SA budget released: focus on jobs, health and roads

The South Australian budget has been released, detailing $10.8 billion dollar plans to invest in infrastructure, jobs and roads and $3.3 billion to be spent on upgrading health.

A brief summary of the key announcements from the budget include:

EDUCATION

• $50 million to upgrade 11 schools and childcare centres in north and south Adelaide.

• $5.7 million to promote schools and universities to international students and their families.

HEALTH

• $4.8 million to replace mechanical stretchers and handling units in state ambulance fleet with automatic versions.

HOUSING

• $65 million for public housing upgrades.

INFRASTRUCTURE

• $3.3 billion to be spent on health facilities.

• $197 million to be spent on upgrading the Adelaide Festival Centre precinct.

JOBS

• $10.8 billion in infrastructure projects over the next four years to support almost 4,700 jobs per annum.

•Stamp duty for businesses to be scrapped.

TAX REFORM

• Almost $670 million returned to businesses and families.

TOURISM

• Total tourism budget to increase by 30 percent to $75.5 million.

• Additional $6 million to promote and grow the Santos Tour Down Under.

TRANSPORT

• $12 million on upgrading the metropolitan passenger rail network to make it more reliable.

• $6.5 million over four years for bike boulevards and greenways.

• $4 million for the improvement of security at railway stations and tram stops, including CCTV.

ROADS

• $70 million over four years to improve critical road infrastructure.

• $55 million for the construction of the Gawler East Collector Road Link.

• $40 million over four years to improve the safety of our roads.