Friday 13 March 2026
Labor above Liberal while minor parties rate top – and bottom – on SACOSS election report card
The South Australian Council of Social Service has published its election report card built around five key community sector priorities: sector funding and workforce, housing, energy, human rights, and healthy communities.
Of the major parties, Labor rated ahead of the Liberals, with its best scores in housing and health. For the minor parties, the Greens and Tammy Franks (Independent) scored best out of all parties (including Labor and Liberal), while Connie Bonaros’ SA Best scored well on human rights and health.
The report card also highlights SACOSS’s concerns about counter-productive policies proposed by parties like One Nation and Sarah Game’s Fair Go for Australians Party. In key areas such as housing and energy, these proposals will add more cost-of-living pressures to all South Australians.
See images below for summary of parties’ performance against SACOSS election priorities. The full report card is available via the SACOSS website.
Quotes attributable to Dr Catherine Earl, SACOSS CEO
Labor provided a comprehensive response to the SACOSS election platform. They did not agree to all our proposals, but scored relatively well in housing based on the increases in public housing and the rental reforms in the last term, and promises (albeit modest) of more funding for public housing and homelessness services.
Perhaps the most disappointing thing from the major parties was the lack of commitment from either party for sector funding or for a Human Rights Act. These are not big budget asks, but they would make a substantial difference in the lives of vulnerable people.
The Greens and Tammy Franks scored best in the report card as we have worked with them on almost all of the issues we have assessed. We also thank Connie Bonaros for her response, and for the work she has done with us on a range of justice and child protection issues.
What surprised us most in the report card was the lack of real policy or policy detail from some minor parties. Quite apart from SACOSS’ obvious (human rights) objections to discriminatory policies which demonise and undermine often vulnerable groups and people, the lack of understanding of housing and energy policy would do no favours for people who are under pressure and considering voting for One Nation or the Sarah Game party. Their housing and energy policies are not realistic, and if they were ever implemented, they would add to cost of living pressures, not relieve them.
