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Led by former union boss Peter Malinauskas, Labor appears set to hold 25 and possibly as many as 27 seats in South Australia's 47-seat House of Assembly after its big win in Saturday's election.

Continued counting should bring into sharper focus the size of the swing involved in the victory.

The Liberals are expected to retain at least 15 seats with independents poised to take the remaining five.

The Electoral Commission on Sunday morning had Labor's primary vote up by eight percentage points to 40.5 per cent with the Liberals on 34.6 per cent.

More counting could give a clearer picture in five seats still considered doubtful, including Dunstan, held by outgoing premier Steven Marshall.

In a victory speech to the Labor faithful at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, Mr Malinauskas thanked the people of South Australia for their support.

"It is not lost on me the significance of the privilege and the size of the responsibility that you have invested in me and my team," he said.

"It means that we've got a big job to do."

Conceding defeat, Mr Marshall said it had been an honour and privilege to serve as premier.

"It's great to live in a country where we have free and open elections," he told supporters.

"Today the people of South Australia have spoken. They've elected a new government."

Mr Marshall gave no indication whether he would stay on as opposition leader should he retain his seat.

Among the independents returned were Speaker Dan Cregan in the Adelaide Hills, Geoff Brock, who shifted to the seat of Stuart in the mid north, and Troy Bell in Mt Gambier.

Fraser Ellis was also voted back in Narungga, which takes in Yorke Peninsula.

Both Mr Cregan and Mr Ellis were elected as Liberals in 2018 but left the party last year to sit on the crossbench.

In other results, Nick Champion successfully switched from the federal parliament to the state house, coasting to a win in the northern Adelaide seat of Taylor.

Labor's victory in SA was the first against an incumbent government at any state or territory election during the COVID-19 pandemic.

© AAP 2022

Support for mental health will be one the key planks of the federal budget in just over a week's time, Health Minister Greg Hunt says.

Mr Hunt says mental health is one of the four pillars of Australia's long-term national health plan.

The other areas are primary care with a strong focus on access to new medicines and better treatments to aid doctors, the support for hospitals and private health insurance, and medical research.

He said there will be focus on youth suicide.

"Despite all the expectations because of what we were able to do in tailored support for mental health we had a reduction in suicide in Australia of five per cent in 2020 - we are still waiting the final figures for 2021," Mr Hunt told Sky News' Sunday Agenda program.

"We want to see it go lower, we want to see it head towards zero."

Details on the mental health support will be released in the March 29 budget.

However, the Morrison government will spend more than $315 million over four years to extend its national ice action strategy in the ongoing fight to reduce the impact of ice, other drugs and alcohol.

This investment comes alongside an additional $27.9 million being committed to support other critical drug and alcohol treatment projects in areas of identified need.

"For too many Australians, illegal drugs are still an insidious scourge on our community, robbing families of their loved ones," Mr Hunt said.

"The Morrison Government is committed to building safe and healthy communities, reducing the impacts and harms of drug and alcohol use for individuals, their families and their communities."

National wastewater drug monitoring shows methamphetamine use has reduced for the second consecutive year.

Even so, Mr Hunt said while this was a good sign, there is still work to be done.

© AAP 2022

Despite a major surge in cost-of-living pressures, Australians are overspending to keep up with friends and family, researchers say.

A national poll of 1000 adults by consumer comparison site Finder reveals 47 per cent feel pressure from within their social circle to keep pace financially.

One in five, or the equivalent of 4.3 million people provided the findings are accurate, concede going into debt or spending more than they can afford due to peer influence.

Apparently, it isn't just trivial purchases either.

Some 28 per cent of respondents said they felt forced into splitting restaurant bills despite ordering less, while nine per cent 'had to' fund a bucks or hens night and seven per cent felt obliged to fork out for someone else's baby shower.

However one in seven said they'd been coerced into an expensive holiday with loved ones, and eight per cent even admitted buying cars, homes and designer goods to keep up.

Personal finance expert Kate Browne says while no one wants to be a party pooper, there are more affordable alternatives.

"You can always be honest with your loved ones and say while you value spending time with them, you don't want to spend too much money doing it.

"At the end of the day, it's your money and you get to decide how you spend it."

On average, men estimate they've overspent more than $1500 over the past six months and women more than $900 to appease friends and family, with millennials apparently most vulnerable to the trap.

Meanwhile, the cost of essentials keeps rising.

Separate research by consumer networks Frugl Grocery and One Big Switch shows fruit and vegetable prices at some major supermarkets are up five per cent on a year ago.

Drinks are 7.7 per cent more expensive and pantry items, five per cent.

One Big Switch also cites a 12 per cent jump in regional rents and predicts a 4.1 per cent annual increase in daycare fees over the next four years.

However Finder's latest Consumer Sentiment Tracker indicates one in four people agree fuel is now their most stressful cost, up from 17 in January and 11 per cent a year ago.

© AAP 2022