The Malinauskas Labor Government is investing $1.8 billion in new measures to support regional South Australia.
This considerable funding commitment will support farmers and increase biosecurity measures to protect primary production.
There's new money to deliver safer roads, support emergency services, protect the environment and help regional communities grow:
Primary Industries
- $45 million in 2025-26 to continue emergency fruit fly response activities following further outbreaks, assisting in protecting South Australia's pest free status and providing market access continuity for the state's horticulture products.
- $44 million over four years for the purchase of a replacement coastal research vessel, delivered in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government.
- $11.8 million over five years for biosecurity response measures
Roads
- $125 million of $656 million to deliver upgrades of the High Productivity Vehicle Network to in partnership with the Commonwealth Government on an 80:20 basis.
- $80 million over five years to deliver critical safety improvement works along Main South Road between Myponga and Yankalilla funded in partnership with the Commonwealth Government
- $10 million over two years to deliver additional road safety maintenance across regional South Australia.
- $7.5 million over three years towards regional road safety infrastructure upgrades
Environment
- $109.7 million over four years to support River Murray environmental flows in partnership with the Commonwealth Government.
- $17 million over three years to improve wetland habitat across the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth funded by the Commonwealth.
Health
- $45 million over three years to support the delivery of the new Mount Barker Hospital, which will provide 102 beds
- $8 million over three years to support aged care infrastructure upgrades at Charla Lodge Bordertown Memorial Hospital.
Police and Emergency Services
- $29.6 million over three years for the expansion of the successful Police Security Officer model into regional areas.
- $11.1 million for the extension of CFS aerial firefighting aircraft availability in line with bushfire risk and costs associated with significant fire events.
- $5.9 million over four years to improve training for CFS volunteers responding to structure fires.
These measures are in addition to the $73.4 million State Government package to support drought affected farmers. This includes $55.4 million in drought support measures provided in the 2025-26 budget such as:
- $17.3 million for future drought preparedness and resilience programs
- $13 million for grants to primary producers to implement infrastructure projects that assist in m managing drought conditions, as part of the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Rebate scheme
- $4.5 million for a subsidy on the cost of electronic identification tags for farmed sheep and goats, as part of stage 2 of the program
- $4 million for an additional contribution towards the freight costs of charitable organisations that are delivering donated fodder to primary producers
- $3.1 million for support towards the management of pests on rural properties, including deer, rabbits and kangaroos
- $2.5 million for essential, on-the-ground mental health resources and support for individuals and communities affected by the current drought
The Malinauskas Government has also contributed $650 million to the Federal Government's $2.4 billion package to save the steelworks in Whyalla and support the people impacted in the Upper Spencer Gulf.
As put by Stephen Mullighan
The regions are vital to South Australia's economy, driving industries such as tourism, agriculture, aquaculture, and mining.
This budget invests in safer roads, better healthcare and more resources for police and emergency services, whilst also supporting farmers and increasing biosecurity measures.
We are stepping up to help regional communities when they need it most, providing drought support and funding the Whyalla rescue package.
As put by Clare Scriven
This Budget provides significant support for some of the biggest challenges facing our primary industries and regional communities, being drought and biosecurity.
Our Drought Support Package provides a range of assistance for farmers, rural businesses and communities, and builds on the first package that was released back in November last year.
Investment in biosecurity measures is vital to safeguarding South Australia's clean environment and produce and to maintaining the productivity of agribusiness sectors.
The significant fruit fly eradication program is one of the many programs seeking to prevent diseases and pests that affect animals and plants, and cause food borne illnesses.
We are also investing in a modern research sea vessel which will enable world-class research to support our fisheries and aquaculture industries and strengthen our capacity to respond to climate change and biosecurity threats.
