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AAP
AAP
Politics
Tim Dornin

SA Labor reveals election costings

SA opposition treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan (l) has revealed his party's election costings. (AAP)

Labor will use budget savings and uncommitted capital in South Australia's existing budget to fund its $3 billion in election promises, the party has revealed.

Releasing its costings ahead of Saturday's state election, opposition treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan said the party's pledges had been verified by independent audit and accounting firm Charterpoint.

Mr Mullighan said the figures showed a Labor government could deliver on its commitments without increasing taxes and charges if elected.

"The Liberal scare campaign has been comprehensively debunked," he told reporters on Thursday.

"There will be no new taxes, there will be no tax increases."

Labor said it could save about $670 million over the next four years by imposing a 1.7 per cent efficiency dividend on government departments not delivering frontline services.

Agencies such as health, police, emergency services and education would be exempt from the savings measure.

It said it could also save $41 million by axing 50 executive positions, with the Department of Premier and Cabinet a key target for the job cuts.

It will also use about $1.5 billion in uncommitted capital reserves already in the state budget as well as bringing forward the $662 million the Liberal government planned to spend on a new Riverbank Arena in Adelaide.

Those funds would largely go to pay for Labor's $1 billion in health initiatives, including plans for hospital upgrades, more hospital beds and the recruitment of extra doctors, nurses and paramedics.

Mr Mullighan said Labor's measures would add $243 million to state debt.

Ahead of Labor's release of its figures, retiring Treasurer Rob Lucas said the party's claims of no tax hikes could not be trusted.

"It's too big a risk to trust Labor to manage the economy because when Labor spends big, it's South Australians who always pay," Mr Lucas said.

The government said its own election commitments were prudent and would cost just $288 million.

The biggest single item was $123 million for a string of hospital upgrades.

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