This Month
MYOB to take on big banks with small business transaction accounts
It’s the latest battleground among the nation’s lenders in a sector that’s less exposed to the extreme pressure buffeting the home and consumer loan segment.
Employers furious over small business IR review ‘charade’
Businesses and crossbenchers have blasted the government’s long-awaited report into potentially expanding exemptions after it opted to make no recommendations.
June
‘How long do I have to be the story for?’: Higgins returns to work
After four years in the public spotlight, Brittany Higgins is returning to work, saying advocacy remains a “passion...but is not a self-sustaining career”.
May
Liberals’ IR man Tim Wilson wants school kids taking up ‘side hustles’
Wilson, who was punted from parliament by teal Zoe Daniel in 2022 but clawed his way back on May 3, also has his eye on Labor’s multi-employer bargaining laws.
Do these 4 things if your kids can’t (or won’t) take over the business
Joe Rinaldi poured his heart and soul into building a profitable car dealership. Then came the realisation he had no successor.
The stage of life Australians can’t afford to ignore
Kate Carnell says federal funds for end-of-life planning would reduce costly hospitalisations and prevent unnecessary suffering.
April
This battleground seat has become a minefield for Peter Dutton
The Melbourne electorate of Bruce is up for grabs but a series of unflattering stories about Liberal candidate Zahid Safi has made campaigning difficult.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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?
‘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.