New year, new laws: every major change from Medicare to Centrelink, with vaping bans and more explained

January 1 will see a host of law changes across the country, with federal, state and territory governments set to introduce new regulations for Medicare, Centrelink and vaping amongst many other areas. 

Beginning on a federal level, the Albanese government has a suite of reforms taking effect on Monday, including changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and how much those receiving a pension can earn from employment.

The biggest changes, however, are increasing welfare payments through Centrelink and an expansion of the Medicare safety net.

More than 930,000 Australians will see their Centrelink payments rise by $20 per week, or six per cent, from January 1, with youth allowance, Austudy, disability support pension, and others all set to increase.

Youth allowance payments will increase between $19.10 and $41.40 a fortnight, while Austudy is due to rise by between $32.40 and $41.40.

The disability support pension for people without children aged 21 and under will increase by between $31.10 to $44.90.

Meanwhile, Medicare safety nets are due to be indexed higher in line with inflation, a change which will increase the amount Australians have to spend on out-of-hospital medical expenses before qualifying for a higher rebate.

Concessional and non-concessional individuals and families will see a $560.40 increase on the original Medicare safety net, whilst the extended safety net will rise to $811.80 for concessional individuals and families and $2,544.30 for non-concessional.

Beyond those measures, January 1 will also see changes to the amount working seniors and veterans can earn without impacting their pension.

A permanent increase to the Work Bonus limit will see the new maximum income for pension recipients rise to $11,800.

Single pensioners can now earn $204 a fortnight, $360 for couples, before that income is counted under the pension income test.

In addition, the added $300 per fortnight Work Bonus means a single age pensioner could earn up to $504 a fortnight and still receive the maximum rate of pension in 2024.

Changes to the PBS will also begin on Monday, with prescriptions on the scheme set to fall in cost by 29 per cent.

Outside of shifts in pricing, rebates and income, the federal government’s ban on disposable vapes containing nicotine begins on January 1.

Described by Health Minister Mark Butler as a “major public health issue,” the government is determined to crack down on vaping for all Australians not using the products in consultation with a doctor to help quit smoking.

Further measures will include packaging and flavours used for pharmaceutical vapes severely limited, while there have also been suggestions the government will expand anti-smoking laws to cover vaping in workplaces.

Moving to the states and territories, a number of significant changes loom for Victorians, particularly homeowners or those looking to build a home in the coming years.

As of January 1, all gas connections will be banned on homes requiring a planning permit in the state as part of the Allan government’s effort to lower fossil fuel usage.

Victoria’s government is also introducing a temporary land tax surcharge for the next decade, although there is an exception for family homes.

Landholdings valued between $50,000 and $100,000 will incur a $500 fee under the change, while land valued between $100,000 and $300,000 will be charged $975 and landholdings valued over $300,000 will be billed $975 plus 0.1 per cent of the taxable value.

Outside of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australian residents will see the end of subsidies for electric vehicles from January 1, while Queenslanders will benefit from free kindergarten in 2024.

Monday will also see the start of a controversial mobile phone ban in high schools across SA, which is following in the footsteps of Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Students will be asked to leave phones at home or asked to hand them over to be locked away until the school day finishes.

( SkyNews )

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