Victorian families will have to pay an average $80 extra this year for electricity under 2013 network tariffs announced by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).

But relief is coming for Pensioners, health care and veterans’ gold card holders who can now get 17.5 per cent off their power bills throughout the year.

Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said last summer – the first covered by the year-round electricity concessions – the government provided more than $28.7 million in concessions (excluding GST).

Stamp duty

There will be relief for first homebuyers, as Stamp duty will be 30 per cent off from January 1.

Treasurer Kim Wells said the increased concession would see eligible first home buyers save up to $9,321 when purchasing a home of $600,000.

“The Coalition Government understands how long it takes to save up for your first home and that massive stamp duty taxes are often the difference between the excitement of making a successful bid and the disappointment of being locked out of the property market,” Mr Wells said.

This is a 10 per cent add on from last year, which saw the government introduce 20 percent off stamp duty.

Parents

Parents will also be better off in January, with the government giving families back-to-school payments up to $820 for every child.

Across Australia 1.5 million low and middle-income families with school-aged children can expect automatic payments to arrive in their bank accounts to help with back-to-school costs from January 9.

For primary school children parents can expect $410 per child and for high school students $820 per child.

Paid maternity leave for fathers

Also from January 1, the government will introduce a two-week paid paternity leave plan for new dads allowing them to spend time with new babies.

The scheme will provide eligible working dads or partners, including adoptive parents and same sex partners, two weeks of government-funded pay at the rate of the national minimum wage of about $606 per week.

To be eligible, fathers must have made less than $150,000 in the previous financial year and meet a work and residency test. They must also take un-paid leave during the fortnight.

But single parents on parenting payments will lose cash when their youngest child turns eight because they will be shifted on to the Newstart Allowance unless they are in training or
get a job.

About 78,000 will be affected from January 1, saving $728 million over four years.

“The government is keen to provide every assistance to improve their job opportunities,” Human Services Minister Kim Carr said.

In NSW, the New Year brings with it a change in the registration sticker conundrum. No more will people have to scrape away at the windshield to get the rego sticker off, as the NSW government decided the stickers are outdated and unnecessary.

Roads Minister Duncan Gay last year dismissed fears that scrapping the stickers would cause a surge in unregistered cars and motorbikes, saying drivers would get plenty of reminders in the post.