04/06/2026
SA STATE BUDGET 2026
A Mixed Result for the Northern & Yorke Region.
The 2026 South Australian State Budget delivers some welcome investments that will benefit regional communities, but it also leaves several key Northern & Yorke priorities requiring continued advocacy.
THE POSITIVES
• Significant investment in housing, including a $2.5 billion statewide housing package aimed at increasing supply and improving affordability, potentially supporting workforce attraction and retention across our region.
• Additional support for drought-affected farmers through $200 million in low-interest loans, providing important assistance to many of our agricultural communities facing ongoing seasonal challenges.
• Major infrastructure spending continues, including $90 million for upgrades to the Horrocks Highway, a critical freight and transport route serving the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula.
• Increased investment in health services with $22m for an Emergency Department at Clare and $13.9m to boost regional ambulance operations. Support for skills development, technical education and community programs should also provide broader benefits to regional South Australia over time.
THE CHALLENGES
• While housing initiatives are welcome, there remains limited direct investment in the enabling infrastructure regional communities need to unlock housing growth, including water, wastewater and local road networks.
• Childcare workforce shortages and service accessibility remain major barriers to economic participation across the Northern & Yorke region, yet there are few targeted regional childcare initiatives in the Budget.
• Local government continues to face significant cost-shifting pressures, with councils expected to deliver increasing services without corresponding funding support.
• Despite the Horrocks Highway allocation, broader regional road funding remains insufficient given the scale of freight demands and local road maintenance challenges facing regional councils.
• The Budget projects state debt to exceed $53 billion by 2030, raising questions about the long-term capacity to address regional infrastructure backlogs and emerging priorities.
THE NORTHERN & YORKE ASSESSMENT
The Budget contains several positive statewide measures that will benefit regional South Australians, particularly in housing, drought support, health and skills development. However, the Northern & Yorke region still requires stronger commitments on water security, childcare availability, regional road infrastructure, housing-enabling infrastructure and sustainable funding arrangements for local government.
The Northern & Yorke Local Government Association will continue to advocate to ensure our 15 councils and their communities receive the investment needed to support growth, economic resilience and liveability across the region.
