Tolls, passports, museum admission: What is getting more expensive in January

From rising tolls to soaring passport and travel costs, the new year comes with new prices.

On January 1, an array of fee increases and additional charges will come into effect across Australia and NSW.

Commuters on Sydney’s toll roads will see a price hike from January 1. Credit: Anna Kucera

Tolls

Commuters on Sydney’s roads will face higher motorway tolls from January 1. The increases, designed to keep up with inflation, are determined by the state government.

Motorists using WestConnex will see the largest price hikes, with an increase of 4 per cent on the M8 and the M4, meaning a trip from Penrith to St Peters or the airport will increase by 47¢ to $12.12. Those using the M5 East will be charged an additional 34¢ to travel between King Georges Rd at Beverly Hills and Botany.

Commuters in the east, north and west will be comparably spared, charged an extra 1¢ on the Cross City Tunnel, 10¢ on the M2 and M11, and 4¢ on the Lane Cove Tunnel. The M5 South-West will also go up by 3¢. There will be no changes to the tolls for the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel. The M7’s minimum toll will also rise by 2¢ to $9.98.

Opal fares will not increase on January 1.

International travel

For those travelling abroad, the cost of Australian passports will continue to increase on January 1 after surging in 2024. A new 10-year passport will cost $412, making it one of the most expensive in the world. In 2023, the passport cost $325.

Those travelling to the UK for up to six months will also need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from early 2025. The new document, which can be purchased from the UK ETA app or online, costs £10 ($20.17) and will be mandatory from January 8.

Health

Prospective aged care customers may face higher fees after federal government reforms to increase the sector’s maximum accommodation price. From January 1, aged care providers will be allowed to charge refundable accommodation deposits of up to $750,000, up from $550,000 in 2024. At the same time, a $130,000 cap on non-clinical payments during a residents’ stay will be introduced.

Foreign resident property ownership

Foreign residents selling property in Australia face a tax hike in the new year. From January 1, the foreign resident capital gains withholding (FRCGW), an amount remitted to the ATO from a property’s sale, will increase from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent. The tax will also be extended to all property instead of only property valued above $750,000. Australian residents can apply for a clearance certificate to avoid the tax.

Museum admission

Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art will start charging an entrance fee from January 31, ending 25 years of free entry. A $20 fee will be charged for access to the gallery’s permanent collection, with $16 for a concession ticket. Full access to the museum’s exhibitions will be $35 for adults and $28 for concession.

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