Today’s State Budget won’t go down as one of the boldest in our state’s history — but it wasn’t meant to be. With a state election less than a year away, this budget is best seen as a pre-election placeholder: a budget that provides some welcome support for targeted areas of the business community, while leaving room for more ambitious reform down the track.
That said, there are measures worth noting and opportunities for businesses to engage now.
One of the standout announcements is the (re)creation of a $50 million Early-Stage Venture Capital Fund, designed to help innovative South Australian firms scale and enter new markets. If well managed — and supported by co-investment from the private sector — this fund could help unlock the next generation of SA success stories. The 2017 version of this fund has some impressive alumni.
For small and medium businesses, there’s a $20 million extension of the energy efficiency grants program opening in July. These grants will support investments in energy-saving upgrades — a practical, timely initiative in the face of rising input costs. We encourage businesses to look closely at this opportunity when applications open.
Regional businesses are also on the radar, with $2 million in grants for drought-affected operators and expanded access to business counselling and rural financial advice. While modest in size, this support is a welcome acknowledgment of the unique pressures facing our rural industries.
On the defence and advanced manufacturing front, the budget includes:
These measures reflect a longer-term effort to position South Australian firms within the evolving national defence industry, but a significantly greater investment will be required to build the supply chain required to deliver on the sector’s potential.
There’s also $5 million to support exporters navigating global trade shifts, $3.2 million over four years to expand the South Australian Small Business Strategy and $1.8 million over four years to deliver the Growth Accelerator Program for high potential small to medium businesses looking to grow and scale.
The Small Business Strategy Expansion includes a feasibility study for a digital business-to-government portal aimed at cutting red tape and streamlining licensing and payments. If implemented effectively, this could reduce one of the major pain points we hear from members — the time and effort required to deal with the government.
We also note the budget’s boost for Business Events Adelaide — with $10.9 million to attract more conferences, trade shows and commercial activity into our state. Of course, if South Australia lands COP31, it will require a lot more than the $8 million allocated in this budget.
So in short, there’s a little bit for everyone – exporters, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, advanced manufacturers and regional business. What’s absent is the big picture reform. Let’s hope we see that from both sides in the 2026 election campaign.
South Australia still needs deeper structural reform — in taxation, regulation and workforce development — to lift productivity and drive sustained growth. We will continue advocating for reforms that reduce compliance costs and free up your time and resources to do what you do best: run and grow your business.
Looking ahead to the state election, we’ll be actively pushing for a stronger policy agenda — one that puts business at the heart of South Australia’s economic future.
If you have views on what you want to see from the next government, I invite you to share them with us. Your voice shapes our advocacy and together we can drive the changes our state needs.
