How January 1 2018 Australia law changes will affect you

A raft of changes will greet Australians in the new year, affecting children, taxpayers, mothers, welfare recipients and even car sellers.

New vaccination programs, increases in government benefits, changes to school funding and scrapped taxes are among the changes kicking in on January 1.

Not even politicians will be exempt, with a new parliamentary expenses regime coming in after accusations of entitlements abuse.

A raft of changes will greet Australians in the new year, affecting children, taxpayers, mothers, welfare recipients and even car sellers (stock image)

The National Immunisation Program will list a new vaccine to cost-effectively combat the virus that causes genital warts, Nine News reported. 

In other health changes, Australian Defence Force veterans will benefit from the the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme with greater access to medication.

Communities in the Northern Territory affected by potentially toxic firefighting foams will receive $5.7million from the government.

In good news for students, youth allowance will increase by $4.60 and student payments by $8.30.

New vaccination programs, increases in government benefits, changes to school funding and scrapped taxes are among the changes kicking in on January 1 (stock image)

New vaccination programs, increases in government benefits, changes to school funding and scrapped taxes are among the changes kicking in on January 1 (stock image)

Disability support will rise by more than $7, and $10million is being set aside to provide services for those affected by drug test trials for job seekers.   

Single parent payment beneficiaries will need to verify their relationships to make sure they are entitled to their income support.  

An unpopular special duty of $12,000 slapped on imported used cars will be scrapped. 

The transition to Gonski 2.0 will begin in 2018, taking six years for under-funded schools and ten years for over-funded ones.

Commonwealth funding for universities will stay at current levels until at least 2019, and there will be new lifetime limits of Commonwealth contributions to tuition fees.

Assistance will be capped at  $104,444 for most courses and $150,000 for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. 

Vocational education and training will also be affected, with student payments restricted to certain courses.

Courses must either meet industry needs, address shortages of skills, be aligned with employment outcomes, or be a high national priority. 

Not even politicians will be exempt, with a new parliamentary expenses regime coming in after accusations of entitlements abuse (stock image)

Not even politicians will be exempt, with a new parliamentary expenses regime coming in after accusations of entitlements abuse (stock image)

 

 

 



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