What's changing from 1 July: Wages, super, Centrelink payments and more
From wage rises to new parental leave entitlements and tougher road rules, a number of significant changes are set to kick in across Australia on 1 July.

SBS News June 18 2025.

Australia’s lowest-paid workers will receive a pay boost from 1 July, with the national minimum wage increasing by 3.5 per cent.

The new rate will be $24.95 per hour, or $948 per week, based on a 38-hour week. The Fair Work Commission decision, handed down earlier this month, affects more than 2.6 million Australians and will apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July.   

Millions of Australians will also see a boost to their Centrelink payments, with a 2.4 per cent increase to help ease the rising cost of living.



For families receiving Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A, the maximum rate of payment for children aged under 13 will increase to a new rate of $227.36 a fortnight. For children aged 13 or over, the rate will increase to $295.82 a fortnight.

The maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part B will increase to $193.34, and for families with a youngest child aged five or over, the rate will increase to $134.96 a fortnight.


Super on top of paid parental leave: How new scheme will work and who will benefit

The FTB has been increased annually since its introduction in 2000, under both Labor and Coalition governments.

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said in a statement the payments were essential for helping families manage the cost of raising children and that indexation is one way the government is making sure support keeps up with inflation.
Super increase
The superannuation guarantee, which is the minimum amount employers must contribute to their employees’ super, is set to rise from 11.5 per cent to 12 per cent.   

The new rate applies to all salary and wages paid on or after 1 July, even if the work was performed before that date.

Along with the increase, the federal government will start paying superannuation on its paid parental leave scheme for the first time.

The paid parental leave superannuation contribution will apply to parents receiving government-funded parental leave pay on or after 1 July.


'A modern policy for modern families': Paid parental leave to be extended to 26 weeks by 2026

Paid parental leave overhaul
From 1 July, Australian families will benefit from a more generous paid parental leave scheme, with the amount of government-funded leave increasing from 20 to 22 weeks.

This is part of the federal government’s plan to progressively expand the scheme to 26 weeks by July 2026, the equivalent of six months of paid leave. Once fully rolled out, families will receive around $24,000 in total support following the birth or adoption of a child.

The policy is designed to give parents more time at home with their newborns and greater flexibility in how leave is taken. Parents can choose to take leave separately or at the same time, and spread it across two years, allowing for a staggered return to work or shared caregiving.
Immigration changes for skilled workers
The government has made changes to Australia’s skilled visa system in an effort to reduce worker exploitation and attract talent.

A new Core Skills Occupation List will replace the existing Skilled Occupation List, focusing on roles with genuine shortages.

Employers will have to meet stricter criteria, including offering market salary rates and proving they’ve advertised the job locally.

The Department of Home Affairs also announced that income thresholds for skilled visas will increase by 4.6 per cent.

This change will not apply to existing visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2025.


Australia has a new temporary skills visa. Here's what you need to know

Road rules get tougher
NSW will introduce harsher penalties for drivers using their mobile phones.

From 1 July, those caught using their phone behind the wheel, even while stationary at traffic lights, can be fined up to $1,209 and lose five demerit points.

In Victoria, the road rule requiring drivers to slow down to 40 km/h for emergency responders will now include tow truck, roadside assistance and incident response workers.

Queenslanders will see a 3.4 per cent hike in vehicle registration fees as well as traffic fines.

Nationally, AI-powered surveillance cameras capable of detecting mobile phone use will be rolled out, as governments crack down on distracted driving.

How come poor people can afford to have lots of kids.
But rich only have little white fluffy dogs??

Carl D wrote on Jun 19^th, 2025 at 8:59am:


Every child should have access to a decent education, even if their parents are poor.

Quote:


I wonder if this "crack down" on distracted driving will include something being done about these giant bright advertising video screens seen everywhere these days, especially on major roads?

No? Didn't think so (too much $$$$ involved there).

Attached image is the Mitchell Freeway here in Perth, one of hundreds (or thousands) of these screens around Australia (and around the world) "strategically" placed for drivers to see them.

aquascoot wrote on Jun 19^th, 2025 at 10:59am:


Oh, we've paid enough tax all right.

Trouble is, governments have spent most of it on "other things" (including their own outrageous pensions and other perks) and not on pensions for the average worker.

So, to sum it all up - you can sod off.

I move that all Federal and State elections should be held in the month of July from now on.

Then let's see how much government fees and charges go up at the start of the financial year on July 1st.

My guess is they wouldn't increase at all.

You notice they only quote median prices. Some cost more, some cost less. And the more expensive ones drag the median up, significantly.