According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, since Labor was elected in 2002 the state has gained more than 132,500 new jobs and there are now an estimated 817,700 people in employment. The end of the era of automotive manufacturing is a major challenge but South Australia can respond, with business and the government working together to create jobs.

Future Jobs Fund

This Budget creates a $200 million Future Jobs Fund to drive employment growth. The government is determined to build new industries, back the growth sectors already competing successfully and create incentives to encourage businesses to invest.

There are three components to the Future Jobs Fund:

1. $50 million in grants and $70 million in low interest loans to business to support job creation. The funds will target jobs in the key sectors of:
   • Ship building and defence
   • Renewable energy and mining
   • Tourism, food and wine
   • Health and bio-medical research
   • IT and advanced manufacturing.
   Applications are now open. Applications to the Department of Treasury and Finance for business case funding close on 14 July 2017. Applications for grants and loans close on 29 September 2017.
2. $30 million in grant funding and $30 million in loans to continue to attract new inward investment in key industries. The additional investment will promote job creation, capital investment, construction jobs and increased economic activity.
3. Over $20 million in other measures that will support local industries to grow. These measures include:
   • $14.5 million over four years to secure major events and business conventions.
   • $5 million over two years for the automotive diversification initiative to support supply chain businesses to adapt to change.
   • $2 million in 2017-18 to extend the “I Choose SA” to encourage consumers to actively look for South Australian products and services to support local jobs and businesses.

Record infrastructure investment in 2017-18

The government is investing at record levels in 2017-18 to secure a prosperous future for South Australia. The government’s capital investment program will support an estimated 5700 jobs on average per year over the next four years. The new infrastructure will support the health, safety, education, housing and transport needs of generations to come. Better infrastructure will drive economic growth and make the state an even better place to live.

Key projects in the government’s four year $9.5 billion capital program include:

• $1.9 billion for road projects, including along the North–South Road Corridor, in partnership with the Commonwealth.
• $875 million on major public transport projects such as rail projects.
• $425.4 million to redevelop hospitals.
• $409.3 million for education and early childhood facility projects.

Key road projects include:

• Duplication of Main South Road from Seaford to Aldinga – with a second stage planned through to Sellicks Beach.
• Upgrade of South Road from Regency Road to Pym Street.
• Upgrade of Oaklands Crossing, with a rail underpass under Diagonal Road.
• Commencement of planning to improve the Springbank, Daws and Goodwood intersection.
• Upgrade of the Blackwood Roundabout.

Key transport projects include:

• Continue electrification of the rail line from Salisbury to Gawler.
• Increased train services on the Gawler, Outer Harbor, Belair and Seaford lines.
• Construction of two new multi-level Park ’n’ Ride facilities at Klemzig and Tea Tree Plaza.
• Upgrade of Mount Gambier Airport.

Job Accelerator Grants increased

This budget includes important initiatives that continue to support South Australian households including:

• The Future Jobs Fund and other job-creation initiatives that will benefit all households by creating new employment opportunities.
• Further investment in modern health services, more schools and better neighbourhoods.
• The $550 million energy plan that will ensure South Australian households have reliable, affordable and clean energy despite the dysfunction of the national electricity market.
• The extension of the statewide stamp duty concession of up to $15 500 on off-the-plan apartment purchases to 30 June 2018 and the introduction of a $10 000 pre-construction grant for off-the-plan apartment sales contracts entered into by 30 September 2017 as long as construction has not yet started on the apartment complex. More details are available at:
  RevenueSA

• The First Home Owner Grant of $15 000 that remains on offer for the purchase of a new homes. Combined with the stamp duty concession and the pre-construction grant above, a first homebuyer of an off-the-plan apartment where construction is yet to start could benefit by as much as $40 500. More details are available at:
  RevenueSA
• Other eligible buyers of off-the-plan apartments can benefit by up to $25 500.
• Concessions and remissions for eligible households liable to pay the Emergency Services Levy. These benefits apply to a range of eligible property owners on low and fixed incomes such as pensioners and those that receive certain Commonwealth Government support payments. More details are available at:
  RevenueSA
• Land tax exemptions for principal places of residence and land used for primary production. Details are available at:
  RevenueSA
• A range of other concessions are available to eligible South Australians. These include the cost-of-living concessions of up to $200, assistance for water and sewerage, energy, public transport, vehicle registration, drivers’ licences and the purchase of spectacles or contact lenses. For details of eligibility criteria and concession amounts, go to:
  CONCESSIONS

Guided by our clinicians, SA Health is determined to deliver a high quality system with the best possible care for patients. Our clinicians will continue to pursue innovation and reform to ensure our system is modern and world class. The budget refocuses direction, expanding capability in suburban hospitals, strengthening regional care and supporting cutting-edge research.

The new Royal Adelaide Hospital will open in September, providing the highest ever level of care to the people of South Australia. The hospital is a cornerstone of far-reaching reforms to health creating a system which is patient-centred, safe, effective, accessible, efficient and equitable.

