The South Australian Government has released it’s 2025-26 Budget with some broad measures aimed at small business.

While we recognise the South Australian Government’s continued commitment to small business and economic growth, the 2025–26 Budget falls short of delivering the specific, targeted support needed to meet the challenges facing the electrical industry and small business contractors.

The Budget does include several broad initiatives designed to support small and family-run enterprises:

• Powering Business Grants: Small-and-Medium sized businesses can apply for grants between $2,500 – $75,000 for energy efficient equipment or improvements to reduce and manage energy use and costs (applications open July 2025 and businesses can register their interests in the interim)
• Small Business Strategy Expansion: $3.2B over four years to provide continued support for small and family business owners to accelerate growth, profitability and access to new markets and increase their ability to adapt to current challenges through the small business profitability and growth program. A business to government portal feasibility study and business case will be developed with the aim of streamlining red tape, licensing and payments.
• Growth Accelerator Program: $1.8m over four years to assist high growth potential small and medium businesses to improve their business practices, management capabilities, and networks through the provision of expert business advice and facilitated workshops.
• CTP Premiums: Continuation of the existing scheme where drivers of an average four-cylinder vehicle will save almost $150 per year, compared to fees when the scheme was introduced in 2019 – a saving of 36 per cent.

While these measures are a welcome acknowledgment of the importance of small business, they do not adequately address the unique and growing pressures faced by electrical contractors.
MEA will continue to advocate for more targeted and meaningful support to help ensure a strong, skilled, and sustainable workforce for South Australia’s future.

You can read the full breakdown of the South Australian 2025–26 Budget here.