Labor’s budget another missed opportunity to provide meaningful cost of living relief – Greens
Labor has missed the mark with its first budget of this term, spending millions of dollars on gas and AUKUS, while failing to take action on homelessness and public transport fares, say the SA Greens.
Quotes attributable to Greens SA Leader Robert Simms MLC
“South Australians are dealing with the worst cost of living crisis in generations, yet Labor’s response in this budget doesn’t even touch the sides.”
“While other states around the country are slashing public transport fares, here in SA public transport fares will actually increase for the second year in a row. This Government is claiming it will save people money, but in reality all they are doing is delaying a fare increase until 1 October 2026. A regular 28-day pass will increase from $119.10 to $123. That’s an additional $35.10 a year. The $10 student pass will also increase by 3 per cent. It’s a real slap in the face for South Australians who are doing it tough.”
“In housing, Labor plan to upgrade a measly 300 vacant public houses just doesn’t go far enough. Rather than simply setting up funds to fast-track private developments, the Government should be doing a lot more of the heavy lifting when it comes to addressing the housing crisis and actually build the homes that we need. It’s disappointing to see that the funding for homelessness support sector still hasn’t increased and once again there’s no funding for a dedicated homelessness advocacy body.”
“Our State is still far too reliant on gambling and pokies revenue. This financial year it will rake in $499 million from pokies alone – an increase of 39 million. Meanwhile we still have no leadership from Labor from when it comes to imposing a levy on the big banks”
Quotes attributable to Melanie Selwood Greens MLC
“In the middle of a climate crisis, the Labor Government have created a grants for gas scheme. $17.5 million towards grants to the gas industry while everyday people are doing it tough. Labor are clearly not committed to climate action, but instead prefers to cozy up with their mates in the gas industry.”
This week we’ve already seen the first cracks appearing in the AUKUS plan, but in this budget this Labor Government has committed $15 million to a business case for the failing AUKUS plan, and $26.8 million for the AUKUS skills workforce. Why are we supporting Trump’s weapon program and building war machines, when we should be investing in public services for South Australians?”