TRANSCRIPT
- The countdown to the New Year's Eve fireworks begins
- Summer's first case of mosquito-borne virus detected in Victoria
- Nick Kyrgios emerges as Australian Open threat as Novak Djokovic praises his return
The new year brings policy changes and increased government payments for over a million Australians.
From the 1st of January, underpaying workers becomes a criminal offence.
Education Minister Jason Clare says employers who do the wrong thing will get penalised.
"From tomorrow, wage theft becomes illegal. From tomorrow, wage theft becomes a criminal act. You can go to jail for up to 10 years or cop a fine of up to 8 million dollars. This is serious. For companies who deliberately underpay their workers, who steal money off their workers, now what you're doing is a crime. And you will have to pay for it."
Meanwhile, welfare recipients will see higher payments.
Youth Allowance recipients with dependent children will receive an extra $30.60, while partnered recipients without dependent children will get an additional $24.30.
Carer Allowance payments will rise by $5.80 to $159.30 per fortnight.
Eligibility rules for government payments are also easing.
Fixed time limits for exemptions from mutual obligations due to medical incapacity will be removed, with exemptions granted based on medical advice for as long as necessary.
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Sydney's New Year’s celebrations will include the Calling Country fireworks at 9pm, accompanied by a showcase of emerging and established artists curated by We Are Warriors creative director Nooky.
This year’s theme, Forward with Heart, emphasises unity, with a focus on progress through collaboration.
Nooky says Barangaroo’s connection to the harbour and her role as a provider are set to be highlighted.
"Barangaroo was another one of the most fiercest warriors this country has ever known. And not only was she a staunch, resilient black woman, she was very kind and caring, loving black mother. So I thought that's the kind of energy we wanted to take into next year, not not one of fighting, but one of resilience and love and care and nurturing our children. So I thought it was really important that we tried to invoke her spirit when we were taking care of Calling Country this year."
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The first likely summer case of a potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus has been detected in regional Victoria.
The Department of Health announced Japanese encephalitis, a virus related to dengue and yellow fever, was identified in a resident from the state's north.
The virus has also been found through environmental surveillance in northern Victoria along the Murray River, as well as in mosquitoes and feral pigs in New South Wales.
Transmitted by mosquitoes, the virus often causes no symptoms, but it can lead to fever, vomiting, and headaches.
Severe cases may result in seizures, paralysis, permanent disability, or death.
Victoria's Acting Chief Health Officer, Christian McGrath, issued an alert urging those near the Murray River and surrounding areas to take extra precautions.
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Two men have been charged with drug trafficking at Victoria's first festival to trial pill testing, while one person has been treated for an overdose.
Police allege the men were caught with traffickable quantities of drugs during separate searches on Monday at Beyond the Valley, held 50 kilometres west of Geelong.
A 28-year-old South Yarra man was allegedly found with 17 M-D-M-A pills, four grams of cocaine, and other substances, while a 27-year-old man allegedly had 27 grams of cocaine and 15 grams of ketamine.
Both men were granted bail and are scheduled to appear in court in March.
The festival, expected to host 35,000 attendees over five days, is the first of 10 events trialling a state government-supported drug checking service over 18 months.
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And in sport,
Nick Kyrgios looms as a major threat in the Australian Open draw, with Novak Djokovic praising his game after their impressive doubles performance in Brisbane.
In just his second tour match in over two years, Kyrgios showed glimpses of his best form during a 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 10-8 win over Alexander Erler and Andreas Mies on Monday night.
The 29-year-old displayed no signs of the wrist and knee injuries that nearly ended his career, delivering a polished performance with powerful serves, flashy shots, and excellent movement.
In their post-match commentary, Djokovic appeared to be in top spirits sharing this humorous moment with spectators.
"As far as the match, I want to thank Nick for playing. You know, he said the other day that it should be a pleasure to play with him. It is, it is a pleasure, and I'm glad to share the court with him on his comeback. And yeah, I mean, I haven't played that many doubles matches in my life, to be honest, particularly the last five years, so whatever Nick was saying I was I was following, actually."
