Workforce Crunch: Canberra’s housing and infrastructure plans are at risk as Master Builders warns of a projected shortage of 1,100+ construction workers by 2035, with apprenticeship starts down 11.7% in the March 2026 quarter. SME Cashflow Pressure: Equifax data flags SMEs shifting into “survival mode” as borrowing appetite cools, credit scores slip, and ATO tax defaults rise; payday super is also squeezing cash because super must be paid each pay cycle. Online Safety Rules: COSBOA warns proposed online safety laws could add compliance burdens for low-risk SMEs, with unclear exemptions and extra record-keeping requirements. Payments Surcharge Fallout: Westpac is cutting merchant fees ahead of the 1 October card surcharge ban, while businesses and shoppers brace for how cash discounts and pricing will change. Retail Safety Enforcement: Victoria regulator Energy Safe Victoria fined Melbourne/Brisbane retailer Panda Mart $80,000 over unsafe electrical goods, including shock-risk lamps and chargers. Night-Time Economy Lift: Visa research says Australia’s night-time economy is growing 15% year-on-year, with fewer people citing cost and safety as barriers—good news for hospitality and local venues. Right to Repair Momentum: Australia’s automotive aftermarket group joins a global push at Automechanika Frankfurt to keep independent repair viable as tech advances. Local Growth Support: Woolworths-backed Seedlab says its retail readiness and accelerator programs have helped hundreds of small FMCG suppliers build systems and improve chances of getting ranged. Business Tech for Discovery: Square’s Apple Business integration lets local sellers keep Apple Maps details synced from the Square dashboard, aiming to drive more customer actions.