‘Metro-centric’ budget tipped

Primary Producers SA chair Rob Kerin expects it to be a “metro-centric election budget”.

“There may be some mention of country road funding, particularly for the Yorke Peninsula and in the Mid North, as a regional item, but some of that was in last year’s budget and is also part-funded federally,” he said.

“It will be interesting to see if any funding for hospitals will flow out of Adelaide and into the regions, as there has been a lot of money being spent on city hospitals.

“There has also been the promise of a minor decrease in the Emergency Service Levy, which we expect will be announced. It won’t be significant, but at least it’s not an increase.”

Mr Kerin said it would be disappointing if any further cuts were made to local research institutes, such as SARDI.

“There was a review of SARDI and the government said it was not about cutting the budget,” he said.

“But a budget in the lead up to an election, I don’t forsee them throwing any extra money at research.” 

The state government made a few pre-budget pledges earlier this week, including $1.1 billion to further modernise the health system.

This included a new $528-million world-class Adelaide Women’s Hospital and $56m to modern emergency departments and operating theatres in suburban hospitals.

Funding for regional councils include $100,000 to the Davenport Community Council Incorporated as part of the 2017 Crime Prevention and Community Safety Grants Program, while Investment and Trade Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith announced grants for small and medium-sized SA businesses to market and develop export opportunities in new global markets.

The state government is also offering up to $300,000 in grants to establish community-based spaces for people to share skills, and design and prototype new ideas in a ‘makerspace’.