AGP Executive Report

Work-from-home rights in Victoria: Victoria is set to pass laws guaranteeing eligible workers the right to work from home up to two days a week, with employers able to refuse only on set criteria—sparking pushback from some major business groups. Cyber training wind-down: COSBOA’s free “Cyber Wardens” program is closing on Sept 11, urging small firms to download certificates and resources before the platform shuts. Energy bill pressure in Victoria: A report warns delays to renewables and transmission could add up to $33bn to wholesale power costs by 2050, with projected bill impacts for small businesses. Retail crime push: Retail Drinks Australia calls for a NSW Small Business Security Rebate Program (matched grants up to $15,000) after a rise in liquor-store break-ins and violence. SME tech and AI governance: ABBYY research finds leaders disagree on who’s responsible when AI outputs go wrong, while Proofpoint flags rising human risk in cyber as AI expands. Local business operations: Woolworths launches a new “Ooshies for adults” Fissler Container Credits promo, but again warns “while stocks last” and urges early redemption. Practical workplace ideas: A guide promotes building a budget-friendly 20ft container office for Australian SMEs needing portable workspace.

AI & Tech Adoption: Australian AI is moving from experiments into everyday operations, with investors watching how machine learning is reshaping recruitment, accounting and automotive marketplaces. Cyber & Credentials: Bitwarden has teamed with Leader Cloud to expand credential security through 16,000+ Australian reseller partners, targeting SMBs and enterprise/government. Search & Marketing Shift: SEOOnly launches as a specialist firm focused on how AI assistants and conversational search change how customers discover businesses. Social Media Rules Impact: COSBOA warns the “My Feed, My Way” opt-out plan could hit small business visibility and customer acquisition, even if the goal is safer online feeds. Digital Duty of Care Tension: The Trump administration says it will confront Australia over its algorithm opt-out and harmful-content takedown approach. Cyber Wardens Wind-Down: The free Cyber Wardens small business cyber training program is set to close this week, urging users to download certificates/resources. Energy Costs & Reliability: New analysis says delaying Victoria’s transmission projects could cost households and businesses billions and raise power bills, while Yallourn’s retirement readiness is questioned. SMB Cost Pressure: A report highlights “cost creep” squeezing small businesses and pushing some toward closure. Retail Experience: Eva opens its largest Melbourne showroom, designed to slow purchases and help customers visualise products at home.

Cost-of-doing-business pressure: Small retailers and hospitality operators are warning about “insidious cost creep” as mega-competitors squeeze margins, with one regional clothing shop saying even a 50% off sale didn’t generate a single sale. EVs for small fleets: Ford’s new China-sourced Transit City EV lands as one of the cheapest electric vans in Australia at $50,000 drive-away, aiming at inner-city last-mile and small business use. Insurance squeeze in NSW: The Insurance Council says building-cost inflation is making the emergency services levy removal urgent, warning NSW homeowners and small businesses could be “taxed out” of insurance. Broker transparency push: The Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee flags concerns that draft remuneration disclosure rules may leave many small business clients unable to make fully informed choices. Workplace rules for SMEs: Draft laws would ban non-compete clauses for workers earning under $190,100, but industry groups warn it could create avoidable risks for employers. Social media compliance: Australia’s “My Feed, My Way” reforms would let users opt out of algorithms, with fines up to $100m for failing the digital duty of care. Home values slide: ABS data shows national home values down $34b in the June quarter, with NSW and Victoria hit hardest—another headwind for small business tied to property confidence. Local growth & jobs: WA is reviewing the Procurement Act 2020 to boost opportunities for local businesses under its “Made in WA” plan. Canberra export win: Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) is named ACT Exporter of the Year, highlighting how local tech can scale into global markets.

