Labor exposed on ambulance response times

As the Malinauskas Government continues to promote modest improvements in Priority 1 and Priority 2 ambulance response times, a very different story is unfolding for thousands of South Australians.

While the Government routinely publishes performance data for Priority 1 and Priority 2 incidents, it has chosen to keep secret equivalent information for Priority 3 and Priority 4.

Data obtained by the Opposition under Freedom of Information reveals ambulance response times for these patients have deteriorated significantly under Labor.

Priority 3 are emergency incidents with an “increased risk of morbidity” requiring an urgent ambulance response within 30 minutes.

In April 2026, that target was met in only 33.7 per cent of cases—down from 40.2 per cent under the Liberal Government just five years earlier and well below the 59.6 per cent achieved in 2018, the benchmark Labor promised and has spectacularly failed to restore.

Priority 4 incidents are urgent incidents with an increased risk of morbidity requiring an urgent ambulance response within 60 minutes. In April 2026, the target was met in just 43.6 per cent of cases—down from 59.9 per cent in April 2021 and 77.1 per cent in April 2018.

Shadow Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Jack Batty, said the figures expose a serious truth gap between the Government’s public messaging and the stark reality.

"This secret data isn't routinely published by Labor—and we can see why. It shows tens of thousands of South Australians are waiting longer for an ambulance under this Government," Mr Batty said.

"This data reveals the other side of Labor's ambulance story. While the Government highlights modest improvements in Priority 1 and 2 response times, performance for thousands of other patients has gone backwards.

"These are still patients who require an urgent ambulance response, yet they're being let down by the very Government that told South Australians to vote like their lives depended on it.

"Labor promised to fix ramping, but it's delivered the worst ramping on record. When ambulances are stuck outside hospitals, they're not available for the next South Australian who urgently needs help.

“Behind every delayed ambulance response is a South Australian left waiting for help.”

Media Contact: Ben Avery 0439 955 254