SA election 2022: What’s been announced week 4 | Labor promises more ambos

An elected Labor government promises to double the number of graduate paramedics and increase student placements.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17

An elected Labor government promises to double the number of graduate paramedics and increase student placements.

This policy is part of a $107.8m plan to recruit an extra 350 ambulance officers over four years in a bid to tackle the state’s dire ramping crisis.

The announcement comes after five people have died in the last 10 days waiting for an ambulance.

If elected, Labor promises to offer more than 100 internships for graduate paramedics – more than double the current standard amount – as well as increase the number of placements to around 140 per year by 2026, up from 120.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas also announced that if elected, his government would be developing a business case in conjunction with SA Health, Flinders University and SA Ambulance Service to develop a new training centre.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

There is no cause for concern according to Premier Steven Marshall and former Prime Minister John Howard, who confronted the recent dire poll results this morning, indicating a massive loss for the Liberal Party. Arriving at Modbury Bowling Club in the seat of Newland, Mr Howard has expressed his support for Mr Marshall.

Both are relying on a similar outcome to the last federal election when polls showed Bill Shorten in the lead.

“Bill Shorten not only measured the curtains, he had a removal van,” said Mr Howard.

“My experience is that when people get into the ballot box, they do think, what was the show like when the other crowd were running it? What is it like now?,” Mr Howard said, “If they do that on Saturday, there’s no doubt that Steven Marshall will be re-elected.”

Premier Steven Marshall and former Prime Minister John Howard visiting the Modbury bowls club on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

The former Prime Minister said he would vote for Mr Marshall because he had “turned around South Australia’s economy”.

“Mr Howard has been a strong supporter and mentor of mine since I became the leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party,” Mr Marshall said.

Despite the Liberal campaign resting on their ability to produce a better economy, the Premier still has not announced a new Treasurer.

When asked whether he has given up on his campaign Mr Marshall said he has not presented any costly promises because South Australians cannot afford the “reckless spending”.

When asked what he would say to undecided voters, Mr Marshall said “this election is all about who you trust to deliver a continuing strong economy for South Australia and job opportunities for the next generation.”

Mr Howard greets a patron at the Modbury bowls club. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Former prime minister John Howard with South Australian Premier Steven Marshall (left) and local MP Richard Harvey during a visit to Modbury Bowling Club. Picture: AAP Image

Meanwhile, Labor will commit $1m to train 76 specialty nurses as part of their previously announced plan for 300 more nurses across the state.

These specialty nurses will be assigned to areas of need to provide extra support aimed at reducing ramping.

The Epilepsy Centre will receive three of these funded nurses to help facilitate training and care for the 10,000 active cases of epilepsy is SA.

Robyn Wakefield CEO of the Epilepsy Centre said that the three nurses will increase the organisations capacity to train more families on how to care for a child or family member having a seizure.

“If they get referred to us immediately our training can stop them calling the ambulance, most of the time you don’t need to call an ambulance if you know what to do.”

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said that these specialty nurses will help “South Australians manage their conditions and stay out of emergency departments.”

TUESDAY MARCH 15

A Greens candidate has had a crack at vandals who graffitied her corflute in a funny video that has now gone viral.

The candidate for Unley, Georgie Hart, took to Instagram at the weekend standing next to her poster, which had a moustache and cigarette drawn on it, sporting the same drawings on her face.

“Hi, I’m Georgie Fart,” she says in the video.

“And I’m the Greens candidate for Unley, and I’m here to talk to you about natural gas.

“Not that type of gas, natural gas like natural coal is a dangerous fossil fuel and if we want a future for our children here on this planet we need to be transitioning away from fossil fuel.”

The lighthearted prank had quite an impact, with people sharing it broadly on Twitter and other social media channels.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party has jumped on board a jobs announcement for an SA-based tech company.

Pernix, which specialises in sourcing, integrating and visualising data, is looking to employ 100 new people at its business on War Memorial Drive.

Premier Steven Marshall said it was yet another example of a local company growing and employing South Australians.

“In fact, there are currently 23,700 job vacancies across the entire state,” Mr Marshall said.

