Mike Smithson: SA government delivered its budget as if it knows it already has the next election in the bag

7NEWS

06-06-2025

The SA Labor government has delivered its 2025 state budget as if it knows it already has next year's election in the bag.
The annual document released yesterday was about as interesting to the average voter as watching paint dry.
There were only a few morsels aimed at winning the hearts and minds of battlers because treasury coffers are running low and have taken a substantial hit from Whyalla's demise and the resulting taxpayer cash injection.
This year's budget surplus has been whittled back to a meagre $18 million with state debt forecast to climb to $48 billion by 2029.
Treasurer Stephen Mullighan says there's no need to panic because SA's financial situation is totally manageable.
With an interest bill destined to hit $6.72 million per day others may think otherwise.
This budget smacks of a confident government looking to win next year's election based on the popularity of the Premier who continues to win over punters with his 24/7 charm offensive.
Peter Malinauskas has brought big events to the state such as the AFL Gather Round and LIV Golf which have elevated his status to the national stage.
His negotiating skills are thought by most to be second to none.
Labor holds 28 lower house seats in the state's 47 seat parliament so is as assured of victory as it ever could be.
That's why it didn't need to offer anything extraordinary to voters in a budget which was more about yawn than a new dawn.
Law and order were this year's flavours of budget day leaving SA's police commissioner smiling from ear to ear.
An extra 326 sworn officers will be pounding the beat by 2030 as part of a $395 million package.
There could be two reasons for the sudden windfall in an area which can be easily overlooked.
Commissioner Grant Stevens wields enormous influence and respect as he has since the covid days.
Stephen Mullighan now also wears the dual hat of Police Minister and desperately wants to keep his top cop onside.
But he has multiple juggling acts elsewhere.
Whyalla's steel woes will continue to be a drain on the public purse.
His health budget has blown out by almost half a billion dollars as new services come on-line requiring many more staff who will never be able to keep up with demand.
The spiralling problem of ambulance ramping was conveniently airbrushed from the Treasurer's presentation to the media, despite being one of the government's biggest headaches.
The housing sector claims there wasn't enough in it for them.
Cost of living is crippling families across the state.
And drought affected farmers are also reaching out for more life-saving assistance.
But the government's sights are set on winning next March.
If they're forced to wear the boring badge for this budget, it means they'll have more in the kitty for upcoming election campaign promises.
If Labor does win this predicted landslide election victory, they know they'll probably occupy the treasury benches for at least another eight years.
They can be as tough as they want with future budgets knowing their grip on the purse strings is long term.
But those controlling the levers also know they'll be happily retired on their parliamentary pensions as future generations pay down the massive debt.