Insurance & Costs: NSW’s Emergency Services Levy is back under the microscope as the Insurance Council warns it’s pushing households and small businesses out of cover, with building-cost inflation and levy compounding blamed for premium pain. Broker Rules: The Insurance Brokers Code Compliance Committee has flagged gaps in the draft broker code, warning remuneration disclosure may leave small firms unable to make fully informed choices. Workplace Law: The federal government’s draft ban on non-compete clauses for workers under $190,100 has employers alarmed about business risk and implementation. Social Media Compliance: New “My Feed, My Way” draft laws would let Australians opt out of algorithmic feeds, with major fines for platforms that don’t comply. Consumer Payments: The credit card surcharge ban starts 1 October, but banks say rewards and perks may shrink as surcharge revenue disappears. Business & Community: Nala’s bras move into Myer stores, while City of Perth backs arts and culture with $1.1m to support local events and spend. Regional Infrastructure: NT’s Santa Teresa Road sealing gets a $37.4m contract, aiming to improve safety and reliability for remote communities.

Workplace Rights: The Fair Work Commission backed the dismissal of an insurance broker after she dropped “senior” from her title in formal correspondence, a reminder that small admin details can become big legal risks for small employers. Regional Jobs & Property: Yass Valley Council secured a $10m federal grant to push Stage 2 of the historic Crago Mill precinct restoration, with tenders still to come. Digital Duty of Care: Draft laws would let Australians switch off social media algorithmic feeds, but the default/opt-in vs opt-out fight could reshape how small businesses reach customers online. Cyber Resilience: CISA, the FBI and partners issued new outage-communications guidance, urging pre-planned messaging roles, thresholds and backup channels—useful for any SME with critical systems. Local Business Support: A Rotorua-led tourism push and a separate Red Centre self-drive voucher scheme show how targeted funding can drive bookings for regional operators. Superannuation Politics: One Nation’s proposal to let workers access part of super early is sparking fresh debate in Canberra, with potential flow-on implications for advisers and payroll services. Supply Chain Pressure: Farmers say Coles and Woolworths are stripping some local products, warning it’s a “ruthless” move that threatens livelihoods. Business & Community: Now and Not Yet is revitalising Warrandyte High’s canteen with a social enterprise model, creating student work and training opportunities.

Revenue Leadership Shake-up: Dext has appointed Nicole Bello as Chief Revenue Officer, tasking her with building a single global commercial team as Dext expands payments and AI Assist for bookkeeping. Repair Costs Hit Motor SMEs: Australia’s peak mechanics body says cars are being written off after minor crashes because replacement parts take longer, pushing up insurance premiums and squeezing repair businesses. Housing Pressure in Sydney: Coalition MPs attacked “plummeting” Sydney house prices in Question Time, while Labor pointed to Treasury modelling showing only a small, temporary slowing in growth. Banking Watch: Bank of Queensland flagged higher revenue but lower cash earnings, keeping lenders in focus as oil and rates jostle markets. Illegal Tobacco Crackdown: A Coalition taskforce calls for major changes to excise taxes and rules after finding organised crime effectively controls much of the tobacco market, with most nicotine coming from illicit sources. Digital Duty of Care: Draft laws may force social platforms to offer opt-outs from algorithmic feeds, raising new compliance and marketing challenges for small businesses. Workplace Rules: Non-compete clauses for workers under $190,100 are set to be banned under draft legislation. Regional Tourism Boost: Tourism Central Australia is handing out $500 vouchers to 600 interstate visitors to drive Red Centre stays and spend. Local Business Stories: A social enterprise café is revitalising Warrandyte High’s canteen, and Anaconda’s new Brisbane flagship leans hard into experiential retail.

SME Product Innovation: E-bike co-founder Frank Witowski has spent seven years designing a carbon-fibre e-bike rack that removes the need to lift heavy bikes—aimed at riders over 55. Workplace & Customer Trust: A Melbourne café says alleged dine-and-dashers returned for a missing phone, then allegedly walked out again without paying—prompting flyers to warn other local businesses. Tech for Small Business: Xero is back in the spotlight as investors focus on subscription cloud accounting and its wider ecosystem, with the ASX 200 name drawing renewed attention. Privacy Reform for Business: Australia’s draft Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026 would overhaul how businesses collect, use and disclose data, add 72-hour breach notification for eligible incidents, and introduce new rules for “trading” personal information—consultation closes 18 September. AI & SME Competition: COSBOA warns Australia risks leaving small business behind in the AI race as governments and industry debate how to support SMEs. Local Tourism Boost: Tourism Central Australia’s Red Centre voucher push will give 600 interstate visitors $500 vouchers to spend with eligible local accommodation operators, supporting regional operators. Regional Business Support: The Big Bowl fundraiser returns for Mary Mac’s Place in Woy Woy, targeting $20,000 to help with meals, showers, laundry and support for people doing it tough.

