AGP Executive Report

Cyber Security Inquiry: A federal House committee is asking Australian SMEs for input on cyber risks, costs, and whether guidance and support are actually usable—submissions close 28 Aug. NSW Data Centres: NSW has released a data centre policy framework with faster planning assessment (75 days) if projects meet six standards, but it won’t “automatically knock back” non-compliant proposals—developers are expected to fund extra energy and water infrastructure. Productivity & Lending: Commonwealth Bank says business lending is shifting toward “productive capacity” (not just property), pointing to WA and growth in services like health, education, hospitality and tourism. SME Money & Compliance: The ATO reminder: contractor income is already known—what happens if it’s not declared. Energy Costs for Businesses: NSW is rolling out grants for commercial batteries (20–40% off), while NZ’s Powerco lines charges rise and lift small-business power bills. Local Growth Boost: Brisbane’s visitor-economy push delivered a record A$2.3bn boost and 18,000+ jobs in 2025–26. Business Tech Watch: Xero shares are back in focus as cloud accounting steadies, with subscription durability and payments/payroll add-ons driving interest. Innovation Spotlight: AIMS expands with a new BAPPEBTI licence and ASIC prime brokerage status, strengthening its Asia-Pacific compliance footprint.

NSW Data Centre push: NSW has released a Data Centre Policy Framework to speed approvals (assessment targeted within 75 days) while pushing developers to fund extra energy and water infrastructure, with data-centre connections potentially reaching 28GW and 20 projects worth $51.4b in the pipeline. Cybersecurity for SMEs: A new federal House inquiry is asking SME owners about cyber incidents, security costs and access to advice, with submissions due late August. Tax time clarity for contractors: The ATO says it already has contractor payment data via TPAR and will be matching it to tax returns, warning that undeclared income isn’t “invisible.” Lending competition: The Australian Banking Association reports stronger competition is easing small-business loan margins and speeding approvals for some borrowers. AI in business tools: MYOB is bringing financial insights (balances, overdue invoices, profit and loss) into Claude and ChatGPT, aiming to make AI answers grounded in trusted business data. Energy costs for businesses: NSW is also rolling out grants/subsidies for commercial battery installs, alongside rapid growth in household batteries. Founder time squeeze: Airtasker estimates a “founder tax” of $92b a year as founders spend nearly half their working week on tasks they could outsource. Datacentre community rules tested: NSW also says the fast-track pathway won’t be an automatic knockback if standards aren’t met, shifting the focus to justification and compliance. Scam warning: NASC data shows generative AI investment scams are increasingly impersonating well-known Australians.

NSW Gun Buyback Rollout: The Albanese Government and Minns Government have agreed to start the Commonwealth National Gun Buyback in NSW from 2 November 2026, with costs split 50:50 and compensation for firearms above new limits (up to $10,000 for higher-value guns). State Election Cost Pressure: In Victoria, the Liberal-Nationals have pitched a $50-a-week toll cap for two years (rising to $60 from July 2027), with rebates via Service Victoria aimed at families, tradies and small business fleets. Small Business Cashflow Help: Timely has partnered with NZ’s The Curve to deliver free lessons and a pricing calculator for hair and beauty owners, targeting common pain points like pricing and cash flow. Local Crime Hit Traders: Indian-owned shops in Blair Athol were among multiple overnight burglary targets, with owners reporting cash losses and delays in police response. Cyber/Tech for SMEs: A new push in software strategy argues security, discovery, data and growth can’t be treated as separate problems anymore as AI changes how customers find businesses and how fast breaches spread. Weather Disruption Watch: A major rain system is forecast to drench parts of Australia next week, with totals potentially reaching 60–80mm in some southeast areas.

