SA pensioners set to keep concessions

The South Australian government looks set to continue funding pensioner concessions and says it will take care of the most vulnerable in the community.

The move follows the long-running stoush with the federal government, which axed a $30 million annual payment to South Australia in last year's budget.

The Commonwealth did not reverse the decision in Tuesday's budget.

The concessions help pensioners cover the cost of utility bills, council rates, public transport fares and car registrations.

The state government agreed to cover the concessions until July this year but wanted the budget to reinstate the funding.

While that did not happen, SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has given the clearest indication so far that the state government will continue to provide the benefits.

"We're going to make a considered decision about how to best stand up for pensioners in this state," he said on Wednesday.

Mr Koutsantonis says the federal budget has also failed to provide any extra funds for infrastructure spending in South Australia and to offer further assistance to the car industry.

It has also made no commitments to build the next fleet of submarines in Adelaide, he says.

However, the treasurer has given a tick to the budget's small business package, albeit with concerns the tax concessions have come too late.

The state opposition says SA will get an extra $857 million over the next three years and leader Steven Marshall says the government should use that windfall to fund the pensioner concessions and to continue rebates to the emergency services levy.

The Liberals have also urged the state government to take the lead from the federal government and focus on boosting small business in next month's state budget.