Privacy Overhaul for SMEs: The Albanese government has released an exposure draft of the Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026, proposing a new “fair and reasonable” test, tighter rules for direct marketing, controller/processor roles, and a 72-hour breach notification deadline—plus a right of erasure for large digital platforms; businesses are urged to assess data governance and incident-response now, with consultation closing 18 September. Trust Tax Changes (Sort-of) Land for Small Business: COSBOA says revised discretionary trust rules let eligible trusts elect “fixed distributions” to avoid the proposed 30% minimum tax without restructuring, but warns flexibility and other issues remain. Right to Disconnect Court Win: A landmark ruling backs a “right to disconnect” approach after a boss was found to have stressed staff by messaging them outside work hours—an HR and compliance signal for small employers. AI Algorithm Crackdown Warning: Tech entrepreneurs warn proposed forced removal of social media algorithms won’t stop harmful content and could hurt Australian online businesses. Local Business Support Push: Nambour’s chamber breakfast highlights growing confidence in the town, while financial counsellors urge struggling owners to seek help early (cash flow, ATO debt, creditors, lease negotiations). Tourism Dollars for the Red Centre: A $5m voucher boost will give $500 vouchers to 600 interstate visitors, redeemable with eligible local accommodation operators, alongside broader grants for tourism businesses. SME Disruption in Defence: Cheaper drones are reshaping defence spending and opening the door for smaller, faster-moving companies to innovate and supply. Community Fundraiser: The Big Bowl barefoot bowls event returns for Mary Mac’s Place in Woy Woy, aiming to lift last year’s $18,000 to $20,000.

Defence Shake-Up: Cheap drones are forcing militaries to rethink aerial bombardment costs and opening the door for smaller, faster-moving suppliers. Remittance Access: Western Union and JuanPay are expanding international money transfers through JuanPay outlets in the Philippines, boosting reach via local retail businesses. Privacy Reform (Australia): The Albanese Government’s draft Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026 proposes a new “fair and reasonable” test, tighter rules for “trading” personal data, 72-hour eligible breach notifications, and a right of erasure for large digital platforms—businesses should start planning now. Trust Tax Changes (SMEs): COSBOA says revised discretionary trust “fixed distributions” elections reduce the hit versus the original 30% minimum tax plan, but restructuring costs and flexibility concerns remain. SME Cash-Flow Support: Queensland financial counsellors are urging struggling small businesses to seek help early for ATO debts, creditors and lease negotiations. Tourism Boost (Red Centre): A $5m voucher push will give 600 interstate visitors $500 vouchers redeemable with local accommodation operators, alongside grants for tourism businesses. Cruise Industry Warning: Cruise Lines International Association says rising costs and regulatory uncertainty are cutting Australia’s cruise competitiveness, with knock-on effects for regional suppliers.

Privacy Overhaul: Australia’s Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026 is out for consultation, proposing a new “fair and reasonable” test, fresh consent rules (including for “trading” personal data), controller/processor roles, stricter direct marketing, and a 72-hour breach notification deadline—plus a right of erasure for large digital platforms. Trust Tax Fixes: COSBOA says draft changes to discretionary trust taxation reduce the hit on SMEs by letting eligible trusts elect “fixed distributions” to avoid a proposed 30% minimum tax, but critics warn it still limits flexibility and may leave restructure and stamp duty costs unresolved. SMB Tech Pressure: Broadcom’s VMware reset signals a pivot back toward SMBs after years of pricing and bundling changes, but many customers have already moved on. Tourism Demand Boost: The Red Centre Marketing Boost will hand out $500 vouchers to 600 interstate visitors, with redemption through local accommodation operators—aimed at lifting visitor numbers and supporting regional businesses. Cruise Costs Warning: Cruise Lines International Association flags rising costs, complex processes and regulatory uncertainty as reasons Australia is losing cruise ship visits, with knock-on effects for local suppliers. Local Business Support: Free financial counselling is urging struggling small businesses to seek help early, with support for cash flow, ATO debt and creditor/lease negotiations.

