Energy prices are set to lift for hundreds of thousands of households when the clock strikes 12 but there are also plenty of positive changes kicking in at the start of the new financial year.
On July 1, the new benchmark default market rates for electricity prices will roll over and result in a 20 and 25 per cent increase for those on safety net offers, depending on the region.
There are also changes to the aged pension thresholds expected at the start of next month that will expand the pool of people able to qualify.
The percentage of employee earnings an employer must pay to super will also lift half a percentage point, taking compulsory contributions to 11 per cent.
Families will welcome an increase in the childcare subsidy, which is expected to ease costs for 1.2 million families and ensure greater workforce participation.
Parents have been assured the consumer watchdog will be keeping a close eye on childcare fees as the subsidy increases.
Also from July 1, the parental leave pay and dad and partner pay programs will combine into a single, 20-week scheme, benefiting 180,000 families a year.
Aged-care workers will receive an interim 15 per cent pay rise, meaning nurses can earn an extra $10,000 a year on the award wage, and some personal care workers can earn an extra $7000 a year.
On housing, the government is expanding eligibility for the home guarantee scheme and making 50,000 new places available.
And the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation's liability cap will receive a $2 billion boost, to support more lending to community housing providers for social and affordable housing projects.
Water bills for Sydneysiders will meanwhile remain the lowest in the country.
There's a 'but' though: households are still looking at their quarterly bill jumping an average 7.4 per cent, or a little over $21. For pensioners, the rise will amount to 6.5 per cent , or $5.42.
