Changes to Australian laws and government payments taking effect on January 1

Key Points

• Effective January 1, 2025, wage theft or intentional underpayment of employees' wages will officially be a crime. Penalties include up to 10 years in prison and a $1.565 million fine for individuals and $7.825 million for companies that violate the law.
• Over one million Australians will benefit from the welfare payments increase. The increase includes income support and supplementary payments, including Youth Allowance, Austudy, Youth Disability Support Pension and Carer Allowance.
• The cost of a 10-year passport for people over 18 years old and older will increase from $398 to $412 starting January 1.