Thousands fail to pay SA emergency levy

Almost 35,000 South Australians failed to pay their emergency services levy this year, the state opposition says.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall says a big increase in the cost of the levy, used to fund the state's emergency agencies, has created a new cost-of-living pressure for South Australian families.

"The ESL has joined electricity prices, water prices and council rates as a principal cost-of-living pressure on the family budget," Mr Marshall said.

But Premier Jay Weatherill said the opposition was using misleading figures.

He said while 35,000 people might have received a reminder notice only about 17,000 needed to be followed up to recover the debt and that was only a small increase compared to the previous year.

Mr Weatherill said there was no doubt some people were struggling with cost-of-living pressures.

"So certain bills are being put aside and that's causing some concern for people," he said.

"But what we've tried to do is quarantine those who can least afford to pay an increase."

Mr Marshall said the government's ESL increases were completely unjustified and should be reversed.