In a flurry of legislative activity, the Australian government passed an astounding 30+ new laws in a single day. This marathon session capped off a prolific year in which the Labor party enacted a total of 140 pieces of legislation. As the dust settles, many Australians are left wondering – what impact will these sweeping changes have on my life?
Social Media Shakeup
One of the most attention-grabbing new laws is a ban on social media for those under 16. Set to take effect in 12 months, the legislation will prohibit minors from having accounts on popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more. The government says it’s a necessary step to protect children online, but critics argue it’s an overreach. Many details still need to be ironed out, but one thing is clear – the social media landscape in Australia is about to undergo a seismic shift.
We know this won’t be easy, but it’s a critical step to safeguard our kids in the digital age.
– A government spokesperson
Hefty Penalties for Doxing
In another move to combat online harms, Australia has criminalized the act of doxing. Maliciously sharing someone’s personal information based on attributes like race, religion, sexual orientation or disability is now punishable by up to 7 years in prison. The laws aim to crack down on harassment and hate, but some worry about unintended impacts on free speech.
Housing Gets a Boost
On the housing front, the government passed tax incentives to spur construction of about 80,000 new rental properties. Known as “build-to-rent,” the scheme offers breaks for developers who commit to owning and renting out complexes of 50+ units for at least 15 years. A minimum of 10% must be “affordable” units at 75% of market rate. It’s an ambitious effort to ease Australia’s housing crunch – will it deliver?
Supermarket Shakedown
Your weekly grocery run could also see changes under new supermarket regulations. Breaking the government’s upcoming mandatory code of conduct could land supermarket chains with fines up to $10 million, 3 times the value of the misconduct, or 10% of turnover. Set to take effect in April 2025, the code governs negotiations between supermarkets and suppliers, aiming to protect farmers and small business. But those costs may ultimately trickle down to consumers.
Migration Gets Tougher
Migration policy didn’t escape the legislative blitz either. In a move some liken to “Trump-style” policy, the government can now designate countries that don’t accept deportations from Australia and ban visa applications from those nations. It’s part of a broader effort to overhaul the visa system, but critics say it unfairly targets migrants.
Killing Surcharges
In a rare bit of welcome news for consumers, Australians will no longer pay debit card surcharges on payments to the ATO and Services Australia starting next January. But it’s more of an admin cleanup, as many of those fees were actually unlawful without a legislative basis. Still, it’s always nice to have a few extra bucks in the bank account!
These are just a few highlights from the 30+ laws that could reshape life in Australia in ways big and small. As always, the devil will be in the details of implementation and enforcement. But one thing’s for sure – the legislative landscape Down Under underwent a tectonic shift in just 24 short hours. Now the hard work of making it all tick begins.
