From a $268 tax cut to a $100 state-funded driver’s bonus: Series of cost-of-living relief to hit on Wednesday

From a $268 federal tax cut to a $100 state-funded driver’s bonus, West Australians will receive multi-layered cost-of-living relief from Wednesday as a series of government measures kick in. A mix of state and federal relief measures slated to start on July 1 include a wage boost, ban on supermarket price gouging, expanded healthcare services, and a massive six-month paid parental leave scheme. Fuel support payment All West Aussie drivers — including learners and provisional drivers — will be able to claim a one-off $100 payment through the ServiceWA app after a controversial fuel support payment was handed down in the State’s Budget earlier this year. “It’s been a bumpy few years for the global economy, from financial crises to pandemics, to wars that Australians didn’t ask for but are now paying the price for,” Premier Roger Cook said. “That is why we have committed to more than $1 billion in cost-of-living relief for WA households, including the Fuel Support Payment, and the next round of the WA Student Assistance Payment.” The new student assistance payment won’t open until July 20, while the impact of a 2.75 per cent increase to power and electricity prices will be felt from Wednesday. Vehicle registration fees rise by 3.9 per cent. Since the Budget was revealed in May, an extra 129,269 people have downloaded the ServiceWA app to claim the $100 fuel payment. The Government has promised there will be an alternative manual claim option but is yet to reveal details. The $100 can also be donated to charity and does not have to be spent on fuel. Motorists will also continue to get help at the bowser through the slashing of the Federal Government’s fuel excise, which will continue to be cut — but only partially — with a 16c a litre reduction rather than the original 32c cut. Price gouging fines for major supermarkets A major reform to supermarket price gouging will mean major retailers like Coles and Woolworths will face massive fines of up to $10 million from the competition watchdog if they are caught charging excessive prices or using “shrinkflation” tactics to shrink product sizes without lowering costs. Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino described the changes as “new regulatory powers with real teeth”. “Our new laws are intended to ensure that prices more closely reflect what would occur in a competitive market, protecting Australian consumers,” he said. “Any retailers found to be in breach will face a fine the greater of $10 million, three times the value of the benefit derived, or 10 per cent of annual turnover during the preceding 12 months.” Federal tax cuts Not everyone was welcoming the changes coming on July 1, with Liberal deputy leader Jane Hume describing the government’s stage three tax cuts — which will deliver $268 annual saving to the vast majority of Australian workers — as “egregious”. Her remarks in a morning media appearance prompted a messy Senate spat on Monday after Penny Wong dubbed her “the senator for higher taxes”. Senator Hume then labelled Senator Wong a “mean girl” in a historical reference to the nickname friends of the late Senator Kimberley Kitching called her, Katy Gallagher and Kristina Keneally before her 2022 death. Treasurer Jim Chalmers accused the Coalition of having an “anti-worker, anti-housing” agenda, insisting Labor was trying to make “real change” for workers. Under the Federal Government’s tax cuts, the lowest marginal income tax bracket will drop from 16 per cent to 15 per cent for earnings between $18,201 and $45,000. Employers will also be required to pay superannuation contributions at the exact same time they pay regular wages, preventing businesses from holding onto workers’ retirement funds and boosting compounding interest for employees. Under the permanent extend of the previously offered $20,000 instant asset write-off, small businesses can continue to immediately deduct the full cost of eligible capital assets — providing ongoing tax relief and incentive to reinvest in equipment. Australia’s lowest-paid workers will also see a direct boost to their take-home pay following the Fair Work Commission’s latest annual wage review to help offset ongoing inflation. New working parents will benefit from expanded Paid Parental Leave out to a full six months — giving them 26 weeks government-funded time off work to care for their newborns. PBS, EPA, telco changes Health Minister Mark Butler said there would be a string of measures across the sector to help — including 10 new PBS medicines listings, expanded services at endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, and ensuring pathology and imaging providers upload to My Health Record. The new Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listings will add to the more than 460 included in the past five years and includes treatments for lung, breast and bile-duct cancer, lymphoma, growth hormone deficiency, anaphylaxis, type one diabetes and severe asthma. The new National Environmental Protection Agency, a national watchdog, will act as a “tough cop on the beat” with independent powers to enforce federal environmental laws, approve green projects, and penalise illegal land clearing. There will also be a string new protections for telco consumers from Tuesday, with companies now required to publish coverage map and more outage transparency, while a new SMS Sender ID Register will sop scammers from impersonating trusted brands such as AusPost or myGov via text message. Chief of Australia’s peak body for communications consumers Carol Bennett said that having reliable phone and internet isn’t a luxury anymore, it’s a basic necessity. “Communications services are essential to participation in modern life, and Australians have been making decisions without accurate and meaningful information they need to manage their access to coverage and reduce their risk. That changes this week,” the ACCAN boss said. Other WA Changes that start July 1 scrap the requirement for a registered builder for works on sheds or carports worth less than $50,000. Containers for Change expands to recycle wine and spirit bottles, and the Safe At Home program for family and domestic violence victims will expand to Kununurra, Hedland and Kalgoorlie — providing in-home support and security upgrades.