New rules will come into effect from February 1 giving the Victorian Civil and Administrative Authority (VCAT) the power to compensate residents in high-rise building apartments if neighbouring apartments are let out to "unruly" short-stay tenants. Parties that cause damage, create an "unreasonable" amount of noise, generate safety or security issues or prevent permanent tenants from enjoying their own property may be subject. Residents can be compensated up to $2000 by VCAT, under rules that were sparked by a series of complaints by apartment residents about partygoers using Airbnb and other short-stay services. Five-year leases Starting in February and March, new rules will allow for the creation of five-year (and longer) leases. The rules will also create protections under the Residential Tenancies Act for those long-term leases, similar to the protections offered to other tenants. Greyhounds de-muzzled

Pet greyhounds will no longer be required to wear a muzzle in public, although racing greyhounds must wear them still. The change to muzzle rules was announced in April and will take effect from 2019. Credit:Anthony Johnson Free TAFE courses The cost of 30 TAFE courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses will be covered by the state government. Courses including nursing, plumbing and accounting will be subsidised if the applicant is a citizen of Australia or New Zealand who is under 20, unemployed or looking to upgrade qualifications in these areas. Victims' rights

New rules will remove an old anomaly that saw historical child welfare records and protection applications treated like criminal records and stored on the Victoria Police database, LEAP. Bookies' tax Bookmakers will be forced to pay an 8 per cent "Point of Consumption" tax on the net wagering revenue from wagers and bets conducted in Victoria, from January 1. While other states have higher taxes in place – South Australia has a 15 per cent tax in place – the bookmakers were predictably less than impressed when the move was announced earlier this year. Former federal Labor MP Stephen Conroy, now the executive director of lobby group Responsible Wagering Australia, said it would "have significant negative and far-reaching consequences for Victoria".

The state government has said it would help wrest unpaid tax back into government coffers. Parking levy rise Loading The levy was introduced in 2005 to discourage motorists from driving in Melbourne's CBD. Under the levy, off-street public or private parking spaces are charged an annual fee. From next year, the cost of non-exempt parking spaces will rise from $1410 to $1440 in the category one zone, which includes the CBD, Southbank, parts of Docklands and the Domain. Non-exempt parking spaces in the inner suburban category two zone, which includes Albert Park, South Melbourne, North Melbourne and Carlton, will be charged $1020 (up from $1000) a year. Court costs rise