Premier Peter Malinauskas avoids locking down Limestone Coast health election pledge timeline

The new Premier has made good on his election promise to visit the Limestone Coast but residents want to know when Labor’s pledged health millions will start flowing.

A newly elected South Australian Premier has landed in Mount Gambier on his second day in the top job but residents want to know when Labor’s election promises will become a reality.

Peter Malinauskas’ first stop was the Mount Gambier Hospital where he recommitted a $52.7m investment in Limestone Coast health services.

Mr Malinauskas told a press conference on Wednesday his party’s pledges were not “contingent upon making a minority government”.

Peter Malinauskas has already made good on one election promise, visiting Mount Gambier and Troy Bell less than 72 hours after being sworn in. Picture: Arj Ganesan

“I said to the people of Mount Gambier — within 72 hours of being sworn in, I would be right here on the ground,” he said.

“I’ve honoured that pledge, just as I will honour all the promises that we’ve made in the lead up to the election.”

Flanked by re-elected independent Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell, Mr Malinauskas would not comment on when a $24m upgrade of the hospital would start but said the city was at “the top of the pile” for 24 promised additional paramedics.

After a 10pm election night call Mr Bell was pleased the Premier “had honoured his first commitment” to visit with the pair proactively working on an $100m investment for the region.

“This is a commitment that the Limestone Coast has never seen before from an incoming government,” Mr Bell said.

Peter Malinauskas has reaffirmed his promise for 24 new ambulance officers for the Limestone Coast region. Picture: Arj Ganesan

But residents wanted to know when they would see the money.

Mount Gambier’s Eleni Kourmouzis and Eirene Couzens both said they voted for Labor candidate Katherine Davies following promised improved mental health services and now wanted to see action.

Ms Kourmouzis said along with increasing the beds in the mental health wards, staffing needed to be addressed otherwise it would be a “lost cause”.

“We don’t have enough support for (mental health) down here,” Ms Kourmouzis said.

“Training needs to keep up with the demand as it’s obviously lacking.”

Ahead of the election former nun and Voluntary Assisted Dying advocate Jane Qualmann called for increased palliative care.

She was glad the state leader had visited but also wanted to know when the promised funding would arrive.

“The Mount Gambier region has been forgotten for so long — it’s about time we had some funding into the medical system,” she said.

“I’d like the funding to start now — start putting staff in place.”

Jane Qualmann wants to see Labor’s promised health spend with staff put in place to cater to the expanded services. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Ambulance Employees Association of the Limestone Coast state councillor Andrew Shouksmith said additional officers could not arrive sooner with the service currently “overloaded”.

“I spoke to Peter Malinauskas before the election — this is everything we’ve asked for,” Mr Shouksmith said.

Substance Misuse Limestone Coast project officer Sophie Bourchier welcomed any funding for dedicated drug and alcohol detox beds.

Ms Bourchier said alcohol abuse was the most problematic in the region and the lack of dedicated beds meant either travel to Adelaide or going without treatment and without monitoring withdrawal could be fatal.

She said patients had to organise transport to the capital which was often logistically impossible as they could not drive, fly or take public transport.

“Either family or friends need to take them to Adelaide,” Ms Bourchier said.