Barely 12 months ago, Premier Peter Malinauskas rode a public wave of concern about the state of South Australia’s public hospitals into government.

The Labor leader became the state’s 47th premier after voters sent the Liberal party a message, seen in no small part to be about the rise of ambulance ramping and clogging of emergency departments.

Now, the Malinauskas government’s second budget points to Labor’s determination to avoid that same fate of its Liberal predecessors.

Mr Malinauskas and Treasurer Stephen Mullighan are pouring billions of extra dollars into the health system, with a clear focus on delivering on that hallmark pledge to “fix the ramping crisis”.

Delivering on that promise has proved challenging for Labor so far, with demand on hospitals and paramedics showing no signs of slowing down.

But the government is hoping the extra $2 billion, over the next few years, will make a noticeable dent — and help ambulances get to South Australians when they desperately need them.

Cost-of-living relief measures won’t be available to all

Health was one of three “bread-and-butter” focuses of the 2023-24 budget, along with cost-of-living and housing.

On the latter two, there is plenty to help out with major problems — people being snowed under by mounting bills and also struggling to find anywhere to live.

But it will not help all of those who are struggling.

The budget certainly has offerings in those areas but you have to qualify for some of what’s on the table.