Vic: New laws to take effect from Monday

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2005
Vic: New laws to take effect from Monday

New laws in Victoria from January 1.

* Congestion levy - charges Melbourne's commercial car park operators $400 a year on
long term spaces, rising to $800 a year in 2007.

* First home bonus - drops from $5000 to $3000.

* Public transport fares - most will rise 3.1 per cent, but a new monthly ticket will
be available to V/Line customers, offering savings of around $20 a week to regular travellers.

* Land tax changes - new rates apply to values from between $200,000 to $899,000.

* Electricity price cuts - distributors will be subject to price cuts of between three
and 16 per cent, which the government says will lead to annual savings on average household
electricity bills of between $10 and $53.

* Licence reward system - drivers who go three years without demerit points being deducted
from their licence will get a $25 discount on their licence cost.

* Kindergarten fee subsidy for low-income families - will rise from $255 to $320.

* Long-service leave - employees can take an initial period of long-service leave after
10 years' service rather than 15. Pro-rata long-service leave payments available to employees
upon termination after seven rather than 10 years.

AAP kn/gfr/it

KEYWORD: LAWS VIC FACTBOX

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