Yesterday, the state government handed down its budget for the 2024-25 financial year. Need a quick breakdown of what’s in it for you right now? Whatever era you’re in, we’ve got you covered.
Why should I even care about the budget?
The State Budget is basically a giant plan for how the government will spend our money on everything from schools, hospitals and roads to arts festivals and sporting events. These decisions impact all South Australians’ lives, from our education to job opportunities. The budget helps us understand the government’s priorities and how they’re investing to shape our state’s future.
So, what’s in it for me?
This is a budget that affects all South Australians. Whatever era you’re in right now, there are investments in this budget that will make a difference to you – in this life stage and into the future. To make it super easy, we’ve gathered all the budget highlights you need to know into a handy list, organised by era and interest. Read on for all the big money budget news!
1. Skills for the jobs you want!
Starting your career or thinking of changing tack? The budget includes a record skills funding boost to help South Australians train and upskill. An extra $610.3 million will be invested over five years in the National Skills Agreement, bringing the total by the state and federal governments to $2.3 billion – a 43 per cent increase.
$275.6 million will fund more than 160,000 new training places at TAFE SA and other providers, focusing on high-demand areas like defence, health, construction, early childhood education, and clean energy. Regional TAFE SA spots will increase by 20 per cent. Read more about the TAFE renaissance here.
$56.2 million will support students with issues like housing and financial stress to improve training completion rates. Plus, $18.3 million for Closing the Gap initiatives will provide tailored education for First Nations students to boost their qualifications.
2. Illegal vapes and tobacco sales crackdown
Still puffing away? This budget is just one more reason to stop! The state government is intensifying its crackdown on illegal tobacco and vaping products sales with a $16 million investment over four years. That means more inspectors to enforce licensing and sales regulations, plus a media campaign to highlight the dangers of vaping. It comes ahead of federal vaping laws that will make it even harder to get an illegal nicotine hit. Find out more about what the laws are here. Hacks to help you quit are here.
3. Help for first home buyers
Great news for South Australians dreaming of owning their own home! The budget abolishes stamp duty completely for first home buyers who enter into a contract to purchase a newly built home or vacant land to build a new home.
All first home owners can also now access the First Home Owner Grant of $15,000. That means with these two measures, a first home buyer who buys a new home for $750,000 could potentially save over $50,000 in total. Read more about help for first home buyers here.
The budget includes $576 million to construct more than 1,900 new homes in Adelaide’s western and southern suburbs, making it easier for first home buyers to make it onto the property ladder.
$425 million will be used to redevelop 36.4 hectares in Seaton, creating around 1,315 homes. Another $150 million is earmarked to develop 626 homes in Noarlunga Downs. Both locations will include affordable and social housing for South Australians doing it tough.
4. Support for the early childhood years
Thinking about starting a family? Then there’s good news in the budget! It allocates $715 million over five years for universal three-year-old preschool and expanded out-of-school hours care. This is part of a massive $1.9 billion investment in early education through to 2032-33.
Government and non-government preschools will gradually offer places in three-year-old preschool from 2026 to 2032, starting in remote areas. You can read more about the details here and why it’s so critical for kids here – as well as why it’s going to make things a lot easier for children’s parents and carers (especially working mums!)
5. Funding for your kids’ education
Got school-age kids? The state government has budgeted $218 million to build two new schools. A new high school in Adelaide’s north is getting $155.3 million and will have room for 1300 students. Meanwhile, Mount Barker will receive $62.7 million for a new preschool for 100 extra students and a primary school for a further 350. Both schools are slated to open in 2028.
There’s another $38.1 million in the budget to address urgent upgrades for facilities and expansions across five schools: Surrey Downs Primary School, Bellevue Heights Primary School, Mount Gambier High School, Le Fevre High School and Mount Barker High School.
6. Taking care of your health
The government will invest $30 million to add 56 fast-tracked hospital beds. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital will receive $13.7 million over two years for 36 new beds, while the Lyell McEwin Hospital’s $16.5 million in 2024-25 investment will pay for 20 new beds. Read about other hospital upgrades already happening here.
There’s $5 million for new mental health programs for young people, including a paediatric virtual mental health services. This will connect children, adolescents and their parents with specialist mental health nurses via video link. There’s also money for workshops to help parents of children and teenagers with mental illness, plus support for those with eating disorders.
The SA Ambulance Service will receive $58 million to improve ambulance response times. There’s also $24 million for new ambulance stations at Marion, Two Wells and Whyalla.
7. Help for cost-of-living pressures
Public transport concessions are being extended to all Health Care Card holders, saving them up to $2.25 per trip with a $10.6 million investment. Plus, over $36 million will double the Cost of Living Concession payment for eligible tenants and seniors to $255.60.
There will also be a once-off additional Cost of Living Concession payment of $243.90 to the more than 210,000 recipients of a payment in 2023-24. Expect the money to land this month, just in time to help with winter bills.
Got kids at school? Starting January 2025, families can claim two $100 sports vouchers per child each year, covering activities like sports, dance, swimming, scouts, and music lessons, thanks to a $54.6 million investment. Additionally, there will be a $200 reduction on government school fees for parents, caregivers, and independent students, benefiting up to 120,000 children with a $24 million investment.
8. Protecting our environment and combatting climate change
There’s $30 million in the budget over four years to protect national parks and enhance biodiversity, over $20 million to protect Adelaide beaches with sand recycling and replenishment, and $26.3 million over five years to maintain and monitor the health of the River Murray and its surroundings, including a new water licencing system.
There will be grants for eligible small businesses and not-for-profit organisations on offer to invest in energy-efficient equipment or other improvements to reduce and manage their energy usage and costs, thanks to a $20 million investment.
More than $24 million over five years has been earmarked to help the agricultural sector to develop and deliver innovative solutions to reduce emissions on farms and support the state’s target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
9. Investment in our arts and cultural industries
The state government is investing $47 million in the arts and creative industries to support talent and boost engagement in South Australia. This includes a $5 million annual Arts Investment Fund for strategic projects, $19 million over three years for new facilities for the State Theatre Company, State Opera, and Country Arts South Australia, and $7.2 million to extend the South Australian Film Corporation and ABC partnership, producing shows like Beep and Mort and Ladies in Black.
10. More budget highlights!
The budget also includes funding for a load more initiatives. Here’s a few you might be interested in:
- A $19 million digital police station so you’ll be able to file minor collision reports and make payments online, freeing up police for operational duties.
- $83.1 million over four years to redevelop the Netball SA stadium, resulting in more indoor courts and upgraded outdoor courts.
- Major upgrades for Main South Rd, costing $31.8 million, and the South Eastern Freeway, costing $200 million.
- $5.8 million Whyalla hydrogen accommodation for workers to support the Hydrogen Jobs Plan
- A new Police Station to be built at Naracoorte, costing $18 million over four years.
For more information and to view the State Budget papers, click here.
