Finance News
Daily insights and updates from the Australian finance market.
The Banks' Financial Abuse Guideline Now Covers Small Business Lending
The ABA's updated financial abuse guideline names small business lending as a channel. What changes for co-borrowers, guarantors and account access.
Read articleFarm Tech Rebates Reopen With $10 Million and a 15 October Deadline
Round three of the On Farm Connectivity Program opened on 16 September with $10 million in rebates. Applications are assessed in the order they are lodged.
Read articleBig Four Banks Cut Business Card Perks as Interest-Free Days Fall to 44
Big Four banks are cutting business card perks: ANZ trims interest-free days to 44, CommBank strips cover, Westpac reprices points, NAB cuts bonus points.
Read articleThe Non-Compete Ban Is Still a Draft and Your Clause Still Binds
Draft laws would ban non-compete clauses for workers under $190,100. Submissions close 2 October, and until then an existing clause still binds.
Read articleThe Dollar Is Up 8.9% in a Year. Import Prices Rose 6.2% Anyway.
The dollar is up 8.9% on the RBA trade-weighted index, yet the ABS Import Price Index rose 6.2%. Where the currency gain lands, and how to claim it.
Read article350,000 Businesses Run Through a Trust: A New Option Skips the Restructure
Treasury's 3 September draft lets a discretionary trust elect out of the 30% minimum tax with no restructure and no expected stamp duty. What to check first.
Read articleRecord EV Imports Land as Fuel Import Costs Rose 42.5%
ABS data shows record electric vehicle imports in the June quarter as fuel imports rose 42.5%. What it means for car buyers and fleet operators.
Read article480,825 Old Finance Claims Came Off the PPSR: Check Whether Yours Did
AFSA removed 480,825 outdated registrations from the PPSR in the June quarter. How to check nothing is still parked against your car or equipment.
Read articleA Bank Averaged 144 Days on Scam Reports When the Code Allows 45
HSBC averaged 144 days investigating scam reports. The ePayments Code allows 45. The clauses, the deadlines, and where the Code stops applying.
Read articleThe Surcharge Ban Starts 1 October. Your Rewards Card Changes the Day Before.
Westpac and St.George reprice rewards cards on 30 September, the day before surcharges end. Rates to 23.99%, fees to $155, points buy less.
Read articleAustralia Gained 85,130 Businesses Last Year. The Ones With Staff Grew Too.
ABS data shows Australia gained 85,130 businesses in 2025-26, and the number with employees grew for the first time since 2021-22.
Read articleSME Growth Fund Doubles Its First Cheque to $30m and Opens a Sell-Down
The Australian Business Growth Fund lifted its maximum first investment to $30 million and can now take majority stakes. Who qualifies, and what to settle.
Read articleOne in Three Owners Can't Say If They Made a Profit, Yet Most Feel Confident
Xero research found more than one in three Australian small business owners don't know if they made a profit last month, yet 85% feel confident.
Read articleThe Small Business CGT Threshold Rises to $10m. Three Concessions Stay at $2m.
From 1 July 2027 the small business 50 per cent active asset reduction reaches $10 million in turnover. The other three CGT concessions keep the $2m tests.
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Financial Abuse Follows People Into Their Credit File. Correcting It Is Free.
Arca has published best practice principles for credit files damaged by domestic abuse. Correcting an entry is free and the lender or bureau has 30 days.
Read articleHSBC Sold $36 Billion in Australian Loans. Here's Who Owns Them Now.
HSBC is exiting Australian retail lending. Blackstone bought the $36 billion loan book and Pepper Money services it. What it means for borrowers.
Read articleCard Surcharges End on October 1. Here's What Businesses Actually Absorb.
The RBA's surcharge ban takes effect on 1 October 2026. Interchange fees drop, Amex costs do not. What businesses should check before the deadline.
Read articleChina Is Banning a Car Door Handle Australia Will Keep Importing
China bans electric-only car door handles from 2027. Australia has no equivalent rule, and a third of new cars sold here are Chinese-built.
Read articleSmall Businesses Are Still Borrowing, Just Not to Grow
Banjo Loans Q4 FY26 data shows SME loan sizes fell 20% and cancellations surged 814%. Larger firms are pausing growth; smaller ones are covering wages.
Read article1,500 Businesses Get Acquired in Australia Every Year. Now We Know Who.
RBA research finds about 1,500 Australian businesses are acquired each year. Firms turning over $10m to $50m with 20 to 100 staff are likeliest.
Read articleNSW Gave $1M to 22 Startups: What the Grant Program Now Rewards
The NSW MVP Ventures program awarded over $1 million to 22 businesses, with a dedicated stream for women-owned, Indigenous-owned and regional founders.
Read articleAustralians Feel Better About Their Own Finances, Not the Economy
The Westpac Consumer Sentiment Index posted its best month of 2026. Fuel relief and easing rate fears drove the gain, but the economic outlook barely moved.
Read articleThe Big Four Can't Agree on Rates. 18 Lenders Have Already Cut Theirs.
Westpac tipped August and September rate rises while CBA, NAB and ANZ expected a hold. Meanwhile 18 lenders cut variable rates after the May RBA rise.
Read articleTelstra Went Down for Five Hours. Most Small Businesses Had No Plan B.
Telstra's outage knocked out EFTPOS and payment systems across Australia. How to document the losses and set up a backup before the next one.
Read articleSubscription Traps and Hidden Fees Are Now Banned in Australia
Parliament banned subscription traps, drip pricing and hidden fees from 1 July 2027. What changes for consumers, and what business owners have to fix.
Read articleStartup Capital Is Flowing Again: What It Signals for Every Business
Airwallex closed a US$320 million round and the NRFC made its first venture debt investment. What the return of startup capital signals for every business.
Read articleAPRA Proposes Making It Easier for Banks to Lend to Business
APRA proposed cutting capital requirements for business, development and infrastructure lending. What the changes mean for borrowers and when they start.
Read articleAI Can Fake a Loan Application. Here's Why It Still Gets Caught.
Australian banks identified $4B in AI-generated fake loan applications. What the detection system can now do, and what it means for genuine borrowers.
Read articleHousehold Wealth Hit a Record $19.2 Trillion: Two-Thirds of It Is Property
Australian household wealth reached a record $19.2 trillion in March 2026. Property drove the gains, super went backwards, and debt kept climbing.
Read articleSix Changes Land on 1 July: Your Pay, Tax, Super and Business
Six changes start on 1 July 2026: award wages up 4.75%, a lower bottom tax rate, payday super, higher contribution caps and 26 weeks of parental leave.
Read articleThe Government Will Pay 30% of Your Business Battery.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program covers small businesses too. The federal rebate is $272 per kWh now and drops to $228 in January 2027.
Read articleTwo State Budgets Just Dropped Real Money for Small Business.
Queensland and NSW released 2026-27 budgets with real support for small business: payroll tax rebates, energy cuts, workers' comp freeze, and AI grants.
Read articleSmall Businesses Are Beating Big Companies at AI.
Two-thirds of Australian SMBs now use AI. Those going beyond basic use could expect profitability gains of 45% and more, a Deloitte report finds.
Read articleThe Government Just Redrew the CGT Line.
The government lifted the small business CGT discount to $10 million turnover and scrapped the testamentary trust tax. The living trust minimum stays.
Read articleAustralians Aren't Buying Fewer Vehicles. They're Buying Different Ones.
One in five Australians has shelved a vehicle purchase, yet 46% of new vehicles sold in May 2026 were electrified. The market has rearranged, not frozen.
Read articleThe RBA Held Rates. That's Not the Same as Good News.
The RBA held the cash rate at 4.35% in June 2026, the first pause after three hikes. The board discussed hiking again and did not discuss a cut.
Read articleThe CGT Formula That Will Value Your Business Hasn't Been Written Yet.
Senate hearings on the CGT reform bill start 15 June. CPA Australia estimates up to $825 million in one-off compliance costs before the new system begins.
Read articleOne in Three Small Businesses Now Borrow Outside the Banks.
34% of Australian SMEs sourced lending from a non-bank in the past year. Collateral, not speed, is the main reason they moved, according to ScotPac.
Read articleNAB Just Reversed Its Rate Forecast.
NAB expects the next cash rate move to be a cut, breaking from the big four consensus. When the majors disagree on direction, lender pricing spreads out.
Read articleHousehold Spending Fell 1.1% in April: Transport Took the Biggest Cut
ABS data shows Australian household spending fell 1.1% in April 2026. Transport, clothing and services all dropped and the savings ratio fell to 6.2%.
Read articleUS Proposes Lifting Tariffs on Australian Goods to 12.5%: What Exporters Face
The US proposed lifting tariffs on Australian goods from 10% to 12.5%. Direct impact is limited, but trade instability is the real cost for businesses.
Read article82% of Gen Z Feel Good About Money: What They Do Differently
ING's 2026 Sense of Us report found 82% of Gen Z positive about their finances against 49% of Boomers. The behaviour behind the gap, and what it costs.
Read articleAustralia's Startup Sector Just Grew at Double the Global Rate
Australia's startup sector grew 22.9%, double the global average. Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth all surging. What it means for business owners.
Read articleFrom 13 July, Non-Bank Lenders Have to Open Their Books
The Consumer Data Right expands to non-bank lenders from 13 July 2026. Car loans, personal loans and BNPL must publish rates and terms in a standard format.
Read articleInflation Fell to 4.2% in April, but the RBA's Core Measure Rose
Headline inflation fell to 4.2% in April while the RBA's trimmed mean rose to 3.4%. What that split means for the June cash rate decision.
Read articleHalf of Australian Businesses Are Eating Fuel Costs Instead of Raising Prices
ABS data shows 48% of businesses absorbing fuel cost increases, 17% delaying investment and 9% cutting staff. What that behaviour means for owners.
Read articleFuel Excise Relief Ends on 30 June: Costs Jump From 1 July
The temporary halving of fuel excise ends on 30 June 2026. From 1 July petrol and diesel cost more, and delivered goods follow weeks later.
Read articleRBA Board Split 8 to 1 on the May Rise to 4.35%: What the Dissenter Argued
The RBA's May minutes show an 8 to 1 vote to lift the cash rate to 4.35%. What the dissenting member argued, and what it signals for the next move.
Read article840,000 Family Trusts Just Got a 30% Tax Floor
The 2026 budget introduced a 30% minimum tax on 840,000 discretionary trusts from July 2028. How it works, who pays, and what to do before it starts.
Read articleThe Dollar Is Up 11%: What That Does to Import Prices
The AUD has gained 11% in 12 months. How exchange rate movements flow through to equipment, vehicle and materials prices, and what to ask a supplier.
Read article497 Hidden Tariffs Just Disappeared From Your Supply Chain
The federal budget abolished 497 nuisance tariffs from 1 July 2026. The real saving is $157 million a year in compliance costs for importers.
Read articleAustralia's Fastest-Growing Founder Group Is Over 55
ABN registrations among Australians over 55 surged 66.67% year on year in March 2026 while under-25 founders dropped 35%. What they are building.
Read articleYour Company's Next Tax Loss Could Come Back as Cash
The budget brought back loss carry-back. From 1 July 2026 companies making a tax loss can claim a cash refund against tax paid in the prior two years.
Read articleBudget 2026: The $1,000 Standard Deduction, Explained
The federal budget introduced a $1,000 standard deduction for work-related expenses. Here's how it works, who it helps, and what to do at tax time.
Read articleThe CGT Overhaul and What It Means If You Ever Plan to Sell Your Business
The budget is expected to replace the 50% CGT discount with inflation indexation. What it means for business owners planning an exit.
Read articleThe ATO Has a Fuel Response Payment Plan. Here's How It Works
The ATO's fuel response payment plan gave businesses hit by fuel costs three years to pay, with no upfront payment. It closed on 30 June 2026.
Read articleBudget Week: What's Coming for Business Owners
The 2026-27 federal budget lands on 12 May. What has been flagged for business owners: a permanent asset write-off, loss carry-back and fuel relief.
Read articleRBA Hikes Rates to 4.35%, Then Signals Room to Pause
The RBA raised the cash rate to 4.35% and Governor Bullock called it a bit restrictive. What the pause signal means for borrowers.
Read articleQualified Tradies Have Never Been Worth More, and the Shortage Is Locked In
Jobs and Skills Australia's modelling points to 32,000 more electricians needed within seven years while apprentice numbers fall.
Read articleAussie Small Businesses Just Outgrew the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand
Australian small business sales grew 7.2% in Q1 2026, outpacing every comparable economy. Construction, healthcare and financial services led.
Read articleBusiness Formation Just Hit a Record. Business Confidence Didn't.
124,516 new businesses registered in March 2026, up 10.34% year on year, with company formations at a 2026 high while NAB business confidence sat at -29.
Read articleNearly a Million Tourists Visited Australia in a Single Month
Australia recorded 943,220 short-term visitor arrivals in February 2026, above the pre-COVID record. What it means for tourism and hospitality operators.
Read articleInflation Expectations Hit a Record High as Actual Prices Cool
Australians expect 7.3% inflation but the actual rate is 3.7%. We break down what is really happening by category and what it means for financial decisions.
Read articleThe Australian Dollar Hit a Five-Year High: What It Means for Buyers
The AUD is up 10% from its 2025 lows. What the stronger dollar means for imported vehicles, equipment and machinery, and how to use the shift.
Read articleAustralians Are Further Ahead on Their Loans Than Before COVID
The RBA's March 2026 Financial Stability Review finds households further ahead on their loans than before the pandemic, arrears back to pre-2020.
Read articleBusiness Confidence Hit Pandemic Lows While the Economy Didn't
NAB's confidence index fell to -29 in March while conditions held at +6. The 35-point gap says more than either number on its own.
Read articleZero-Interest Government Loans Just Opened for Australian Businesses
The $1 billion Economic Resilience Program offers zero-interest two-year loans to manufacturing and logistics businesses through six banks.
