Centrelink payment boosts, new vehicle efficiency standards and changes to 20 Australian awards are among the 1 January changes coming on New Year’s Day 2025. With the new year comes new policies, laws, taxes and reforms. Here’s everything to know about changes on 1 January, 2025 that could affect you. Centrelink payments will increase Centrelink payments, including youth allowance, Austudy and carer allowance, will increase in line with inflation . Youth allowance payments to single recipients over 18 who live at home will increase by $17.30 a fortnight from $459.80 to $477.10. Those living away from home will receive $670.30 instead of $646. Recipients with children will get an extra $30.60 a fortnight, totalling $845.80 a fortnight. Austudy recipients with no dependent children will receive $670.30 a fortnight, while those with children will get $845.80. Those on the carer allowance will get an extra $5.80 a fortnight, totalling $159.30 a fortnight. Centrelink payments, including youth allowance and Austudy, will increase in line with inflation. Intentional wage underpayments a criminal offence Employers who intentionally underpay their employees can be fined up to $7.8m (corporations) or $1.6m (individuals). Individuals can also face up to 10 years in jail. The offence will only cover underpayments made on or after 1 January, including when they are part of conduct that started prior to that date. Ban on imported engineered stone The importation of bench tops, slabs and panels made from engineered stone will be banned, to protect workers from silicosis, a lung disease caused by the inhalation of silica dust. The ban follows the domestic ban on the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone products from 1 July 2024. Changes to ATMs near gambling areas As part of a package of reforms aimed at minimising gambling harms, ATMs must be located outside […]