5 June 2025
The State’s Upper House has backed a Greens motion calling on the Malinauskas Government to make ambulance cover free for full Age Pensioners in today’s state budget.
The motion, moved by Greens MLC Robert Simms, passed the Legislative Council yesterday evening with the support of the Liberal Opposition and the crossbench and comes as Council on the Aging SA calls on the State Government to make ambulance transport free for pensioners.
The current cost of an emergency ambulance service is $1,171, plus a per kilometre fee of $6.70 — more than the fortnightly rate for a single full Age Pension. South Australia remains the only state in the country that does not provide free emergency ambulance services to people receiving the full Age Pension. Queensland and Tasmania do not make any of their residents pay for ambulance services.
“We know that older South Australians already face immense cost-of-living pressures—from rising energy bills to soaring insurance premiums—leaving little room in their budgets for unplanned expenses like ambulance fees,” said Robert Simms.
“The barrier created by high ambulance fees creates the serious risk that some older South Australians will make the difficult decision not to call an ambulance when they are in need of emergency medical help.”
“The Government says it believes in a user pays model — but South Australians shouldn’t have to choose between their financial stability or their health. It’s time for the Malinauskas Government to step up and ensure that SA joins the rest of the nation in making ambulance trips free for full Age Pensioners in today’s budget.”