The South Australian government will allocate an extra $42.8 million in the upcoming state budget for health infrastructure, with $10 million to be spent on regional projects.
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The government will outlay $6 million for a step-down unit to care for brain and spinal patients at the Repatriation Hospital and $15 million will go to the expansion of the Gawler Hospital emergency department, north of Adelaide.
"This funding boost will kickstart a range of important health projects for local communities and create hundreds of jobs at a time when we need them most," Premier Steven Marshall said on Monday.
However the Labor opposition says health infrastructure spending in the state has fallen to its lowest level in a decade under the Liberal government.
It says figures from the auditor-general put spending in 2020 at just $169 million and it was even lower at $103 million the previous year.
Opposition Health Spokesman Chris Picton said spending had "tanked" at the very time the state's economy needed a boost.
"The premier must intervene to massively boost health infrastructure spending and get years-overdue hospital projects immediately underway," Mr Picton said.
Treasurer Rob Lucas will hand down the delayed SA budget on November 10.
Australian Associated Press
