Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas rejects Treasurer Rob Lucas’ State Budget for fees and charges that will hit families

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas has denounced Rob Lucas’ Budget, saying it “passes on significant consequences to the household”.

• Long version: The 2019 State Budget
• The five-minute version: The 2019 State Budget

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas will on Thursday reject the State Budget as a document lacking a coherent vision for the future, which hits vulnerable households hardest, in a formal reply to Parliament.

Speaking to The Advertiser ahead of the set-piece address, which follows Treasurer Rob Lucas’ reveal on Tuesday of a Budget that spikes state debt on the promise of an infrastructure splurge, Mr Malinauskas also flagged his own plans to shift from government critic to solid alternative.

Mr Malinauskas said the Government had shattered a promise of “lower costs” by jacking up fees and charges.

“There are a number of things out of this Budget that are alarming,” he said.

“What this Budget unequivocally does is pass on significant consequences to the household. The fees and charges are a massive tax hit that will have real world implications on SA families.

“The other alarming point is what is going on with debt, which has almost doubled.”

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said the Budget passed on significant consequences to the household. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

Mr Malinauskas said it was “reckless” for the Government to commit SA to huge expenses, and even larger future debt, with uncosted plans for South Rd and new Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Mr Malinauskas said Premier Steven Marshall had failed to bring “a long-term vision to the table”, and the infrastructure spend included “a fair bit of pork barrelling” to help federal Liberal MP James Stevens in his eastern suburbs seat.

Mr Malinauskas said he would begin mapping out a significant policy agenda from the halfway point of the four-year SA electoral cycle, which arrives in March next year.

“I’m very much looking forward to passing a threshold date where we are closer to the next election than the last,” he said.

“That not being the case, there is a principle obligation upon myself and the Opposition to scrutinise the Government and its Budget.

“I can’t wait for the day that we’re talking about Labor and my alternative vision.”