As the calendar turns to 2026, Australia is gearing up for a year of significant change — and not just the usual flurry of resolutions, gym sign-ups, or attempts to learn a new language.
This time, the shifts will reach far beyond personal goals, shaping household budgets, workplaces and even the country's infrastructure.
From tax relief and payday super to the launch of a national Centre for Disease Control, a suite of reforms is set to roll out — some of which may have slipped under the radar.
Here's a look at what Australia 2026 has in store.
Tax relief in 2026
If you're earning more than $18,200 a year, expect a small but welcome boost to your pay packet in 2026. From 1 July, the lowest 16 per cent personal income tax rate will drop to 15 per cent.
The government says the change will give Australians up to $268 extra each year, increasing to as much as $536 from 2027.
"[That will be] how many coffees a year?" Jenny Wong, the tax lead of Certified Practising Accountant Australia, an accounting body, told SBS News.
"It's not a lot, but I guess it's better than nothing."
She said personal tax cuts are always of interest to people, "even though it's only 1 per cent".
Small business support
In April, the government announced it would extend the $20,000 instant asset write-off by a further 12 months, until 30 June 2026, to support small businesses. The law was passed in the Senate in November.
Under this plan, eligible businesses can claim an immediate deduction for the business-related part of an asset's cost in the year it is initially used or installed.
Up to 4.1 million small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10 million will benefit from this support, according to the government.
Wong believes this is the "biggest" tax change for Australians in 2026.
"These measures are essentially designed to help small businesses invest in new assets," she said.
In other changes, specific holiday homes may be considered 'leisure facilities' by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) from July 2026, meaning owners may not be able to claim deductions for maintenance unless the place is mainly rented out to generate income.
Also, from next year, the ATO general interest charge (GIC), a fee added to overdue tax debts each day, will no longer be deductible.
ATO assistant commissioner Anita Challen said the change will mean it will cost more to carry a tax debt.
"While taxpayers won't feel this change until next tax time, ATO general interest charge is currently charged at 11.17 per cent and compounds daily, making it so important to get on top of your tax obligations," she said in a statement.
Millions to 'benefit' from superannuation changes
2026 will be the year "millions of Australians will benefit strongly from some key changes" in superannuation laws, according to the Super Members Council CEO, Misha Schubert.
Firstly, from July, the payday super laws will come into effect, meaning workers will receive their superannuation on payday.
Based on current legislation, superannuation payments must be made at least four times a year, on or before the quarterly superannuation due dates.
"The payday super will be the biggest single change across the super landscape in 2026. It will be a really momentous day, from 1 July when those laws come into effect," Schubert told SBS News.
Super for those on parental leave
From July, those on paid parental leave will also receive superannuation.
The ATO will automatically pay this contribution directly to the employee's super fund after the end of the relevant financial year, starting from July 2026.
The government has also announced a 30 per cent tax rate on earnings from super balances between $3 million and $10 million. And a 40 per cent tax for balances over $40 million.
Cheaper medicines
From the moment the clock passes midnight, and we enter 2026, the most a patient needs to pay for the medicine listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will drop from $31.60 to $25.
Pensioners and concession cardholders will continue to pay only $7.70 for their prescriptions until at least 2030.
The move was announced by Labor during the May election campaign and will save Australians $200 million per year through the new cap on the scheme.
Three days of subsidised child care a week
If your family is eligible for Child Care Subsidy (CCS), from 5 January, you will have access to three days of guaranteed subsidised childcare per week.
The changes will remove the current activity test to guarantee subsidies for families earning up to $530,000.
The test requires parents to be employed or engaged in approved activities to qualify for CCS, with government support levels determined by the number of hours spent in these activities.
Families that earn more than $533,280 will remain ineligible for subsidised childcare.
Changes to social security payments
Australians receiving Youth Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY, Youth Disability Support Pension, and Carer Allowance will receive more money under the new changes to social security payments.
The maximum Youth Allowance for a single Australian with no dependents will rise to $684.20 from $663.30 in 2026.
Income thresholds for student payments will also rise, as will the parental income test threshold for the Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY.
The Carer Allowance for about 680,000 people will also rise by $2.9 per fortnight to $162.20.
According to Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, these changes mean "more than one million Aussies balancing study or caring responsibilities will receive a boost to their payments".
Energy rebates to 'dry up'
Not all the changes in 2026 will save Australians more money.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has ruled out another round of Energy rebates for 2026, which saved households $300 in the 2024 budget and $150 in the second half of 2025.
Sally Tindall, data insights director at financial comparison site Canstar, warns Australians might experience a "bill shock" in their energy bills next year, as the federal government rebates will "dry up".
"The last instalment from the federal government for the majority of houses landed in their accounts in October. Now the majority of people are on a quarterly billing cycle, and so they will most likely use up that $75 credit in this quarter," she told SBS News.
"When their next quarterly bill lands anywhere between January and, in some cases, maybe even as late as early April next year, that is likely to be their first rebate-free bill, and they could be in for quite the shock," Tindall said.
"For the last 18 months, those $75 instalments from the federal government have been keeping electricity bills artificially lower."
The fate of electricity prices will also be known after negotiations between providers and the government next year.
Tinall said she expects households to pay more for electricity with the start of the new financial year from July 2026.
Three hours of free power
In 2026, you might have access to free power.
From July, households in NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia will have access to the Solar Sharer scheme, which will give consumers free access to electricity for three hours each day.
"That will be an interesting one to watch and see how the market reacts to this solar share offer," Tindall said.
Announcing the scheme in November, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said: "People who are able to move electricity use into the zero-cost power period will benefit directly, whether they have solar panels or not and whether they own or rent."
"The more people take up the offer and move their use, the greater the system benefits that lower costs for all electricity users will be," he said.
Australian Centre for Disease Control
From January 2026, Australia will have a Centre for Disease Control (CDC), aiming to respond to and prevent public health emergencies.
The CDC will be responsible for wastewater surveillance to monitor disease and for communication with regional and local partners.
The centre will be led by a director-general appointed by the health minister and start operations on 1 January 2026.
Associate professor Paul Griffin, from the University of Queensland Medical School, earlier told SBS News the establishment of a CDC will help Australia's response to infectious diseases.
"We are in a very precarious situation right now, both in how we're currently responding to existing threats and vaccine rates is a huge issue," he said.
"So, we need to do more for what we're already dealing with, but we also need to be really well-prepared to be on the front foot for new and emerging threats as well."
A new question in the Census
In August 2026, the Census will also take place after five years, but this time, there will be some changes to the questions you will be asked.
In February, the Australian Bureau of Statistics announced the 2026 Census will feature updated questions related to sex, household, and family relationships, with revised wording to specify "sex recorded at birth".
It will include the revised work to differentiate it from a separate question on gender.
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