LABOR VOWS CASH FOR 24-HOUR PHARMACIES

Labor will allocate $900,000 over the next three years to support three 24-hour community pharmacies.

The announcement comes as part of a $2.65m investment package into state pharmacies to help reduce pressure on the hospital system.

Three pharmacies will be chosen across the northern suburbs, southern suburbs, and central Adelaide.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said local pharmacies were often the “first port of call for health services” and can help to address the ambulance ramping crisis.

“We know that pharmacists are highly skilled individuals who have the ability to deliver patient care,” he said.

“By government and pharmacists working closely together we can ensure that hospital admissions reduce, reducing the burden on our emergency departments, on our ambulance service.”

This election promise comes after the news of two people passing away after waiting for delayed ambulances on Monday night, one of which was only 20 years old.

“How much longer are we going to allow this to continue? The fact that South Australians are frequently calling triple-0 and not getting ambulances arriving on time is representation of a crisis,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“Our ambos are working tirelessly under extraordinary circumstances. They are doing their best, but our government isn’t, this government needs to do more.”

The remaining $1.75m of Labor’s investment aims to produce further training to ensure pharmacists are equipped to conduct mental health first aid, medical reviews for people with complex health needs, and provide palliative care medication for carers and patients.

- Monique Van Der Heyden

MONDAY MARCH 14

The Liberals have used a stunt involving fake money to call on Labor to release election costings, as both parties face questions about the cost of their commitments.

Treasurer Rob Lucas on Monday released his party’s costings and said they would make no further election commitments before election day.

Arriving at the media event with a giant mock-up $4000 “invoice” to South Australian families and $100 notes bearing the face of Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas, he urged Labor to do the same.

Treasurer Rob Lucas in an election stunt on Monday, with fake Labor ‘money’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

“This election is a high-stakes decision for South Australians, who simply cannot afford to gamble their futures and their family budgets on Labor,” he said.

The Liberals say their election commitments require a total of $288m in new funding, despite Premier Steven Marshall earlier saying the party had pledged $500m new funding for health alone.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas rubbished the Liberals’ claim that Labor’s promises would cost each South Australian household an extra $4000. Instead, he said South Australians would pay nothing extra to cover its pledges.

“Labor has a solid commitment to not increase taxes,” he said.

Mr Malinauskas said Labor would on Thursday outline how it planned to pay for its promises.

He said the party would not release its costings sooner because it still had some announcements to make. He also pointed out that it was common practice by all political parties to only reveal costings in the days before polling day.

The Labor Leader said he was not worried about the Liberals’ campaign.

“Who would have thought the Liberal Party run yet another tired old scare campaign and why? Because they’ve got nothing – they’ve got no plans for the future of the state,” he said.

– Elizabeth Henson and Kathryn Bermingham

SUNDAY MARCH 13

The election is moving from health to the hip pocket as leaders focus on the rising cost of living, including spiralling petrol prices as a final week vote decider.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas has promised $37.7m to double an annual payment to concession card holders – for one year only.

For self funded retiree homeowner occupiers with a seniors health care card, or tenants, an annual, one-off payment would rise from $108.60 to $217.20, enough for one litre a week.

Mr Malinauskas described his planned increase for 185,000 concession card holders as “modest”.

Real time fuel pricing will be made permanent if the Liberals are returned as Premier Steven Marshall said rocketing fuel prices were an election issue.

The scheme is one year into a two-year trial and the RAA’s Mark Borlace welcomed Mr Marshall’s $1m promise to make it permanent, noting it comes as petrol prices have doubled in the past year.

“The reality is in last 12 months with real time fuel pricing Adelaide has had the cheapest on average fuel prices in Australia,” Mr Borlace said.

“We have world record prices right now, if you own two cars it is the biggest energy cost in the household and the only one you can control.”

The scheme requires fuel outlets to report any prices changes to a central data base 30 minutes prior to a change, with penalties of up to $10,000 applicable.

Speaking at the Rose Park Shell station, the Premier said motorists using the scheme could save $30 filling an average family car if they shopped around for the cheapest prices at present rates.

The Premier also has written to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg asking for a cut to fuel excise — even if temporary — to be considered in the federal budget to ease pressure on motorists.

– Brad Crouch