Certification

To:

The Hon. Peter Bryden Malinauskas
Premier of South Australia

This annual report will be presented to Parliament to meet the statutory reporting requirements of the Cross Border Commissioner Act 2022 (SA) Part 3 Section 14 and the requirements of Premier and Cabinet Circular PC013 Annual Reporting.

This report aims to advise upon the operations of the Commissioner during the previous financial year. It is verified as accurate for the purposes of annual reporting to the Parliament of South Australia.

Submitted on behalf of the Office of the Cross Border Commissioner - South Australia by:

Kelly-Anne Saffin
Cross Border Commissioner
30 September 2025

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge this land. The Dreaming is still living. From the past, in the present, into the future, forever.

From the Cross Border Commissioner

It is a privilege to present the 2024-25 Annual Report of the Office of the Cross Border Commissioner (OCBC) to South Australia's cross border communities and the Parliament of South Australia.

The OCBC advocates for improved outcomes for over 109,000 residents who live, work and play across South Australia's five thriving cross border regions. We work to facilitate collaboration between governments, simplify regulations, improve access to essential services, and ensure community voices shape policy.

This year has been one of consolidation and strategic advancement for the OCBC, with its transition to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) in April 2024. Since my commencement as Commissioner in October 2024 and the re-establishment of the Mount Gambier office, the OCBC has focused on strengthening its presence and impact across South Australia's border communities.

Over the past year, I have undertaken 284 formal engagements with 132 organisations, government agencies, and stakeholders. These meetings have ensured that local perspectives remain front and centre in shaping policy and service delivery. Maintaining direct engagement with communities along South Australia's borders continues to be a key priority, reinforcing our commitment to responsive and inclusive governance.

I extend my sincere thanks to the Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia, and DPC for their continued support and acknowledge the foundational efforts of the previous Cross Border Commissioner. I also deeply appreciate the generosity of community members, local leaders, businesses, industry, and SA Government agencies who have contributed to our work.

I wish to acknowledge the local government sector for its collaborative spirit. Local governments have long worked together across the River Murray and Green Triangle regions, and it has been a privilege to support and highlight their shared efforts, ranging from joint projects to standing agenda items at the Limestone Coast and Murraylands and Riverland Local Government Association meetings.

A core function of the OCBC is also to identify, champion, and assist government agencies already working to improve the experience of cross border communities. Notable examples in 2024-25 include the introduction of special footrot arrangements for the Mount Gambier and Naracoorte saleyards, Primary Industries and Regions SA’s (PIRSA) swift action to enable fodder access from Western Australia into South Australia and Victoria, the commencement of a review of the Green Triangle Freight Action Plan and the extension of the Alert SA application to cover Western Victoria.

Inter-jurisdictional co-operation

Strong relationships with fellow Cross Border Commissioners in Victoria, New South Wales (NSW), Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are essential to this portfolio.

In October 2024, the Premier announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Victoria and South Australia to strengthen cross border collaboration. Similarly reciprocal arrangements with New South Wales have been successfully negotiated. Further cooperation has included the second Victoria, NSW and SA Health Border Forum held in Renmark in October 2024. Following this forum, each Commissioner is now leading cross border working groups focused on ambulance services, workforce, and electronic records management. I also had the pleasure of  co-hosting a joint Limestone Coast and South West Victorian local government forum alongside the Victorian Cross Border Commissioner, in Portland, Victoria.

In addition, I convened a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) roundtable with representatives from five jurisdictions to examine funding and skills flow, participating in various joint CBC briefings to Jobs and Skills Australia, the Regional Australia Institute and the National Emergency Management Agency.

In April 2025, I hosted my commissioner colleagues in Adelaide for bilateral meetings with South Australian Police (SAPOL), the SA Skills Commissioner, the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM), DPC, and the Department for Education (DfE). We agreed to explore opportunities on joint initiatives, including greater mutual recognition of skills, seamless access to Fee Free TAFE for cross border communities and improved coordination in emergency management recovery arrangements.

This collaboration culminated in June 2025 with the SA Cross Border Commissioner (CBC) leading a local government forum in Canberra, alongside fellow Commissioners and the Jobs and Skills Australia Commissioner. The event included attendance by 60 local government representatives.

Direct Advocacy

Throughout 2024–25, the OCBC has provided direct input into legislation and government reform. This encompasses feedback on the Education and Children’s Services (Enrolment and Attendance) Amendment Bill 2025, the Limestone Coast  Destination Management Plan, and formal submissions to the National Productivity Analysis 2025, the Independent Review on Commonwealth Disaster Funding, and the South Australian Transport Strategy.

The CBC has also been invited to participate in several industry and working groups to further the interests of cross border communities. Ongoing commitments include membership of the Green Triangle Forest Industry Hub First Nations Working Group, ElectraNet Consumer Advisory Panel, PIRSA Drought Roundtable, Green Triangle Freight Action Plan and PIRSA Drought Fodder Working Group.

Transitioning Engagement into Structural Reform

As we enter 2025-26, the Premier has endorsed strategic priorities for the OCBC. Focusing on workforce skills and education, integrated programs, service and infrastructure planning, the ease of doing business, promoting economic outcomes and resilient and connected communities.

The need to support the smooth flow of labour across border communities has been consistently raised. In response, the OCBC have already commenced a rapid review of skills and labour mobility across these regions. The resulting report and implementation plan will be published in early 2025-26.

With the renewal of the OCBC, I would like to especially acknowledge the role of Donna Sims, our Project Support Officer who joined in February 2025, and Jacqui Hawkins, who provided invaluable policy assistance on a short-term contract.

Looking ahead, the Office of the Cross Border Commissioner remains committed to building stronger, more connected, and more resilient cross border communities- where geography does not determine opportunity.

Kelly-Anne Saffin
Cross Border Commissioner