Government fees and charges will increase by about 2 percentage points in 2022-23, well under CPI which currently sits at 4.7 per cent in Adelaide.
The Malinauskas Labor Government have committed to use the traditional Treasury methodology to calculate South Australian government fees and charges using a combination of public sector wages and increases in prices.
The news is a blow to fledgling Opposition treasury spokesperson Matt Cowdrey, who issued a fear-mongering media release last week warning fees and charges were “set to soar” citing the 4.7 per cent inflation rate.
This methodology has been in place since 1998 and was honoured by Labor and Liberal governments until the former Liberal Government decided to abandon the methodology for calculating fees and charges in the 2019/20 Budget to fill a budget black hole and increased fees and charges by 5 per cent.
The former Liberal Government’s $500 million cash grab in 2019/20 hit motorists, public transport commuters, tradies and hospital visitors and patients to fill a Budget blackhole created by fiscal mismanagement.
Some examples of fees commonly paid by South Australians include:
| Fee | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | $ increase |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Car registration (4 cylinders or less) | $138 | $141 | $3 |
|
Car registration (5 or 6 cylinders) | $281 | $287 | $6 |
|
Drivers' licence renewal (5 years) | $240 | $245 | $5 |
|
Drivers' licence renewal (10 years) | $480 | $490 | $10 |
The new government is seeking to provide much-needed cost of living relief to battling South Australians amid rising petrol prices, doubling the State Government Cost of Living Concession for people on low and fixed incomes.
Quotes
Attributable to Treasurer Stephen Mullighan
The Malinauskas Labor Government will not be raiding the hip pockets of South Australians like the former Liberal Government.
South Australians are doing it tough with cost-of-living pressures and it will be a relief to many South Australians that increases in government fees and charges are being kept well below inflation.
The Malinauskas Labor Government are acutely aware of current cost of living pressures and will continue to ensure South Australians are protected from any unnecessary increases.
This is a blow to fledgling Opposition treasury spokesperson Matt Cowdrey, who issued a fear-mongering media release last week warning fees and charges were “set to soar”.
