The South Australian Government announced the 2026-27 State Budget on 4 June 2026. Full details of all budget measures are publicly available on the State Budget website.
COTA SA has welcomed targeted measures in the 2026–27 State Budget that recognise the contribution and needs of older South Australians but says key measures are still missing to deliver meaningful relief.
COTA SA welcomes cost‑of‑living relief in the 2026–27 State Budget, including the expansion of the Seniors Card scheme. However, we will continue to advocate for free ambulance services for people on the full Age Pension, further investment in brain health and dementia, and a simpler, more streamlined concessions system that better meets the needs of older people.
Every day, COTA SA hears directly from older people across South Australia about the pressures shaping their lives, including rising cost‑of‑living pressures, difficulty accessing health care, a lack of suitable housing, and the challenge of navigating increasingly complex systems of support.
This response reflects those lived experiences. It brings together COTA SA’s ongoing engagement with thousands of older South Australians about their experiences and challenges, as well as insights from people aged 50+ who took part in COTA SA’s 2026 State Budget survey*, highlighting where the Budget delivers and where significant gaps remain.
While COTA SA welcomes the State Government’s recognition of older South Australians, feedback from our community shows the measures fall short of easing cost‑of‑living pressures, improving access to health care, or delivering the system changes needed to support ageing well. As a result, overall sentiment about the Budget’s impact remains cautious to negative, though there are modest improvements compared with last year’s survey, when many older South Australians reported feeling forgotten and invisible.
Read on for COTA SA’s summary of the 2026–27 State Budget measures, what they mean for older South Australians, and how older South Australians have responded across key policy areas:
- Cost-of-living
- Health
- Housing
- Regional and rural South Australians
You can read COTA SA’s 2026-27 State Budget submission here.
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who shared their views with us. Your insights shape our work and strengthen our advocacy for older South Australians. If you’re over 50, we invite you to become a COTA SA member. Membership is free for all older South Australians who want to support our work and stay involved in highlighting the issues that matter most.