2026 State Election Platform

The South Australian State Election will be held on Saturday, 21 March 2026. The Law Society has released its 2026 State Election Platform, which outlines its key priorities for a stronger, fairer, and more accessible justice system.

Recent Election Updates

The Greens South Australia recently announced it's SA 2026 Election Platform, which includes the policy "Justice Not Jail" - read more about the plan and view the Law Society's response here.

The Law Society recently published a "State Election" of The Bulletin. Read it here.

Read the Law Society’s commentary on the Government’s response to the report of the Royal Commission into Domestic Violence, which recommends significant improvements in court safety standards.

Parties/Independents that have responded to the Society's State Election Platform 

• The Greens
• The Liberal Party
• Connie Bonaros - SA-Best
• Jing Lee - Better Community
• Tammy Franks

The Law Society's Key Asks

A more accessible courts system

• Upgrade court infrastructure, technology, and access (including implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence)
• Reduce court transcription costs to lessen costs for court users
• Fund and train interpreters to enhance access to justice for court users of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, particularly First Nations communities
• Enhance mediation services in courts

Read more

Youth justice initiatives that work

• Increase funding for youth diversionary and bail mentoring programs
• Establish a Youth Justice Advisory Committee
• Fund a Nunga Court in the Adelaide Youth Court
• Raise the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility

Read more

Important legislative reforms

• Implement a Human Rights framework
• Enhance legislative transparency and accountability
• Update the Powers of Attorney and Agency Act 1984 to protect vulnerable members of the community against exploitation
• Decriminalise sex work
• Implement recommended reforms to address harassment in the legal profession

Read more

A policy to support the local profession

• Implement a policy for the procurement of legal services that prioritises local legal services and encourages the upskilling of the local profession

Read more

A smart approach to crime

• Re-establish the Criminal Justice Taskforce to monitor the effectiveness of the criminal justice system
• Create a fairer Victims of Crime compensation scheme
• Build bail and post-release accommodation to help those exiting prison transition back into the community
• Enhance rehabilitation programs for prisoners
• Implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture

Read more

Better justice access in the regions

• Increase public funding to enhance access to legal services for people in regional, remote and rural areas

Read more

Pre-election policies

Parties have started announcing polices and proposals in the lead-up to the March 2026 State Election. The Society will keep track of any policy announcements relating to the legal profession justice system, and provide feedback on the policies. The Society will also provide responses from the various parties and independents to our State Election Platform.

Labor

Safety standards in the courts

The Greens

As part of The Greens’ recently released State Election Platform, the party announced its “Justice Not Jail” plan. See more about the plan and the Law Society's response here.

The Greens has responded to the Society's State Election Platform; see the full response here or see responses on specific issues using the links below.

• Implement a Human Rights Framework
• Decriminalise sex work
• Enhanced access to justice through the Courts
• Bail and post-release accommodation
• Justice Reinvestment
• Minimum age of criminal responsibility

Liberal

Hon. Ben Hood MLC has responded to the Society's State Election Platform on behalf of the South Australian Liberal Party. You can see the response here.

Youth crime and diversion

Independents

SA-BEST

SA-BEST has responded to the Society's State Election Platform; see the full response here or see responses on specific issues using the links below.

• Court Resourcing
• Legislative Reform
• Criminal Justice System
• Youth Justice
• Supporting the South Australian Legal Profession
• Access to Justice in Regional Areas

Jing Lee - Better Community

Jing Lee has responded to the Society's State Election Platform, see the full response here or see responses on specific issues using the links below.

• Implement recommendations of the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence
• Fund and train interpreters
• Legislative Reform
• Victims of Crime
• Increase funding for youth diversionary programs
• Access to justice in regional areas

Hon. Tammy Franks MLC

Hon. Tammy Franks MLC has responded to the Society's State Election Platform, see the response here.

On the campaign trail

The Society President and President-Elect has met with several Members of Parliament to discuss the Society’s State Election Platform. Further meetings are scheduled in the lead-up to the Election. So far, the Society has met with:

• The Hon Kyam Maher MLC, Attorney General
• The Hon Josh Teague MP, Shadow Attorney General
• The Hon Robert Simms MLC, Leader of the Greens
• The Hon Connie Bonaros MLC, Independent
• The Hon Andrea Michaels MP, Minister for Small and Family Business; Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs
• The Hon Jing Lee MLC, Independent
• The Hon Rhiannon Pearce MP, Minister for Corrections
• The Hon Vincent Tarzia MP, Shadow Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing