Australia’s new laws taking effect on 1 January: from super top-ups to PCR tests and home care fees

Welfare recipients, people who use prescription medicines and over-55s downsizing their house are among those who will benefit from legal changes that come into effect on 1 January 2023.

So what exactly are the changes and how will they work?

Due to the regular indexation of welfare payments about one million recipients will benefit from a rise of 6.1% in payments.

These include a rise in youth allowance and Austudy of up to $41.40 a fortnight and the disability support pension by up to $40.70 a fortnight.

The asset test exemption for pensioners, veterans and other income support recipients has been doubled to 24 months.

Australians will save up to 29% on their Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions, with the maximum co-payment dropping from $42.50 to $30.

The government estimates that for a family relying on two or three medications, the measure will amount to a saving of $450 a year.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia's national president, Trent Twomey, said the measure will help 19 million patients, including an estimated 900,000 who did not get a script filled in 2020-21 because they could not afford it.

From 1 January the age to qualify for a concession to top up super with proceeds of a house sale will be reduced from 60 to 55.

Announced one week out from the May 2022 election by the Morrison government, Labor matched the pledge and legislated it after its election win.

An Australian aged 55 and above can now contribute $300,000 to their superannuation account from the proceeds of the sale of a home, or $600,000 for a couple.

Penalties for investors who break foreign investment laws for residential property will double, in a crackdown estimated to net $2.3m over four years.

Non-resident foreign investors are generally prohibited from purchasing existing homes, and must apply to purchase new dwellings.

Also from 1 January, the value of a commonwealth penalty unit will rise by around 25% from $222 to $275, which will flow through to higher fines for civil and criminal breaches in a range of federal laws.

At-risk groups can still access PCR tests for Covid through state testing sites, but from 1 January everyone else will get PCR tests through GP respiratory clinics "or where their GP or nurse practitioner requests a test".

The health minister, Mark Butler, has played down suggestions this will require a referral for PCR a test.

"Individuals who are a lower risk are encouraged to use Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs), however if they continue to experience symptoms, they can still access PCR testing from state and territory clinics without a request," government advice states.

The 180,000 fee-free Tafe and vocational education and training places announced at the jobs and skills summit are available in 2023, along with an extra 20,000 commonwealth-supported university places.

Some 10,000 apprentices in energy-related fields are also eligible for $10,000 in support through the new energy apprenticeships program.

Aged care home care packages will be subject to fee caps for administrative and management costs.

From 1 January care management and package management charges will be capped at 20% and 15% of the respective package levels.

Butler has announced the listing of three new drugs on the PBS: