Card surcharge ban hits this week: From Thursday, retailers can’t add card surcharges and interchange caps fall, forcing merchants to rethink pricing and banks to adjust revenue models; councils warn the change could cost them hundreds of thousands a year each. Payments pressure on small business: Westpac is cutting flat-rate merchant fees while major banks trim rewards and travel cover, highlighting how the surcharge ban may shift costs rather than remove them. RBA rate-hike backdrop: With the RBA expected to lift rates again to around a 15-year high, banks are flagging rising household stress and mortgage arrears—an early warning for SME cashflow and credit conditions. Mortgage stress watch: Bank of Queensland and NAB both point to worsening arrears and cost-of-living strain, underlining tighter lending risk as competition and impairment charges bite. NSW solar + batteries pilot: NSW is trialling property-level and community battery models in the Illawarra REZ to cut tenant bills, with installer and VPP operator feedback due 25 October. Local business support & skills: Australia is funding training for 10 hearing-impaired Solomon Islanders in mobile phone repair via a Honiara partnership. ATO hospitality crackdown: The ATO ran surprise visits in Melbourne’s CBD hospitality after thousands of tips, targeting cash-in-hand and super/record-keeping breaches. Startup and SME tech: Mastercard launches a “Dreams” platform spotlighting founders, while Brisbane’s Elios Table helps gluten-free diners find safe venues. Workplace safety: A NSW-focused piece argues psychological safety is now a boardroom liability for SMEs as claims costs rise. Community events: ARO’s Walk & Ride for Water returns across major cities on 1 November, supporting wells and a school clean-water project.