South Australians Speak Out: What Really Matters in the Lead-Up to the Election
In the crucial four weeks preceding the South Australian election, a significant number of residents, nearly 1,000 in total, shared their most pressing concerns with the ABC. While the breadth of issues raised was vast, several recurring themes emerged, painting a clear picture of voter priorities. Environmental sustainability, the escalating housing crisis, the strain on the healthcare system, transport infrastructure, and responsible government spending were consistently highlighted as key areas demanding attention from political parties.
Environmental Concerns Take Centre Stage
Environmental issues, particularly the climate crisis, resonated deeply across a wide spectrum of voters. For many, a party’s commitment to climate solutions was a non-negotiable factor in their voting decision.
- Climate Crisis as a Top Priority: One voter from Plympton articulated this sentiment, stating, “For me it begins and ends with the climate crisis — a world-changing event in every sense that is being ignored by most governments. If you’re not serious about climate solutions as a political party, then I won’t even look at your other policies.”
- Preservation of the Natural Environment: The broader preservation of South Australia’s natural landscapes and heritage was also a significant concern. Susan from Adelaide emphasised the need for “priority is preserving all aspects of our natural environment.”
- Specific Local Environmental Issues: Concerns extended to more localised environmental challenges. Amelie from Firle highlighted issues such as “the algal bloom, mitigating climate change, and the preservation of South Australia’s heritage buildings,” adding a firm stance against specific events like “Liv Golf at the North Adelaide golf course, and… the motorbike race to be held in the parklands.”
The Adelaide Parklands: A Focal Point
The protection of Adelaide’s iconic parklands emerged as a particularly strong and consistent theme, impacting voters not only within the Adelaide electorate but across the state.
- Preventing Destruction and Maintaining Access: Brian from Christies Beach voiced a common concern: “Protection of the Adelaide Parklands from destruction of trees and more buildings and reduced public access.”
- Balancing Development with Green Space: Peter from Springfield acknowledged the potential benefits of events like the Motorcycle Grand Prix but stressed the importance of safeguarding the parklands. He noted, “Adelaide getting the Motorcycle Grand Prix is a great idea. It would be sensible to use the same inner city/parklands track as the car races do, but NOT if we have to cut down trees. The inner-city parklands are very important to the community and a significant park of what makes Adelaide a great city to live in.”
The Unfolding Housing Crisis
With an ongoing housing crisis dominating headlines and political discourse, it was unsurprising that housing emerged as a critical issue for many South Australians. Both major parties have placed a strong emphasis on housing policy during the election campaign, reflecting its significance to voters.
- Affordability and Cost of Living: Mary from Morphett Vale directly linked housing to the broader cost of living, calling for it to be “seriously addressed.”
- Challenges for Young People: David from Athelstone expressed concern for younger generations, noting, “I am concerned about the housing situation for young people. Regardless SA telling us they’re building new homes, the cost continues to rise making it more and more difficult for young people to afford a home.”
- Critiques of Current Housing Policy: Mark from Port Lincoln offered a sharp critique of existing housing policies, particularly for first-home buyers. He found it “ridiculous” that first-home buyers still face stamp duty on existing homes and argued against policies that push them towards new builds in outlying suburbs, stating, “Not every first home buyer wants to live in the outlying suburbs.”
The Strain on the Health System
Given the Malinauskas Labor government’s 2022 election promise to address the ambulance ramping crisis, and the Premier’s subsequent acknowledgments of the challenges in achieving this goal, health remained a paramount concern for many respondents.
- Access to Public Healthcare: Lynda from Peterhead highlighted the need for “continued and more frequent access to the public system.”
- Systemic Pressures and Accountability: Nicola from Prospect provided a comprehensive overview of the health system’s struggles, mentioning “Ambulance ramping, overcrowded hospitals and workforce shortages continue despite significant funding.” She called for “accountability on how money is being spent and whether planning matches demand,” and stressed that “Aged care standards must not decline due to staffing pressures.”
- Specific Improvements Needed: Wayne from Noarlunga Centre outlined a clear set of desired improvements, including “solving ramping, reducing wait times at hospital emergency, significantly improving the efficiency of specialist clinics, increasing the number of hospital beds, and reducing non-caring activities, such as discharging patients during the night.” Rita from Smithfield echoed these sentiments, calling for “no ramping / cut down waiting times in emergency / cut down waiting times to see specialists.”
Government Spending and State Debt
Concerns about how taxpayer money is being allocated were also prevalent, particularly in light of ongoing challenges within the health system.
- Prioritising Essential Services: Carol from Mount Pleasant questioned, “Government spending on things that can wait while our hospitals need nurses and beds.”
- Focus on Events vs. Cost of Living: Ben from Hazelwood Park felt the state government was overly focused on “sporting events and festivals,” while neglecting critical issues like “the cost of living pressure, the energy costs, the state debt and the cost of housing.”
- Growing State Debt: Vivien from Port Augusta expressed significant apprehension about “the SA State’s growing debt.”
Transport and Infrastructure Needs
Transport emerged as a frequently raised topic, with a notable demand for expanded regional rail services, especially in the Adelaide Hills. However, the discussion around transport extended beyond rail.
- Public and Active Transport Advocacy: Jennifer from Glandore advocated for “more policies for the social good. Public transport and active transport,” and a reduced emphasis on “motor vehicle events.”
- Investment in Cycling Infrastructure: Mathu from Dernancourt highlighted a perceived lack of focus on cycling infrastructure. They argued that “as Adelaide’s population grows investing in cycling infrastructure can retain Adelaide as a great place to live,” noting the city’s suitability for cycling and the potential of e-bikes, while acknowledging the “perceived danger due to lack of cycling infrastructure.”
Broader Cost of Living and Economic Pressures
Beyond specific policy areas, many voters cited the pervasive cost of living as a primary driver of their voting decisions, a challenge that continues to impact households across the state.
- Interconnected Priorities: Ruby from Brompton clearly outlined her voting priorities as “cost of living, Housing/renting and environment/climate change and action.”
- Transport Planning for New Housing: Scott from Kapunda emphasised the importance of “Policies to reduce the cost of living especially buying a house,” and secondly, the “lack of public transport planning for all the new houses being built in the outer suburbs.”
- Comprehensive Cost of Living and Service Access: Luciano from Torrensville detailed a range of interconnected concerns, including “Cost of living … very difficult being on a fixed income!,” “Access to hospital services — they seem to be always overloaded; offering immediate care but not longer term care,” and “Poor public mental health services + cannot afford private mental health practitioners.”
- Holistic Economic Concerns: Navid from Marden succinctly listed “Cost of living, housing, health care access and health services prices” as his key issues.
