As Aussies prepare to ring in the New Year, another raft of changes are being implemented across the country from January 1.

SkyNews.com.au has pulled together a list of everything you need to know ahead of the calendar change this week, as well as new rules affecting individual states.

PBS scripts

From January 1, the maximum cost of a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription will fall from $31.60 to $25 for people without a Commonwealth concession card.

An Australian who previously paid $31.60 per prescription a month for their regular medicine will save $79.20 a year.

Pensioners and concession cardholders will have their PBS-listed medicine prices frozen at $7.70 until 2029.

New medicines listed on the PBS will make it cheaper for women to access oral contraception, and medicines for menopause, endometriosis, and breast cancer.

Help with kids’ dental costs

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule will cover even more dental costs for eligible children and their families.

The government program can cover part or all of the cost of basic dental services for eligible children aged 17 or under.

This can cover over $1,158 every two years, an increase of $26 from 1 January 2026. This could be over $9800 in coverage by the time they turn 17.

Centrelink

More than a million Australians receiving youth, student and carer support will see their payment rate rise thanks to a new round of indexation.

The amount the payment increases depends on your circumstances. For instance, Youth Allowance recipients who are single and have dependent children will see a payment increase of $17.60 to a maximum rate of $863.40 a fortnight (including Energy Supplement).

Carer Allowance will also increase by $3.30 – benefiting around 680,000 carers and taking the rate to $162.60 a fortnight.

Austudy and Youth Disability Support Pension will also rise by up to $17.60 and $17.20 a fortnight, respectively.

Child Care Subsidy – 3 Day Guarantee

From January 5 2026, the Child Care Subsidy activity test will be replaced, giving Child Care Subsidy eligible families at least 3 days of subsidised child care a week, no matter how much time they spend in recognised participation, like work or study. 

If you’re already getting Child Care Subsidy, you don’t need to do anything. Services Australia will apply the updates.

Paying with cash

Next year, new regulations will require fuel and grocery retailers to accept cash as a method of payment between 7am and 9pm.

The rules, which have now been finalised, require in-person transactions of $500 or less to be accepted in cash at fuel and grocery outlets.

Passport fees

For a 10-year adult passport, the current cost is $412 for individuals aged 16 and over.

But this will rise in 2026 to $422, in line with adjustments to the Consumer Price Index.

State-by-state breakdown of changesNew South Wales Toll price increase

On January 1, tolls for NSW roads, including the Cross City Tunnel, Eastern Distributor, Hills M2, M5 South-West, Lane Cove Tunnel, Military Road E-Ramp, NorthConnex and Westlink M7 will rise.

Travellers on the Eastern Distributor will face the highest charge – $10.26.

For passenger vehicles on the Hills M2, the minimum toll is $3.07 and the maximum is $10.40.

On Lane Cove Tunnel, it is $4.22, and on Military Road E-Ramp the toll is $2.11.

Travellers on the M5 South West face a toll of $5.95, while the minimum and maximum is $3.43 and $7.27 at Cross Tunnel respectively.

VictoriaPublic transport fares

On January 1, the daily full fare cap will increase to $11.40 or $5.70 for a concession. On weekends or public holidays, daily fares will also increase to $8.00 or $4.00 for concessions.

The increase will add 40 cents to the full daily fare for Zone 1, Zone 1+2 metropolitan fares, and the regional fare cap.

Under 18s will also travel free on all public transport with a Youth myki.

Congestion levy

The congestion levy is an annual charge on off-street parking spaces.

It applies to public and private car parks in busy parts of inner Melbourne.

Victoria’s congestion levy will see changes from January 1:

Category 1 area: $3,030 per space Category 2 area: $2,150 per space QueenslandToll price increase

Tolls for travel on AirportlinkM7 in Brisbane will increase in line with indexation from January 1, 2026.

The highest minimum toll point for class 1 vehicles at Bowen Hills – Kedron, and Bowen Hills – Toombul is $3.58. 

For Kedron to Toombul, the toll point is $2.69 for class 1 vehicles. 

Toll prices on other toll roads in Brisbane remain the same until June 30 2026, and the class of your vehicle determines the tolls you pay.

Western Australia

The Western Australian government will slash public transport fares across Western Australia from January 1 2026, with fares as cheap as they were in the 1980s.

The Transperth and Transregional fare zone structure will be overhauled with the introduction of the Go Anywhere Fare.

Under the new structure, passengers will be able to travel anywhere on the network for as little as $2.80 per trip when using a SmartRider with Autoload, or $3.50 if paying with a credit or debit card.

DayRider and FamilyRider fares will also be reduced to $7.

South AustraliaRenting

Residential landlords and agents must use South Australia’s new standard rental application to consider future tenants from January 1, 2026.

A separate application will need to be filled out by each prospective tenant to be listed on the resulting lease, and they can now indicate a preferred duration of any tenancy.

Higher education

Adelaide University, an amalgamation of the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia, is slated to commence operations from January 1.

Tasmania

Tasmania has extended half-price public transport fares, including adult, concession, urban, non-urban, and child/student fares.

This initiative was scheduled to end on June 30, 2025, but the policy has been extended by 12 months.

Northern Territory

There is no fee increase to light vehicle registrations until June 30, 2026.