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Baby bonus means test kicks in on Jan 1
Submitted 5/01/2009
AAP
From January 1, the bonus will only be available to families with a combined annual income of less than $150,000, saving the government around $350 million.
The bonus will now be paid in fortnightly instalments, replacing the lump sum payment.
The changes are among a number of federal changes to come into force on Thursday.
In other changes, new federal-state funding arrangements come into force, to be backed up by legislation when parliament resumes.
A new National Disability Agreement also comes into force, aimed at improving services for people with a disability, their families and carers.
New child protection protocols will kick in, to allow for better information sharing between Centrelink and state and territory agencies.
The government's national plan to increase organ donation will swing into action, and changes to evidence laws will better protect vulnerable witnesses such as children.
Same-sex couples and their children will benefit from the end of discrimination in the Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) safety nets.
Maths and science university students will benefit from lower fees, but truckies will be slugged with an increase in the heavy vehicle road user tax.
