New year changes to state and federal laws

A 7.5 per cent levy on total booking fees for short stay accommodation in Victoria began on Wednesday, January 1.

The Short Stay Levy Bill 2024 applies to bookings made through platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz, and to certain bookings accepted without a platform.

Accommodation, including houses, apartments, granny flats and tiny homes are included in the levy, but hotels, motels and caravan parks are exempt.

Revenue raised by the levy will fund Homes Victoria, with 25 per cent of funds earmarked for investment in regional Victoria, according to the State Revenue Office.

Vacant land tax extended statewide

Victoria’s Vacant Residential Land Tax, previously applied to inner and middle-Melbourne properties, will now apply to all vacant residential land in the state.

A progressive tax rate is in place for non-exempt properties, starting at one per cent of the capital improved value, and rising the same amount across consecutive years.

The VRLT is eligible from the preceding year, meaning that if a property was vacant last year, it may be liable for the tax this year, according to the State Revenue Office.

Increase in Centrelink payments

Single recipients of youth allowance with dependant children will receive an extra $30.60 per fortnight for a maximum rate of $845.80 a fortnight.

Partnered recipients of youth allowance without dependent children will receive an increase of $24.30, bringing the maximum rate to $670.30 a fortnight.

Carer allowance payments will increase by $5.80, bringing the maximum rate to $159.30 per fortnight.

Single or partnered people with no dependent children on Austudy payments will receive an increase, taking fortnightly payments from $639 to $670.30.

All payments above include the extra energy supplement payment from Services Australia.

The maximum rates of ABSTUDY living allowance for masters and doctorate students will increase to $1285.40 a fortnight.

The parental income test threshold for youth allowance will also see an increase to $65,189 a year.

Medicare and private health changes

Medicare safety net thresholds increased in line with inflation, meaning more will have to be spent on out-of-hospital medical services before accessing a higher rebate level.

The original Medicare safety net rose from $560.40 to $576, while the extended safety net increased from $811.80 to $834.50 for concession cardholders.

For others, the extended safety net rose from $2544.30 to $2615.50, according to the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Meanwhile, those with private health insurance will have access to more benefits as the majority of funds reset their annual extras limits.

Medicine prices on hold

For the first time in 25 years, co-payments for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme won’t rise with inflation.

A one-year freeze on indexation for PBS co-payments for general patients began on January 1, and there is an up to a five-year freeze for concessional patients.

The Closing the Gap co-payment program will also be expanded, meaning eligible First Nations people who normally pay the full amount of $31.60 will get their medicine at the concession price of $7.70.

Under the program’s expansion, First Nations people who normally pay concession price will get PBS medicines for free.

The change is expected to save Australians nearly $500 million on the cost of medicine between now and 2030.

Pay rise for aged care workers

From the first full pay period starting on or after January 1, increases to minimum pay and award rates for aged care workers will take effect.

Direct and general care workers covered by the aged care award will see an increase to minimum pay rates, as will aged care employees covered by the SCHADS award.

General workers will receive a three per cent pay rise, while direct workers will see a different increase based on the award they’re on.

Wage theft outlawed

Intentionally underpaying an employee’s wages or entitlements can now be a criminal offence.

The Fair Work Ombudsman can investigate suspected offences and refer appropriate matters for criminal prosecution.

If a criminal offence is brought down, a court can impose fines, prison time or both.

Protections for small businesses are in place, including the Voluntary Small Business Wage Compliance Code and co-operation agreements.

More free TAFE and uni courses

Another 100,000 TAFE places have been made free, including 10,000 for housing and construction workers.

The government extended the offering in order to address a labour shortage holding the sector back from reaching its target of 1.2 million new homes by 2029.

Australians trying to get into university will also have another 8600 fee-free uni ready places made available.

Fuel efficiency enacted

The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard will bring Australia’s fuel efficiency standards in line with the rest of the world, according to the Department of Transport.

The standard will provide consumers with more options for fuel-efficient cars, and is expected to reduce passenger car emissions by 61 per cent by 2029.

Under the standard, each car manufacturer must meet or beat a set average CO₂ target for all new cars produced, which will be lowered over time.

The target is applied nationally, but vehicle suppliers can still sell any vehicle type they choose, so long as they sell more efficient models to offset less efficient ones.

Engineered stone imports banned

The Australian Border Force now has powers to seize engineered stone bench tops, panels and slabs at the border.

Products containing more than one per cent crystalline silica are prohibited from being imported to protect workers from silicosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling silica.

Some products and importers are excluded from the ban, and will be allowed to import samples for testing purposes.

— with AAP