As we begin the final countdown into 2023, there are some major changes that will kick in for Australians on January 1.
A heap of new legislation and rules will become effective on New Year’s Day, including cash boosts for welfare recipients, slashed prescription medication and in one state even free kindergarten.
Here is a list of all the big changes you need to know about.
CASH BOOST FOR YOUNG AUSSIES
Aussies who rely on Centrelink will be some of 2023’s biggest winners, with the payments set for their biggest boost in 25 years.
The Youth Allowance rate will go up by at least $19 a fortnight in the new year, with youth and student payments to be indexed by more than 6 per cent.
People 24 years old or younger with a student or apprenticeship, or aged 21 years old or younger and looking for work, are eligible for the Youth Allowance payment.
From January 1, the basic rate of Youth Allowance for singles will go up by at least $19.10 a fortnight, with the maximum figure an extra $41.40 a fortnight.
Austudy recipients will see an increase to their rate of between $32.40 and $41.40 a fortnight depending on their living arrangements and if they have dependent children.
Those on the disability pension aged under 21 and with no children will see a boost of between $27.40 and $40.70 a fortnight, with boosts also announced for ABSTUDY, the Carer Allowance and the Pharmaceutical Allowance.
HELP FOR PENSIONERS LOOKING TO DOWNSIZE
A change in legislation that helps pensioners downsize into smaller more manageable homes will make it easier for them to do so without impacting their pension payments.
An exemption on the asset test that decides an individual’s pension payment will be extended from 12 months to 24 months.
The change intends to give pensioners more time to purchase, build, rebuild, repair or renovate a new principal home before their pension is affected.
The scheme aims to free up larger housing stock for younger families who need it.
$1000 CASH BOOST FOR VETERANS
Veterans who receive payments for disabilities incurred while serving the country will get an additional $1000 a year.
This equates to an increase of $38.46 per fortnight and is expected to benefit at least 27,000 veterans and their families to help keep up with cost-of-living pressures.
VETERANS ABLE TO BUY A HOME SOONER
Veterans will now be able to get access to a special home loan subsidy as soon as they leave the service.
The Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme will be expanded to allow veterans to access the scheme as soon as they leave the service.
The change will halve the minimum service required from four to two years of permanent service and from eight to four years of reserve service.
For example, a veteran who has served for two years in permanent service will be eligible for a monthly subsidy of up to $454 on a home loan of up to $402,159.
COST OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION DROPS
For the first time in its 75-year history, the maximum cost of general scripts under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will fall.
It means someone taking one medication a month could save as much as $150 every year, or a family taking two or three medications could save as much as $300-$450 a year.
FREE PCR TESTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE AT A GP
Gone are the days of queuing up for hours in a line to get a PCR test to find out if you have Covid-19.
Australians will only be able to access a free PCR test with a doctor’s referral from January 1.
High-risk groups – including the elderly, first nations people, disabled people, and the immunocompromised – can still access tests free through state testing sites and GP-led respiratory clinics without a GP referral.
Those considered low risk can get a bulk-billed PCR test from a private pathologist with a referral from a GP or nurse practitioner.
MENTAL HEALTH SUBSIDY CUT FROM 20 TO 10 SESSIONS
Medicare-rebated psychology sessions will drop from a maximum of 20 sessions to 10 sessions per year.
The program was expanded when stay-at-home rules tightened in 2021 and demand for mental health services boomed as a result of increased isolation and stress among the general population.
The program will revert to just 10 subsidised sessions from January 1.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEAVE FOR ALL NSW PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS
Hundreds of thousands of public servants in NSW will be entitled to 20 days of domestic violence leave in the new year.
This will include temporary and casual staff.
It is double the amount of the existing entitlement at just 10 days.
MOBILE SPEED CAMERA SIGNS RETURN IN NSW
After they were scrapped during the pandemic, the NSW government has decided to return warning signs for mobile speed cameras.
The decision to remove the warning signs copped considerable backlash from motorists this year as speeding fines spiked.
In June this year, 22,000 fines were issued for speeding offences caught by mobile speed cameras, totalling about $5m in revenue.
The warning signs will return on January 1.
FREE KINDERGARTEN FOR QLD FAMILIES
Queensland families with kindergarten-aged children will be able to get free or cheaper childcare from next year.
The financial boost will mean 14,000 children will be able to enrol for free kindergarten in 2023.
A family that earns $60,000 and holds an Australian government healthcare card will benefit from free sessional kindergarten.
Parents who send their child to a long day care with a family income of up to $130,000 and receiving a family tax benefit will save around $500 a year.
VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING BECOMES LEGAL IN QLD
Hundreds of terminally ill patients will be able to choose when they want to end their lives after the state passed voluntary assisted dying laws in 2022.
Federal legislation passed 15 months ago made it possible for every Australian state to legalise voluntary assisted dying.
However, the Northern Territory and ACT have remained barred from doing the same due to their territory status.