package, which broadens the state’s housing plan, and a range of ways have been created to provide support for the community. The South Australians will see power bills rise by an average of 24.2% for residential, 27.3% for small businesses, and 29.8% for AGL per year from July 1. Though, a gas price cap has been extended by the Federal Government until mid-2025, and pressure will remain to tackle rising power prices nationally.
Several budget announcements were revealed over the past month, and among them is a decision to extend the $100 per student school materials and services discount for the third year. The budget will focus on other essential areas such as policing, child protection, education, and health.
Moreover, the Law Society of South Australia has hoped that there will be greater investment in programs to enable those on or below the poverty line to access legal representation, and access to legal services that support survivors of domestic violence and women’s safety.
The Local Government Association has been lobbying for a funding shortfall of around $16 million to be reinstated for public libraries. In addition, the organization wants a separate $1 million funding allocation to support digital inclusion programs.
Lastly, the government has previously announced the opening of an Office for AUKUS to support the building of nuclear-powered submarines at Osborne, and funding of $7 million in 2023-24 increasing to $24.6 million per annum (indexed) from 2024-25. The weekend also saw the announcement of an additional $55 million to build the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre in North Adelaide, boosting the total project cost to $135 million over three years. The new centre will provide extensive indoor and outdoor all-ages play areas, including water slides, splash zones, and lawned recreation spaces.