Read articleUsed Car Prices in Australia Are Falling Fastest on Utes and SUVs
Used ute and SUV prices are down 10.7% in a year, nearly three times the fall in passenger cars. What that means if you need a work vehicle.
Read articleAustralia's Trade Surplus Doubled in February on Rural Exports
Australia’s trade surplus doubled to $5.69 billion in February. Meat exports surged 27%. What it means for rural and regional businesses.
Read articleHome Building Approvals Hit a 5-Year High, Led by Apartments
Australia approved 19,022 new dwellings in February 2026, a five-year high led by apartments. What it means for buyers, builders and tradies.
Read articleFull-Time Work Is Replacing Casual Jobs, and That Lifts Borrowing Power
Australia added 52,500 full-time jobs in March 2026 as part-time work fell. Permanent hours can lift borrowing capacity even when the pay does not move.
Read articleAustralia's SME Economy Is Splitting in Two on Cash Flow Timing
59% of Australian SMEs expect growth while 36% forecast decline. The ScotPac SME Growth Index reveals the most polarised result in 12 years.
Read articleEVs Hit a Record 14.6% of New Car Sales as Running Costs Bite
More than 15,800 EVs sold in Australia in March 2026, a record 14.6% of new car sales. BYD outsold Tesla. What it means for car buyers.
Read articleATO Debt Enforcement Is Back at Full Strength: What Directors Face
The ATO has restarted firmer action on tax debt. Director penalty notices, garnishee orders and credit reporting are all back in play for directors.
Read article$6.15 Billion in Government Finance Is About to Open for Australian Businesses
Canberra has brought forward $6.15 billion in concessional finance for business: $1 billion at zero interest, $5 billion for net zero, $150m for timber.
Read articleAward Rates Are Rising and Wage Growth Has Caught Up to Prices
Fair Work's gender undervaluation increases lifted award base rates from 1 April, and wages growth of 3.4% is now running ahead of prices.
Read articleRooftop Solar Now Outpowers Coal as Home Battery Demand Hits Record
Australia's 4.3M solar rooftops now outpower coal. Battery demand hits record as federal rebate changes on 1 May 2026.
Read articleBYD and Kia Crack Australia's Top 3 as New Brands Reshape the Market
BYD and Kia crack Australia's top 3 for the first time. China overtakes Japan as #1 source country. What it means for car buyers.
Read articleAustralia's $242B Infrastructure Pipeline: Where the Money Is Going
Australia's public infrastructure pipeline has hit a record $242 billion. Where the spending is going, and why workforce is the real constraint.
Read articleAustralian Businesses Are Investing at the Highest Rate in Three Years
NAB's capex measure hit a three-year high and the ABS expects $158.4 billion in business investment in 2026-27. What it means for SMEs.
Read articleEV Searches Triple in a Month as More Australians Make the Switch
EV searches on carsales almost tripled in a month. CommBank EV loans are up 161% and entry-level EVs now start under $24,000. What is driving the shift.
Read articleFuel Excise Halved From 1 April: What It Actually Saves You
The government has halved the fuel excise for three months: 26c a litre off petrol and diesel from 1 April. What it saves households and businesses.
Read articleYour Savings Account Just Got a Raise: 5 Ways to Make Higher Rates Work
Savings rates moved above 5% after the RBA's March 2026 hike. Which accounts pay the most, the conditions attached, and five ways to make the rise count.
Read articleAustralians Are Registering Businesses at Record Pace, Incorporating Early
Australia recorded 115,949 new ABN registrations in February 2026, up 9.32%, and company formations grew faster still at 16.14%.
Read articleAustralia–EU Trade Deal Signed — What It Means for Car and Equipment Buyers
The Australia-EU free trade agreement removes the 5% tariff on European cars, lifts the Luxury Car Tax threshold for EVs and cuts equipment tariffs.
Read articleEV Sales Nearly Double in Australia as Fuel Prices Accelerate the Shift
EV sales hit 11.8% of Australia's new car market, nearly double last year. With petrol up more than 70c a litre, what it means for car buyers.
Read articlePayday Super Starts 1 July: 5 Things Business Owners Should Do Now
From 1 July 2026, employers must pay super every pay cycle instead of quarterly. Here are 5 things business owners should do before the deadline.
Read articlePower Bills Set to Drop Up to 10% From July: What to Check Before Then
The AER has proposed electricity price cuts of up to 10% for households and 21% for small businesses from July 2026. What the numbers mean for you.
Read articleRising Fuel Costs and Back-to-Back Rate Hikes: What Business Owners Can Do Now
Petrol up about 50c a litre and back-to-back RBA rate hikes are squeezing Australian businesses. The real cost, and five things to do about it now.
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