We asked you to tell us what matters to you ahead of the SA election. Here's what you said

AUSTRALIA, March 19 — The ABC asked you to tell us what matters most in the four weeks leading up to the South Australian election. We heard from nearly 1,000 people. Unsurprisingly, the results varied hugely, but there were plenty of common threads.

Environment, housing, the health system, transport and government spending were among the topics which came up repeatedly. So, here's some of what you told us. Loading Environmental concerns This was an especially common thread, and something which came up across a broad range of voters.

For me it begins and ends with the climate crisis — a world-changing event in every sense that is being ignored by most governments. If you're not serious about climate solutions as a political party, then I won't even look at your other policies. — Yarrow, Plympton Priority is preserving all aspects of our natural environment.

— Susan, Adelaide My primary concerns are preservation of the parklands, the algal bloom, mitigating climate change, and the preservation of South Australia's heritage buildings. I do not want Liv Golf at the North Adelaide golf course, and I do not want the motorbike race to be held in the parklands. — Amelie, Firle The Adelaide parklands are set to be locations for the MotoGP and LIV Golf.

( ABC News: Daniel Taylor ) Specifically, the parklands came up a lot , and it was a key issue for people across the state, not just in the electorate of Adelaide. Protection of the Adelaide Parklands from destruction of trees and more buildings and reduced public access. — Brian, Christies Beach Adelaide getting the Motorcycle Grand Prix is a great idea.

It would be sensible to use the same inner city/parklands track as the car races do, but NOT if we have to cut down trees. The inner-city parklands are very important to the community and a significant park of what makes Adelaide a great city to live in. — Peter, Springfield Housing Amid an ongoing housing crisis, and during a campaign that has had a strong focus on housing by Labor and the Liberals too, housing has been a key issue for some South Australian voters.

Housing affordability and cost of living must be seriously addressed. — Mary, Morphett Vale I am concerned about the housing situation for young people. Regardless SA telling us they're building new homes, the cost continues to rise making it more and more difficult for young people to afford a home.

— David, Athelstone Housing policy is my biggest issue. eg. First home buyers in this environment still having to pay stamp duty on existing houses is ridiculous.

Back in the day first home buyers regularly bought cheap run-down places as their first home, I know I did. Forcing them into the outlying suburbs and into new builds is wrong. Not every first home buyer wants to live in the outlying suburbs.

— Mark, Port Lincoln Health The Malinauskas Labor government was elected in 2022 with a keystone promise to fix the ramping crisis. Throughout the campaign, it is something the premier has apologised for not achieving , while he and Health Minister Chris Picton have also been forced to apologise for an email bungle with a woman, Bronwyn Paterson, whose partner experienced ramping in the final hours of his life, at the centre of it. 'Fix the ramping crisis' was Labor's promise during the 2022 election campaign.

( ABC News ) So, it was unsurprising to see health ranking highly among respondents. Health care is a real concern for me, specifically continued and more frequent access to the public system. — Lynda, Peterhead Australia's health system is under clear strain.

Ambulance ramping, overcrowded hospitals and workforce shortages continue despite significant funding. The public deserves accountability on how money is being spent and whether planning matches demand. Aged care standards must not decline due to staffing pressures.

— Nicola, Prospect Focus on health including, solving ramping, reducing wait times at hospital emergency, significantly improving the efficiency of specialist clinics, increasing the number of hospital beds, and reducing non-caring activities, such as discharging patients during the night. — Wayne, Noarlunga Centre Health — no ramping / cut down waiting times in emergency / cut down waiting times to see specialists. — Rita, Smithfield Government spending and debt Something people were concerned about was how state money is being spent, especially when there are still challenges in the health system.

Government spending on things that can wait while our hospitals need nurses and beds. — Carol, Mount Pleasant I feel that the state government is focusing too much on sporting events and festivals. They are failing to tackle the cost of living pressure, the energy costs, the state debt and the cost of housing.

— Ben, Hazelwood Park I am very concerned about the SA State's growing debt. — Vivien, Port Augusta SA voters' transport wishlist As more houses are being built in Adelaide's outer suburbs, more public transport is something on the minds of South Australian voters, in both the regions and the city. Transport Transport was among the most common responses, and calls for an expansion of regional rail, especially in the Adelaide Hills, was a key issue for many, but it extended beyond that too.

I would like to see more policies for the social good. Public transport and active transport. I would like to see less emphasis on motor vehicle events.

— Jennifer, Glandore Where is a policy for cycling infrastructure? There is a lot of focus on roads but as Adelaide's population grows investing in cycling infrastructure can retain Adelaide as a great place to live. There is so much opportunity in Adelaide due to it being mostly flat and some bare bones of cycling infrastructure.

Also with the availability of e-bikes it reduces another barrier. But the perceived danger due to lack of cycling infrastructure remains. — Mathu, Dernancourt Cost of living and broader issues There were many voters who highlighted a breadth of issues, including ongoing cost of living challenges, influencing where they put a 1 on the ballots, with challenges like the cost of living still persisting for many .

My priorities when voting in the state election are cost of living, Housing/renting and environment/climate change and action. — Ruby, Brompton Policies to reduce the cost of living especially buying a house is most important to me this election. The second most important issue is the lack of public transport planning for all the new houses being built in the outer suburbs.

— Scott, Kapunda Cost of living … very difficult being on a fixed income! ; Access to hospital services — they seem to be always overloaded; offering immediate care but not longer term care. Poor public mental health services + cannot afford private mental health practitioners as very few bulk bill and almost zero are available through the public system for ongoing assistance!

Especially allied health. — Luciano, Torrensville Cost of living, housing, health care access and health services prices. — Navid, Marden