"We are investing record amounts in regional infrastructure, including roads, so people can travel faster and safer, hospitals to provide better healthcare, schools to inspire our next generations and community space for people to enjoy," Primary Industries Minister David Basham said.
But yet the primary industries budget is projected to decrease by $54.61m for the coming financial year.
Budget papers said the reduction in primary industries expenditure was due to less funds being allocated to bushfire recovery, drought, marine scalefish reform, and once-off regional growth stimulus expenditure, while grants and subsidies in particular have been scaled back, with an $88.8m funding allocation in 2020-21 reduced to $28.98m for 2021-22.
Of the six sub-programs within the primary industries spend - agricultural services, fisheries and aquaculture, SARDI, biosecurity, SA River Murray Sustainability, and forestry policy - biosecurity is the only one to receive a greater allocation this coming financial year, compared to last.
It has increased from $36.87m in 2020-21 to a projected $43.62m for 2021-22.
The opposition has argued the majority of funding allocations in the regions have been for the continuation of existing projects, rather than major new programs.
- Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.