Working Holiday visas: Home Affairs says working holiday visa processing is still running but “more slowly”, as pressure mounts to cut net migration—sparking fresh uncertainty for seasonal labour and small operators who rely on backpacker flows. Road costs in Victoria: Opposition Leader Jess Wilson backs a $50-a-week toll cap for two years (then $60 from July 2027), with quarterly rebates via Service Victoria for cars, light trucks and small business fleets up to five vehicles—aimed at tradies and small firms hit by toll hikes. Election pitch clash: The same Victorian campaign also spotlights law-and-order messaging, including a plan to recruit retired police officers as reservists, underlining cost-of-living and safety as key SME-relevant battlegrounds. Local business pressures: A Sydney council push for compulsory English shop signage has drawn backlash from multicultural traders, raising compliance and penalty concerns for small retailers. Fuel security math: Analysis flags Australia’s heavy diesel reliance and the government’s push to lift stockpiles under the National Fuel Security Plan—relevant to delivery, construction and everyday business costs. Tech valuation focus: ASX software chatter turns back to cash flow quality, with Xero and WiseTech in the spotlight as investors demand durable recurring revenue and margin discipline. Side-hustle spotlight: A Canberra public servant turned pottery into a growing online micro business, showing how small creators can scale with consistent drops and custom work. Weather watch: Forecasts warn of widespread rain next week across parts of SA, VIC, NSW, ACT and TAS—plan for disruptions to deliveries, site work and trade.

ASX cash-flow spotlight: Markets are refocusing on fundamentals as inflation worries ease, with attention on resilient cash generators like Xero (ASX:XRO) and WiseTech (ASX:WTC) despite broader pressure. Tech for SMEs: Xero leadership and AI strategy are again in focus as investors look for practical ways software platforms can drive growth. Payments & fraud controls: Australia-founded Eftsure expands into Singapore, pitching continuous payment verification to help finance teams cut redirection scams and cross-border payment errors. AI and identity for access: Self and partners back “Universal Basic Compute,” using identity verification to ensure AI capacity reaches eligible people, including schools and small businesses. Business risk & compliance: A new HRIS software roundup highlights the compliance and cost-planning needs of Australian enterprises scaling beyond mid-market tools. Weather & operating conditions: A major rain system is forecast to drench parts of Australia next week, with totals potentially reaching 60–80mm in some southeast areas—worth planning for supply and staffing impacts.

Immigration Policy Clash: One Nation leader Pauline Hanson wants Australia to pause migration from DFAT “do not travel” countries, arguing security warnings should apply to migration too, while Climate/Energy Minister Chris Bowen dismissed it as a “carbon-copy” of Trump-style policy. SME Tech & HR: A new roundup ranks enterprise HRIS software for Australian compliance-heavy workplaces, spotlighting Modern Awards, superannuation and cost planning needs as firms scale. Weather for Business: Weatherzone warns a major rain system could drench parts of Australia next week, with totals possibly reaching 60–80mm in some southeast states—watch for disruption to deliveries and outdoor work. Accounting & Owner Skills: Xero research says many small business owners feel confident with finances, but most can’t answer basic finance questions—fueling calls for better support and financial literacy. Payments & Fraud Controls: Australian fintech Eftsure expands into Singapore with continuous payment verification aimed at reducing redirection scams and cross-border payment errors. Regional Jobs Shock: SunRice confirms 78 redundancies across Deniliquin and Leeton, raising pressure on regional suppliers and local contractors. AI Search for Brands: Sydney AI search platform Somantra launches a “Brand Engagement Score” to measure whether AI answers actually persuade, not just whether a brand is mentioned.

Regional Trade & Tech: ASEAN officials met in Manila to push digital transformation, MSME support and supply-chain resilience, including a proposed ASEAN Semiconductor Roadmap to reduce chip-manufacturing single-source risk. SME Finance Skills Gap: Xero research finds many owners are confident but lack basic finance know-how, with 41% reluctant to ask for help and many ignoring ATO messages they don’t understand. AI for Business Ops: Airtasker launched a ChatGPT plugin so users can create and assign gigs inside chat, while Sydney AI search firm Somantra unveiled a Brand Engagement Score aimed at measuring whether AI answers actually “listen” to brand claims. Payments & Fraud Controls: Australia-founded Eftsure expanded into Singapore to help finance teams reduce cross-border payment redirection scams and errors. Housing & Credit Pressure: ABS lending indicators show fewer loan commitments and weaker first-home demand, adding to pressure on buyers and confidence. Workplace Inclusion: AHRC and COSBOA teamed up to help small businesses build age-inclusive workplaces with tailored resources and workshops. Regional Jobs Hit: SunRice offered redundancies to 78 staff across Deniliquin and Leeton, raising concerns for the Riverina rice supply chain. Energy Costs: The Cheaper Home Batteries program passed 500,000 installations, with uptake strongest in outer suburban and regional electorates. Local Safety: Victoria announced expanded CCTV/lighting and more protective services patrols after a crime spike in Melbourne suburbs.

