National changes taking effect from January 1:
Education
- Schools will shift to the Gonski 2.0 funding model, with a six-year transition for under-funded schools and a 10-year transition for over-funded schools
- Commonwealth funding for universities will be frozen at 2017 levels for two years
- Student payments for vocational education and training (VET) will be restricted to courses deemed a high national priority, meeting industry needs, addressing skills shortages and aligning with employment outcomes
- A national code of practice will come into effect for education and training providers to safeguard the hundreds of thousands of international students in Australia
- Relocation scholarships will no longer be offered to students shifting from overseas or studying abroad
- The period regional and remote students must earn the amount required to meet the self-supporting independence criteria for youth or ABSTUDY living allowance will be reduced from 18 to 14 months
Health
- A new vaccine against genital warts will be listed on the National Immunisation Program, guarding against more strains of the virus at a cheaper cost
- Defence veterans will be given greater access to antibiotics as well as heart disease and stroke medications through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- The government will provide $5.7 million over four years to communities affected by contaminated water supplies following the use of potentially toxic firefighting foams at the Tindal RAAF Base in the NT
Welfare
- $10 million will be set aside for treatment services for job seekers affected by proposed drug testing trials, despite the pilot program being blocked in the Senate
- People receiving single parent payments will have their relationships verified to make sure they are not claiming income support they are not entitled to
- Youth allowance will rise by at least $4.60 and student payments by $8.30, while disability support will increase by upwards of $7
- Carers will receive an extra $2.40 a fortnight in line with inflation
Taxes
- The $12,000 special duty on imported used vehicles will be axed
Entitlements
- A new parliamentary expenses regime will come into effect after a number of MPs including Bronwyn Bishop and Sussan Ley were accused of misusing their entitlements