The Transforming Health program is now complete, having achieved significant reforms. Services are now better aligned to hospital capabilities, leading to improved health outcomes for the South Australian community.

This budget extends the already substantial increases in resources to health and continues to compensate for the aggressive funding cuts from the Commonwealth.

New measures include:

• $528 million to build a new Adelaide Women’s Hospital adjacent to the new RAH. The project will receive $30.3 million over the forward estimates and will be complete in 2024.
• $250.6 million to construct a new clinical building at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, with $198 million allocated over the forward estimates.
• $52.5 million over four years to expand the Lyell McEwin Hospital emergency department.
• $24 million over two years to improve facilities at the existing Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
• $9.2 million over three years for an emergency extended care unit adjacent to Modbury Hospital’s emergency department.
• $3.5 million in 2017–18 for two additional operating theatres at Flinders Medical Centre.
• $6.7 million to extend emergency care at Mount Barker Hospital to 24 hours a day.

Building on the bio-medical precinct on North Terrace, the state will contribute $44 million for a second SA Health and Medical Research Institute building which will house a national proton therapy and research unit. The unit will underpin the next generation of cancer treatments, including complex cancer in children.

Additional resources of$195 million over three years have also been provided to ensure South Australians receive world-class health services.

Providing high quality education to our school students is at the heart of this government’s commitments. Increasing the number of students achieving high levels of learning, completing schooling with a SACE qualification and graduating with a clear pathway to tertiary study or to begin their working career.

This government continues to honour the full six years of the original Gonski agreement, providing record levels of funding.

We are building better schools and creating a more dynamic education program which will benefit South Australians for generations to come. This budget initiates two major projects - the establishment of two new schools for up to 1500 students each. The schools, with co-located 55 place children’s centres, will cater for birth to Year 12. A northern school will be built in the Munno Para region and southern school will be built in the Aldinga/Sellicks Beach region.

Other education budget initiatives include:

• $608 000 over two years for a pilot program providing free fresh fruit and vegetables to selected primary schools under the Right Bite program.
• $910 000 in 2017–18 for the SA Collaborative Childhood Project, a program to develop local approaches to the educational philosophy of Reggio Emilia, proponent of parents, community and school working together in early childhood development.

Initiatives from previous budgets are still being implemented. These include:

• $250 million to redevelop 139 schools to deliver science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with 77 primary, 44 secondary and 18 R-12 schools being upgraded (48 regional and 91 metropolitan).
• $250 million in low-interest loans for non-government schools. 10 projects have received a total of $38.5 million for construction projects and further loans will follow soon.
• $100 million for the Adelaide Botanic High School. Construction has begun and the school is on target to open in 2019. The school will specialise in science, technology, engineering and maths for its 1250 students.
• $50 million over three years to improve facilities for disadvantaged schools and early years’ facilities. Work is well progressed on the project.

Nobody knows your neighbourhood better than you. A $40 million Fund My Neighbourhood program will allow the community to decide which projects receive government funding. Using the framework of the internationally-renowned Fund My Community initiative, ideas for projects will be put to the public test. Projects will be diverse – from small local infrastructure upgrades such as playgrounds and parks through to initiatives designed to strengthen community cohesion.

To get involved visit yourSAy:
FUND MY NEIGHBOURHOOD

Jetties are a mainstay of local recreational activities. The budget allocates $9.3 million over two years for structural maintenance of jetties at Henley Beach, Port Noarlunga, Semaphore, Whyalla and Port Bonython.

Key community assets were damaged in the storms and severe weather experienced by South Australia in 2016. The budget provides $12.7 million over two years for repairs to assets including within national parks, $3.3 million in 2016 17 for primary producer disaster relief grants and $1.9 million in 2017–18 for repairs to sea walls at West Beach and Wyomi Beach.

Communities rely on Emergency Services to assist protection from and response to disasters such as bushfires. This budget provides extra funding for emergency services, including:

• $3.1 million over four years to improve the 132 500 and 000 phone services.
• $1.9 million over five years to improve how emergency warnings are delivered.
• $933 000 over four years for protective equipment for metropolitan firefighters.
• $522 000 over four years to establish a Country Fire Service Brigade at Leigh Creek.
• $395 000 over five years for bushfire Last Resort Refuges signage.
• $355 000 a year (indexed) to assist the State Emergency Services to meet new maritime laws while also assisting Volunteer Marine Rescue groups comply with the laws.

Healthy communities care for those in need. This budget includes several measures for vulnerable South Australians, including:

• $86.5 million over two years in addition to $432 million already allocated in the 2016 17 Mid-Year Budget Review to reform the state’s child protection system.
• $18.1 million in 2017–18 for homelessness services.
• $5.9 million over two years to meet costs for the next stage of reforms in domiciliary and disability care.
• $2.5 million in 2016 17 to assist people with a disability access services.
• $200 000 to fund partnerships to build five Changing Places facilities for disabled adults as well as the aged.
• $1.2 million a year (indexed) to help the transition to NBN requirements for the Personal Alert Systems Rebate Scheme (PARS).

Healthy communities need assistance to tackle drug problems and improve law and order.

