Cross-border communities will receive an extra advocate with the state government announcing it intends to appoint a Cross-Border Commissioner.
This would follow on from moves from Victoria and NSW, which already have commissioners in place.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven said the Cross-Border Commissioner Bill met one of the government's key election commitment to provide more support for SA's regions and grow communities.
"We know that we can make our border communities better places to live by making it easier for people accessing education, justice, health and other important services across borders," she said.
"We will also see economic benefits through reducing regulatory barriers for businesses."
Ms Scriven said, with SA sharing borders with every mainland state and territory, communities on the borders needed someone to negotiate on their behalf.
"There is a long history of matters that cross-border communities and businesses are required to navigate," she said.
"While the need for a Commissioner was highlighted during Covid-19 border closures, many of the issues pre-date COVID by many years.
"The Cross-Border Commissioner will provide a new mechanism to address these issues and facilitate collaboration and engagement with residents, businesses and community organisations as well as all tiers of government."
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The commissioner is expected to be based at Mount Gambier, in acknowledgment that much of the border-based population is on the SA/Vic and SA/NSW borders.
The Commissioner will work to identify issues, broker solutions and provide advice on matters impacting border communities, making it easier to do business across our borders, while addressing barriers to education, health and other services.
The Bill requires the new appointment to be someone with detailed understanding of the issues affecting border communities and experience living within a border region.
