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State budget targets police numbers, new housing

State budget targets police numbers, new housing

West Australian2 days ago

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BUDGET
LAW AND ORDER
*$172 million for 326 extra police by 2030-31
*$46.8 million for red light, mobile phone and point-to-point cameras
*$72.4 million over five years for 116 extra prison beds
*$24 million for prosecutions staff, forensic testing, more sheriff's officers and child protection legal work
*$29.6 million for 98 extra regional police security officers by 2028-29
SUPPORTING THE ECONOMY
*$650 million Whyalla steelworks package
*$73.4 million drought support package
*$50 million venture capital fund
*$30 million national collaborative research infrastructure strategy
*$20 million powering business grants
*$19.6 million defence sector support
HOUSING
*$552 million to directly support the construction of 2935 homes in northern, southern and central Adelaide and help vulnerable people find housing
HEALTH
*An extra $1.9 billion over five years to support increased capacity in hospitals, including $117 million for mental health services, $77 million for state cancer network, $45 million for a new Mt Barker Hospital and $42.9 million to support older people to transition to residential aged care to reduce bed block
INFRASTRUCTURE
*$27.3 billion over four years for major projects, including joint federal projects such as the $15.4 billion South Rd tunnels to complete the North-South transport corridor and the $3.2 billion new Women's and Children's Hospital
*$656.3 million for high-productivity vehicle network over 10 years for upgrades between the South Eastern Freeway and the Sturt Highway
*$250 million to remove the Curtis Rd level crossing at Munno Para, to reduce traffic congestion in the northern suburbs
*$80 million over five years for Main South Rd safety upgrades between Myponga and Yankalilla
EDUCATION
*$70 million for a Birth-Year 6 school in Adelaide's north, with 60 preschool places and 400 school places
*$40 million for heating and cooling upgrades at schools.
*$27.7 million over four years to fast track the rollout of three-year-old preschool, with an extra 2000 places available from 2026
*$171 million for low interest loans for non-government schools and not for profit early childhood care providers to build capacity for three-year-old preschool
COST OF LIVING
*$96 million to continue the $200 discount per student on government school material and services charge for four years
*$20.7 million over four years to cut the cost of bus and train 28-day passes to $10 a month, a saving of $18.60 a month, equating to 25-cent fares for school travel
ENVIRONMENT
*$71.1 million over three years for River Murray measures to remove barriers to the delivery of environmental water to floodplains and wetlands
*$20.9 million over three years for councils to reduce reliance on River Murray water by investing in alternative water resources and infrastructure
*$14 million for replenishment of sand on Adelaide beaches
REGIONS
*$45 million for emergency fruit fly response
*$44 million over four years to replace a coastal research vessel
*$11.8 million over five years for biosecurity response measures

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