This budget includes:

• $8 million over four years for the Stop the Hurt initiative to combat the problems of crystal methamphetamine (ice).
• Several strategic programs to reduce reoffending by criminals and to guide ex-prisoners to successfully reintegrate into the community.
• Upgrades to courts – including the Sir Samuel Way Building – and improvements to justice systems.

The government wants more people engaged in playing sport and enjoying sporting events.

The budget includes:

• Additional support of $14 million to increase the Women’s Sporting Facilities Fund to $20 million over two years. Better facilities will encourage more women to participate in sport.
• $4.5 million in 2017–18 to continue to facilitate stage 1 of the redevelopment of the Priceline Stadium by Netball SA.
• $20 million over two years in grants to sporting clubs for artificial playing surfaces for soccer, netball, hockey and other sports.
• $6 million over two years for the Autumn Racing Carnival at Morphettville.
• $3 million over three years as a contribution to the licensing costs of hosting a second South Australian V8 Supercar event at Tailem Bend.

South Australians enjoy a rich tapestry of art and culture. Government support for this sector in the budget includes:

• $31 million over three years for the upgrade and expansion of Her Majesty’s Theatre, taking the total capital cost of the project to $66.2 million.
• $1.9 million in 2017–18 for design of the Adelaide Contemporary art gallery.
• $1.3 million to support the Festival of Arts.
• $1 million in 2017–18 to celebrate re-opening of the Festival Theatre and completion of the Adelaide Festival Centre Redevelopment.
• $960 000 per year (indexed) to support the Adelaide Fringe attract more visitors.
• $5 million in 2017–18 for once-off grants to multicultural and community organisations for infrastructure and equipment.

A KPMG report found Adelaide to be the most cost-effective city in Australia for business compared to eastern seaboard capital cities. Many business stamp duties have been abolished, ReturnToWorkSA reforms are estimated to save employers $220 million a year and non-residential property sales will be exempt from stamp duty from 1 July 2018. Payroll taxes have already been cut four times under this government — and will now be cut further permanently for small business.

Payroll tax

A small business rate of 2.5 per cent will apply to firms with payrolls between $600 000 and $1 million, then phase up to the general rate of 4.95 per cent for payrolls above $1.5 million. An estimated 1300 employers will benefit compared with assistance under the temporary rebate scheme. Medium and bigger businesses already pay lower payroll tax than in almost all other states and territories. More details are available at:
RevenueSA

Job Accelerator Grants

Grants increased by up to $5000 for each new apprentice and trainee hired, in addition to the existing grants of up to $10 000, supporting an estimated 2000 positions. More details are available at:
RevenueSA

Energy

The government’s $550 million energy plan will help businesses by ensuring South Australia has reliable, affordable and clean energy despite the dysfunction of the national electricity market.

For details on the plan and to follow progress go to:
OUR ENERGY PLAN

Housing

Companies working in building construction and development will benefit from an extension of the statewide stamp duty concession of up to $15 500 on off-the-plan apartment purchases to 30 June 2018 and the introduction of a $10 000 pre-construction grant for off-the-plan apartment sales contracts entered into by 30 September 2017 as long as construction has not yet started on the apartment complex. Eligible buyers of off-the-plan apartments can benefit by up to $25 500. More details are available at:
RevenueSA

Record infrastructure investment in 2017–18

The government is investing at record levels in 2017–18 to secure a prosperous future for South Australia. The government’s capital investment program will support an estimated 5700 jobs on average per year over the next four years. The new infrastructure will support the health, safety, education, housing and transport needs of generations to come. Better infrastructure will drive economic growth and make the state an even better place to live.

Key projects in the government’s four year $9.5 billion capital program include:

• $1.9 billion for road projects, including along the North–South Road Corridor, in partnership with the Commonwealth.
• $875 million on major public transport projects such as rail projects.
• $425.4 million to redevelop hospitals.
• $409.3 million for education and early childhood facility projects.

Government initiatives such as the Industry Participation Plan and the Industry Capability Network have improved prospects of state-based businesses to win work.

Other budget measures

• The Hydrogen Road Map starts with stage one and aims to establish a new industry in South Australia with strong export potential. Funding of $8.2 million over four years will establish a production facility and vehicle refuelling station to support a fleet of at least six hydrogen-fuelled buses.
• $2.9 million over four years to extend the Gig City ultra high-speed broadband network to new precincts.
• $250,000 in 2017–18 for the government to work with the Property Council of Australia to establish a taskforce to promote South Australia as headquarters of major companies.
• The highly successful Program for Accelerating Exploration (PACE) will receive $5 million over four years for discovery drilling to unlock the state’s mineral and gas riches.
• The South Australian Steel Taskforce will receive $1.6 million in 2017–18 to secure the future of the Arrium Steelworks in Whyalla.
• $150,000 over two years to encourage corporate boards to meet in Adelaide.
• The state’s defence industry will be showcased at the Euronaval trade shows in 2018 and 2020.
• $100 000 in grants will enable Business SA to use inbound trade missions to create business-to-business connections.