March 1 new laws 2025: Centrelink, Medicare, vape changes

From March 1 onwards, some Aussies are getting access to more welfare payments and items on Medicare, among other changes. See what’s afoot.

From March 1 onwards, some Aussies are getting access to more welfare payments and items on Medicare, among other changes. See what’s afoot.

Australian Immunisation Register

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) records vaccines given to anyone living in Australia. This includes COVID-19 vaccines, vaccines given under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), and seasonal influenza vaccinations for or travel-related vaccinations.

It is mandatory under the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 for vaccination providers to report when a vaccination for COVID-19, influenza, NIP and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is given.

From March 1, 2025, new laws come into effect making it mandatory for all providers to additionally report whether an individual was pregnant at the time of a vaccination.

Immunisation protects pregnant women and their babies from illness and complications from preventable diseases.

The new reporting rules will help monitor the effectiveness and safety of maternal vaccines and vaccination programs including the NIP, influenza and other respiratory vaccines.

The changes do not mean it is mandatory to have any vaccination. It is the reporting of each vaccination and type given that is mandatory for providers who administer vaccines.

Find out more here.

Medicare Benefits Schedule

A range of administrative and policy changes to the MBS will come into effect on March 1.

MBS legislation in several areas of the Health Insurance Act will be affected including services in diagnostic imaging, general medical, pathology and health insurance regulations.

Additionally, hospital only changes will include the removal of the 85 per cent out-of-hospital benefit to more than 800 MBS items.

This means those benefits will only be payable when the service is provided in a hospital setting and not a “backyard” clinic.

General medical changes will include amendments to item numbers in optometry, cardiology, home visits by a midwife for antenatal and post-natal services and home visits by and midwife home visits by a nursing practitioner.

Telehealth will also become an umbrella term for video and phone services.

You can find out more detail about the above changes here.

From March 1 onwards, some Aussies are getting access to more welfare payments and items on Medicare, among other changes.

Centrelink support payments for age pension, support payments

The Centrelink indexation payment increase in 2025 offers financial relief to millions of Australians, adjusting payments to keep up with inflation.

Several increases came into play on January 1, and the next round is scheduled for March 20 and are expected to impact the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, JobSeeker, and Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

The final figures for the new income levels will be released early next month.

Changes to export controls

Car safety laws

From March 1, all new vehicles on sale in Australia must be fitted with an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system.

AEB is a safety feature already found in most modern vehicles and has been shown to reduce road trauma by 40 per cent - a major priority for the Federal Government over recent years. The hi-tech safety system measures how far away a car is from an object, like another car pedestrian, animal or object and automatically applies the brakes if it detects a potential collision.

AEB uses radars or cameras to detect potential hazards around the vehicle and takes action if the driver fails to react.

The legislative changes will apply to any new car for sale in Australia regardless of whether that car is the latest model or not.

Find out more here.

Importing of Bengal cats

Changes to importation laws come into effect and include Bengal cats which will no longer be permitted to enter Australia.

The Bengal cat will now fall under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Bengal cats are a crossbreed between a domestic cat and the Asian leopard cat and have been allowed into the country since provided the importer proved their Bengal cat was five generations away from the Asian leopard cat.

However the EPBC has found many imported Bengal cats retained a high percentage of Asian leopard cat genes and will no longer allow imported cross breeds under this exemption because the breed holds a potential risk to the Australian environment.

You can find out more here.

Therapeutic vape standards

From March 1, only vapes that meet updated product standards can be imported into or manufactured in Australia.

From July 1 only those vapes that meet the updated standards can be lawfully supplied in Australia.

The changes form part of the broader vaping reforms being undertaken by the Australian Government that regulates the way vapes can be imported, manufactured, supplied and advertised in Australia.

Find more detail here.

Queensland Work Health and Safety Law amendments

From March 1, Queensland businesses and employers will be required to prepare a written prevention plan to manage the risk of sexual harassment and sex or gender-based harassment at work.

The prevention plan must be in writing, state each identified risk, identify the control measures implemented, or to be implemented, to manage each identified risk, identify the matters considered in determining the business’ control measures, describe the consultation undertaken by the business, set out procedures for dealing with reports of sexual harassment and sex or gender-based harassment, and be set out in a way that is readily accessible and understandable to workers.

Find more detail here.

Takeaway or home delivery liquor

From March 1, restaurants and small bars wanting to sell takeaway or home delivery liquor (with the exception of small bars selling takeaway house-made cocktails) must have a Takeaway Sales Authorisation (TSA).

Restaurants and small bars wishing to sell liquor for takeaway purposes or home delivery must apply for a Takeaway Sales Authorisation.

To apply for a TSA, or to find out more about a TSA, including quantity limits and conditions, visit the Small Bar licence webpage or the On-premises licence webpage.

Find more detail here.

NSW Drive Test Criteria for Overseas License Holders

Overseas license holders in NSW must complete knowledge and driving tests by 1 March 2025 unless from a recognized exempt country (e.g., Austria, Canada, France).

Applicants must be at least 17 years old, provide proof of identity, and confirm NSW residency status.

Experienced Driver Recognition exemptions end on 30 April 2025, requiring additional testing for some previously exempt drivers.

Find more detail here.

Medicinal cannabis

From March 1, medicinal cannabis users in Victoria will no longer automatically lose their licence if they’re caught driving with traces of the drug in their system.

Magistrates have been given the power to exercise sentencing discretion for drivers who test positive for the medicinal cannabis, if they hold a valid prescription for the drug and are unimpaired while driving.

Find more detail here.

Originally published as March 1 new laws 2025: Centrelink, Medicare, vape changes