Labor promises to wipe public school fees from 2027 while Liberals set target for zero litter in oceans within a decade

Labor has vowed to abolish public school fees for primary and high school students from 2027, if it's returned to government at the March 21 election.

The cost for annual materials and services charge for primary students was $382 and $723 for secondary students per year.

Making an announcement at Grange in the safe Labor seat of Lee, Labor leader Peter Malinauskas said the move would save about 90,000 families an average of more than $8,000 per child across their schooling.

"We should be thinking about families, families who are raising children — which is what we want people to be able to do in South Australia."

The policy builds on an existing rebate of $200 per child, with the total relief estimated to cost taxpayers $300 million over the next four years.

Mr Malinauskas said the investment could be made because the state had the "fiscal capacity to do so" on the "back of a growing economy".

The premier said there was already a $4.5 billion commitment, over 10 years, to support private schools.

"That goes above the requirements of state government to provide financial support to private schools", he said.

"So they have it in their capacity to make decisions whether that money is invested in additional services or facilities or school fee relief as well.

"This is an across-the-board program to provide as much cost-of-living relief to people who are raising children, which is one of the most expensive things that any family can do".

When asked what would happen if an influx of students came into the public system, Education Minister Blair Boyer said the state government signed a Better and Fairer Schools Agreement with the federal government in 2025, which accounted for more financial support from the Commonwealth.

"If we get more students coming into the public system, the funding that we attract for that also grows, and then increases the state government's ability to continue offering fee relief like this".

Liberal Leader Ashton Hurn did not expressly say whether she backed the policy, arguing the "the devil is always in the detail".

"It's interesting that it's taken four years for the Labor party to finally come around to this notion, cost of living has been biting people across the state really for the last three years," Ms Hurn said.

"Anything we can do to reduce public school fees, I think is welcome.

"Fees are one pressure on the family budget but there are other things too".

Zero litter commitment

On Sunday, Ms Hurn was out campaigning at Glenelg, in the safe Liberal seat of Morphett, joining a Clean Up Australia Day event.

Ms Hurn made a $4.3 million election commitment to help eliminate litter from South Australia's oceans.

The leader set a target to have zero litter on the coast by 2035.

"Our policy will actually stop 3,000 wheelie bins from hitting our coastline," Ms Hurn said.

"It's about working with local councils to make sure the storm waters are up to scratch, making sure we can maintain the infrastructure to stop litter from getting to our beautiful, pristine coastline."

Shadow Environment Minister David Basham said the policy would involve an audit to detect where weaknesses were in the stormwater drain networks across Adelaide.

"Then we will work with councils to invest in those upgrades that are needed in those spots where we're seeing those things get out," Mr Basham said.

He said the 2035 target was ambitious but necessary.