South Australian Treasurer Rob Lucas says the state is forecasting an economic growth rate of 3.5 per cent for 2021-22 as it comes out of the pandemic. This would represent much faster growth than long-term historical averages for the state, which usually “have a two in front of it”.

Mr Lucas will hand down his last state budget on Tuesday after a long parliamentary career in which he has served in the upper house since 1982. He intends stepping down at the next state election due in March next year.