State Budget 2025-26 Highlights

Unpacking the details

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This year’s State Budget outlines new investment in priority areas that matter to regional South Australians.

We have summarised the key commitments for our region, including funding for safer roads, better public transport, industry and export support, and improved emergency and drought response.

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$80 million over five years from 2025–26 will deliver safety improvement works along Main South Road between Myponga and Yankalilla, including two new overtaking lanes, targeted curve easing and road widening, widening narrow bridges and culverts. 

$12.5 million will go towards creating a permanent Adelaide Metro service in Mount Barker. This will transition from the Mount Barker On Demand (Keoride) trial. 

The initiative also provides $2.5 million in 2025-26 for the purchase of six new electric vehicle buses and $500,000 for associated infrastructure upgrades to the Mount Barker Depot to support electric vehicle charging. 

$109.7 million over four years will go towards River Murray environmental flows and improving basin health. 

$17 million over three years of federal government funding will deliver wetland habitat works across the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth. 

Local exporters 

$5 million will be allocated to support key sectors in responding to “continuing challenges in the global trading environment”. 

This includes $2.5 million per annum towards programs to support industry to diversify and connect with importers in new or growing markets across the world. 

Global trade and tariff support 

$5 million will go to support SA industries and businesses impacted by global trade and tariffs. The funding will go towards capability development programs, targeted business missions and importer visits to SA to support exporters diversify. 

Energy 

$20 million will go to Powering Business Grants, supporting small, medium and not-for-profit businesses to invest in energy-efficient equipment or reduce and manage energy use. Businesses can apply for grants between $2500 to $75,000. 

Small Business Strategy Expansion 

$3.2 million will be spent over 4 years on expanding the small business strategy, to continue to support small and family businesses. 

Early-stage Venture Capital Fund 

$50 million will go towards a new venture capital fund to grow innovation in SA. This is modelled on a scheme from 2017, which helped globally significant SA-based companies like Fleetspace and FiveCast get their start. 

Drought support package 

• $55.4 million will be spent over five years on a drought support package, including $26 million in 2025-26. 
• $400,000 for the Regional Events Fund to support new regional events in drought-affected areas. 
• $3 million is set aside for dairy farmers left in the lurch by the collapse of Beston Global.

$500,000 for arts and culture in the regions, including through programs delivered by Country Arts SA. 

$13 million over four years for the new arts and cultural strategy A Place to Create, which will enhance community access to the arts, support creative professionals, and improve the sustainability of cultural organisations. 

An extra $21 million will be invested in emergency services. 

This includes: 

• $5.9 million over four years to improve training for Country Fire Service volunteers responding to structure fires. 

• $2.8 million will be spent over four years to improve bushfire risk mapping based on automated modelling for likely bushfire impacts. 

• $2 million over four years for the ongoing replacement of drones used by State Emergency Services to provide reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and hazard assessment at incidents. 

• $859,000 over three years for development assessment activity associated with state-wide bushfire hazard overlay code amendments. 

• $687,000 over three years to continue supporting Volunteer Marine Rescue associations. 

• $250,000 towards the replacement of Surf Life Saving South Australia’s Lifesaver 3 jet rescue boat. 

An unspecified amount will support the ongoing replacement of emergency service vehicles, equipment and facilities. 

Starting with $13.5 million in 2025-26, a total spend of $45 million over three years will support a new Mount Barker Hospital. 

This is on top of previously committed funding of $320.8 million, bringing a revised total cost of Mount Barker Hospital to $365.6 million. 

$125 million contribution to the total $656.3 million upgrades to the Adelaide Freight Bypass. 

$178 million to extend the Low Interest School Loans Scheme to support low-interest infrastructure loans to grow enrolment capacity.