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Small business

This Month

Maritime security expert Jennifer Parker: “We don’t want to learn the hard way once a crisis hits.”

Fears fewer ‘rat-catchers’ risk Defence paralysis

Prominent people were asked to propose one policy initiative they believed political parties should pledge to do, should they win the election.

Director-general of The Australian Signals Directorate Abigail Bradshaw has acknowledged he big challenges facing SMBs trying to be cyber secure.

Small and medium businesses must act big in cybersecurity fight

SMBs face the same frightening cybersecurity landscape as larger enterprises, but lack anything like the same financial muscle and expert staff to fight back.

Sophie Gilliatt (left) and Katherine Westwood at Dinner Ladies HQ in Matraville.

These women are conquering Aussie dinner tables, one lasagne at a time

The Dinner Ladies began with two women selling home-cooked meals to friends. It now delivers 40,000 meals a week and is expanding in a $2 billion market.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used a forum in western Sydney to announce the extension.

Labor extends key small business tax break

The instant asset write-off for small business will be extended for one year, but Anthony Albanese says making it a permanent feature would slow or stop investment.

March

Roslyn Van Welie says too much is out of an employer’s control to enforce strict new standards that super appears in staff accounts within a week of their salary.

This ‘nightmare’ superannuation reform has small businesses worried

Small businesses owed $1.8 billion in unpaid super in 2023, now reforms aimed to make sure it is paid on time has them on edge.

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Ian Cragg for a story on Non-compete clauses in employment contracts.

Ian left to start his own business. Then the legal letter arrived

Most workers forced to sign egregious work contracts are excited about Labor’s ban on anti-competition clauses – but not all.

Labor will soon roll out more election policies to benefit tradies.

Albanese says more sweeteners to come for tradies, blue-collar workers

Responding to why he failed to extend the small business $20,000 instant-asset write-off for another 12 months, the prime minister hinted there would be more news to come for plumbers, electricians and other tradies.

‘Missed opportunity’: Business underwhelmed by Chalmers’ offering

While welcoming a surprise tax cut of $536 a year for workers, business groups say the budget failed to fix stagnant productivity and the structural deficit.

Tori and Ryan Spettigue, pictured with their three children Allegra, Henry and Louis. Tori and Ryan wanted transparency and cost of living relief from the federal budget.

How this typical family will be affected (including housing worries)

Tori and Ryan Spettigue hoped for help with childcare, and they got it. Sort of. They still worry their kids won’t be able to afford to live anywhere near them when they grow up.

AirBnB operators in Victoria could be exposed to land tax under state government changes.

Victoria starts handing out hefty bills in land tax ‘grab’

More than 400,000 people who run a small business or Airbnb from their home have been hit with hefty land tax bills under the government’s plans to rein in debt.

February

Jim Chalmers, Steven Kennedy and Angus Taylor.

Treasury boss rejects ‘politicisation’ attack by Coalition

In a fiery estimates hearing, Steven Kennedy rejected claims his department has been politicised by Jim Chalmers and filled with former Labor advisers.

Member for Wentworth and Teal, Allegra Spender has previously called for meaningful tax reform.

Teal election pivot is a sign of taxing times

It says something about the dire state of the economic policy debate when the teal Independents have more sensible things to say about tax than either major party.

From left: teal MPs Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel and Zali Steggall.

Teals must back gas to truly support small business

If the independents hold the balance in the next parliament, will they protect small businesses from unsustainable energy costs or continue prioritising ideological commitments over economic and business realities?

Teal independent Zoe Daniel.

‘It’s not 2022 anymore’: How teal MPs are reshaping their pitch

The shift in language from teal MPs to focus more on hip pocket issues such as tax over the past year tells a story about a changing political landscape.

The government wants to stop small business deduction late fees charged by the ATO.

Revolt over Labor bid to stem ATO tax break for small businesses

A fresh row has erupted over small business following attempts by the government to ram through new legislation that affects firms with tax debts.

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Teal MP wants $20k tax-free threshold for small business

Sophie Scamps said she would also push for an extension of the $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses, which expires on June 30.

January

Andrew Charlton is the federal government’s special envoy for cybersecurity and digital resilience.

This Labor MP got hacked. But now it helps him with his job

Cybersecurity envoy Andrew Charlton built a multi-million dollar firm before entering politics. But it almost came crashing down after a costly online attack.

Less than a week after condemning Labor’s cost of living policies as sugar-hits, Dutton on Sunday announced a new sugar-hit of his very own: tax-deductible lunches.

Dutton’s proposal for taxpayer-funded lunches is not serious policy

Less than a week after condemning Labor’s cost-of-living policies as sugar hits, Dutton on Sunday announced a new sugar hit of his own.

December 2024

Naomi Simson started RedBalloon in 2001 and has become one of the country’s most recognisable founders.

‘A man is not a plan’: How Naomi Simson created an experiences empire

Naomi Simson founded RedBalloon in 2001 on a shoestring budget. Now she’s looking to expand the company into the international market.

Independent MPs Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall, Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan all back tax reform, including changes to negative gearing.

Teals back more small business IR exemptions as unions baulk

In a letter to the workplace relations minister, lower-house teal MPs argued smaller firms should not be subject to the same workplace laws as big companies.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/small-business-hva