Privacy shake-up: Australia’s Draft Privacy Bill (Personal Data Protection) would overhaul the Privacy Act with a “fair and reasonable” test, new consent rules for sensitive data and “trading” personal info, 72-hour eligible breach notifications, and a right of erasure for large digital platforms—businesses are urged to assess data governance and incident response before the consultation closes 18 Sept. Trust tax changes: COSBOA says revised discretionary trust proposals reduce the hit for SMEs via a “fixed distributions” election, but warns flexibility and restructuring costs still need work. Right to disconnect ruling: A landmark court decision backs workers after bosses bombarded staff with messages after hours, a reminder for small employers to tighten after-work communication policies. Algorithm fight: Tech leaders warn draft rules forcing social platforms to remove algorithms could backfire, exposing harmful content while hurting local online businesses. Cash-flow support: Queensland small business owners are being urged to seek early help from free financial counselling as bills and ATO debt pile up. AI and productivity: Xero faces backlash after a sponsored post claims AI can replace accountants; meanwhile, AI presentation tools keep pushing into sales and board decks. Regional growth: Nambour leaders say momentum is building, with council and state investment backing local business confidence. Finance and lending: A study suggests banks may shift lending away from areas more exposed to physical climate risks before disasters hit.

Trust Tax Escape Hatch: Draft rules let discretionary trusts elect into “fixed distributions” to avoid the new 30% minimum tax and costly restructures, but COSBOA and advisers warn it still removes flexibility small businesses rely on. Financial Stress Support: Small Business Financial Counselling Service urges owners to seek help early for cash-flow, ATO debt, creditors and lease talks—before problems pile up. Climate Lending Shift: A UNSW study says banks are moving credit away from physically climate-risky areas before disasters hit, potentially tightening finance for small businesses. Right to Disconnect (Workplace): A landmark ruling backs workers after bosses bombarded staff with messages outside hours, adding pressure on how SMEs manage after-work contact. Instant Asset Write-off Reality Check: The $20,000 write-off stays permanent, but data shows asset finance demand is falling as businesses borrow to cover operating costs, not buy equipment. Local Marketplaces: Dealin reports 50,000+ active listings as Australians increasingly choose free local online marketplaces over traditional classifieds. Community & Events Boost: Geelong gets $1.3m to attract major events; Yarrabah wins $10m for a new retail and commercial precinct to support local jobs and services. Tech for Retail: Anthropic releases a blueprint for merchants to build Claude AI agents for customer service and back-office tasks. Payments & Fees: Australia Post warns rural letter delivery may become less frequent and stamps could rise to $2; meanwhile, banks and loyalty programs keep targeting small-business cost pressure.

Trust tax shake-up for small business: Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ draft changes to the 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts add a workaround that lets some businesses avoid restructuring by fixing future distributions to pre-nominated beneficiaries, but stamp duty and flexibility concerns remain. Workplace rights in focus: A South Australian tribunal ruled a “right to disconnect” case against a salon boss failed, after finding no breach when out-of-hours TikToks and messages were sent—another reminder for SMEs to get boundaries right. Migration pressure on regional hospitality: Albanese’s migration overhaul is drawing warnings from industry that tighter settings could shutter hotels and strain food security if foreign labour dries up. Queensland film incentives under threat: Screen Producers Australia warns cuts to Queensland production incentives will hit small suppliers and local jobs, with other states now competing for shoots. Cashflow stress signals: ABC reports counterfeit cash is increasingly landing with small retailers, pushing more businesses to add safeguards. Tech and finance watch: COSBOA says the discretionary trust draft is better than the original but still flawed; meanwhile, ASX tech names like Xero and WiseTech face renewed valuation pressure as bond yields rise. SME growth and compliance tools: BrightHR launches a Fair Work Act navigator aimed at reducing compliance risk for SMEs, while TwelveLabs rolls out “Compliance by TwelveLabs” to speed video checks. Housing downturn winners/losers: Experts say the sharp price slump mainly benefits upsizers and cash-rich first homebuyers, while auction rates and seller confidence keep sliding.

