The Opposition is calling on the Malinauskas Government to take immediate action to reduce cost of living pressures on South Australian households.
Record revenue has been received from various state government fees and charges. For example, when a South Australian buys an average home, they are paying over $8000 more in stamp duty fees under the Malinauskas Labor Government.
We know that under Labor, South Australians:
- Are paying more for their household bills;
- Are paying more in state government fees and charges;
- Are paying more to see their GP;
- Are paying more in State Government fees to buy a home.
There are a number of levers that the Government can pull on to ease the pressure on South Australians. These include fees and charges that impact most households such as water bills, motor registration fees and drivers licence fees.
Other jurisdictions, such as the Northern Territory, are taking steps to freeze state government charges that impact most households, like motor vehicle registration and drivers licence fees.
“Instead of taking action to help South Australians during a cost of living crisis, Labor has reached further into people’s pockets by increasing the price of seeing a GP and the cost of water bills,” Leader of the Opposition, Vincent Tarzia said.
“We are calling on Peter Malinauskas to pull on every lever he can to ease the pain South Australians are feeling as a result of this crippling cost of living crisis.
“Cost of living is the biggest issue facing our state and it is time the Premier showed leadership on this issue. If that means imposing a freeze on state government fees, he needs to do so.”
Shadow Minister for Cost of Living, Heidi Girolamo said, “There has been record revenue collected by this Government, yet they are failing to take steps to reduce the financial burden on South Australians in simple areas where they can really make a difference.”
Opposition analysis shows:
- Stamp duty on the average home has increased by over $8000;
- Water Bills are up by $90 per year for the average household;
- Revenue from fees and charges (i.e. infringement notices, court fines, land services fees) received by state government have increased by almost 30 per cent.
“Day after day residents in the electorate of Black are telling us that the Government needs to do more to help everyday working South Australians,” Liberal Candidate for Black, Amanda Wilson said.
The Liberal Opposition has already released a suite of cost of living policies, including scrapping the GP Payroll Tax, lowering costs for businesses through payroll tax reform, reversing Labor’s water bill hikes, and stamp duty concessions of first home buyers.
Analysis based on the following assumptions:
Total fees and charges:
Direct comparison of total fees and charges from the South Australian Budget Statement from the 2021/2022 estimated budget result to the 2024/25 budget result.
Stamp duty:
Figure 1: Change in stamp duty for a median house and change in median house price (metropolitan Adelaide)
Source: Office of the Valuer General 2024, Revenue SA Stamp Duty Calculator
This analysis uses median metropolitan property prices as published by the Office of the Valuer General from March 2022 to September 2024. It is calculated on the assumption of a residential property purchaser, who receives no stamp duty reliefs or discounts, is not a foreign purchaser and is not purchasing an off-the-plan apartment.
Residential water usage:
This is calculated through comparing the 1 July 2021 SA Water residential pricing schedule alongside the 1 July 2024 pricing schedule.
