Centrelink payments increase, higher passport fees and pay rises: all the 1 January changes in Australia in 2025
Centrelink payments increase, higher passport fees and pay rises: all the 1 January changes in Australia in 2025
Share:
Bigger Austudy and carer allowance payments, higher Medicare safety net thresholds and mandatory corporate reporting on climate also in 1 Jan changes. With the new year come new policies, laws, taxes and reforms. Here’s everything to know about changes on 1 January, 2025 that could affect you.
![[Women sharing ideas while using a laptop on the couch]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e9a3ca126eebca4337c687f6e1aaa5cc7eba00f9/0_0_7008_4672/master/7008.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
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.
![[An aged care worker holding a woman’s hand during a home visit]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/718419ece8906fe36c2980a1ffacfdd67a16958b/0_0_3840_2160/master/3840.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
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. The cost of a 10-year adult Australian passport goes up to $412, and a five-year children’s passport to $208. The 3.5% increase is simply due to indexation for inflation, but comes on top of a 15% one-off rise in July, which took the adult fee from $346 to $398. The rise means Australia is in no danger of losing its ranking for the most expensive passports in the world.
![[Emissions from a Queensland smoke stack at sunset]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c6c5a31112b04447a1ef677c7e04eabee646dbbe/0_0_7057_4707/master/7057.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
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.