Trust Tax Shake-up: Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ draft rules on the 30% minimum tax for discretionary trusts include a new “fixed distributions to pre-nominated beneficiaries” option to avoid restructuring stamp duty costs, but accountants warn stamp duty and compliance friction still remain for many small businesses. Workplace Rights: A South Australian tribunal backed a “right to disconnect” claim in spirit but ruled a salon owner didn’t breach the law in cases involving after-hours TikToks and messages, highlighting how small employers should manage out-of-hours expectations. Cash Fraud Alert: Local traders in NSW’s Illawarra report rising counterfeit notes, with businesses using bill-checking safeguards after being hit by fake $50 and $100 notes. Small Business Finance: Specialist lender Judo Capital posted a sharp profit lift on wider lending margins and growing loan books, signalling continued demand for SME credit. Regional Trade & Jobs: Far North Queensland’s red-tipped “ecoganic” bananas have moved into Japan’s market, a win for exporters facing tariffs and shipping pressure. Consumer Spend: Father’s Day gift intentions are up, but average spend is down, reinforcing value-first buying for retailers. Energy Build Progress: Squadron Energy’s Uungula wind farm has reached its first turbine milestone, with construction now two-thirds complete.

Regional Jobs at Risk: Whyalla locals are watching a long-running steam plume from the steelworks’ blast furnace, fearing the aging furnace may be teetering toward shutdown—putting about 400 direct jobs (and many more contractors) on the line. SME Growth Strategy Shift: Banjo Loans’ SME Compass Pulse shows confidence slipping, but most SMEs are still hitting revenue targets; the big change is moving from headcount and big equipment buys toward productivity, cash flow, and selective tech/AI investment. AI Policy Pressure: COSBOA warns Australia could miss out on AI’s economic upside unless government support helps SMEs move from experimenting to actually integrating AI into operations. Privacy Reform Draft: The government’s Tranche 2 Privacy Act exposure draft proposes major changes to how personal data is treated, including new definitions and tighter requirements around data security and destruction. Network Reliability Hits Businesses: An independent review into Telstra’s July outage says known vulnerabilities weren’t prioritised, with impacts including many calls and data sessions disrupted—another reminder for small firms that depend on connectivity. Cost Relief for Retailers: Telstra’s regional connectivity push continues under Connecting Victoria, while banks and lenders keep adjusting pricing and tools to manage SME pressure. Construction Fallout Watch: Bathla’s collapse is drawing creditor action, with a specialist firm seeking unsecured creditors as administrators work through the scale of the damage to half-built homes.

Dairy Industry Shake-up: Lactalis will close its West Gippsland plant by early 2027, moving production to Darnum—sparking fresh concerns about regional consolidation and the knock-on hit to local suppliers and communities. Construction Fallout: Bathla’s collapse is now a major SME risk story, with administrators warning the liquidation could be among Australia’s biggest and calling for unsecured creditors (tradies, subcontractors, suppliers, homeowners) to join a committee process. Telco Reliability: An independent review into Telstra’s July outage says known vulnerabilities weren’t properly prioritised, with issues tied to responsibility gaps and delayed root-cause identification—another reminder for small firms to stress-test critical services. AI Adoption Pressure: COSBOA urges the federal government to help SMEs move from basic AI trials to real workflow integration, citing a big gap between “some adoption” and “embedded use.” AI + Compliance Tools: BrightHR launched a Fair Work Act Navigator and dashboard aimed at reducing compliance mistakes for resource-strapped employers. Retail Channel Shift: Temu research suggests Australian-style SMEs are using the platform to scale production, hire staff and expand internationally—worth watching for local competition. Energy + Jobs: Queensland’s coordinated project status for the North to East Australia Pipeline (Stage 2) could streamline approvals and support up to 800 construction jobs. Super Squeeze: New reporting highlights low confidence among self-employed owners—especially women—about retirement super outcomes. Small Business Costs & Hiring: A Perth salon owner’s viral rant puts rising costs and compliance deadlines front and centre for operators trying to keep teams employed. Tourism Demand: Qantas will double Brisbane–Koror Palau flights in peak season, boosting travel options for regional operators and accommodation providers. Payments/Accounting Tech: Xero is pushing payments, payroll and automation upgrades for small businesses and advisers, signalling a deeper push into the day-to-day workflow.