SME Tech & Workflows: Airtasker launched a ChatGPT plugin so users can create, list and assign gigs inside the chat experience, aiming to cut the “gap” between posting and hiring. Workplace Inclusion: AHRC and COSBOA teamed up to help nearly 3 million small businesses build age-inclusive workplaces, with tailored education, research and practical hiring/retention guidance. Cyber & Operations: Nick Scali says it’s still investigating a cyber breach that forced manual order processing, with the company denying evidence of unauthorised customer-data access (while reporting delays). Energy Bills & Jobs: Australia’s Cheaper Home Batteries program has topped 500,000 installations, with uptake strong in outer suburban and regional areas—good news for small installers and household customers. Safety in Retail Precincts: Melbourne suburbs face expanded CCTV/lighting and more protective services officer patrols after a crime spike, including a machete brawl and a shopkeeper death. Regional Tourism Boost: Echuca was named Victoria’s Top Tourism Town for 2026, highlighting how local operators and community collaboration drive visitor spend. Funding & Growth: BNK Banking removed “interim” tags for CEO Steve Kinsella and CFO Judith Newman as its commercial loan book passed $210m.

Energy & Jobs: Tomago Aluminium in NSW is set to receive a $2.5b joint federal/NSW funding package to keep the smelter running beyond 2028, backed by a 10-year renewable power purchase agreement and a $1.1b upgrade/decarbonisation plan—aimed at reliability, competitiveness and local supplier jobs. SME Policy & Work: The Nationals are pushing to expand paid parental leave access for fathers, arguing the current work-test rules unfairly exclude single-income households. Regional Business & Skills: COSBOA and the Australian Human Rights Commission partner to help small businesses build age-inclusive workplaces, with tailored education and practical guidance for Fair Work and Age Discrimination obligations. Tourism Boost: Echuca Moama has been crowned Victoria’s Top Tourism Town for 2026, with Portarlington and Portsea also taking category wins—good news for local operators and small businesses. Payments & Consumer Finance: A report asks whether Australia’s BNPL boom is ending, citing slowing growth, platform exits and softer new account applications. Cyber & Growth Tactics: A webinar targets lead follow-up problems, focusing on faster response, better qualification and keeping opportunities moving without manual chasing.

Regional Tourism Boost: Victoria has crowned Echuca Moama as its Top Tourism Town for 2026, with Portarlington taking out Top Small Tourism Town—good news for local operators and event-driven foot traffic. SME Cost Pressure & Jobs: A $2.5b federal/NSW bailout will keep the Tomago aluminium smelter running beyond 2028, with Tomago to invest $1.1b to decarbonise—aimed at protecting Hunter jobs and supply-chain work. Telecoms Reliability for Business: The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is calling for a root-and-branch telco regulation overhaul after complaints show outages and poor problem-solving hit regional and rural firms hard, with real safety and disruption risks. Workplace Pay Protections: From Aug 17, new Fair Work Commission minimum standards will lift pay floors for “employee-like” food delivery workers on digital platforms, with knock-on questions for delivery pricing. Insurance Claims Voice: NIBA has launched a Claims Committee to push for better claims outcomes, while also facing pushback over its stance on expanding code remuneration disclosure to more small businesses. Business Growth via M&A: Pest2Kill has acquired South Sydney Pest Control as its second deal in under a year, keeping the consolidation push moving across Greater Sydney. Local Retail Tech: Verifone is rolling out biometric-capable payment devices in Australia, aiming for faster, more secure checkout experiences for merchants.

Coal debate: A Hunter Valley Operations continuation project is defended as supported by most submissions, while critics are accused of hypocrisy in the coal jobs fight. Trade & exporting: A PNG investment conference in Brisbane spotlights how closer Australia–PNG cooperation in logistics, finance and supply chains could unlock new opportunities for exporters beyond mining. SME funding: The Australian Business Growth Fund doubles its maximum first cheque to $30m, lifts total investment capacity to $50m, and expands its mandate to allow majority stakes where founders want to reduce holdings. Workplace regulation: Victoria delays its Work From Home Bill start date to July 1 next year after business backlash, with industry groups arguing it should be withdrawn. Cash-flow pressure: A new webinar flags late payments and customer debt as major drivers of cash stress, urging SMEs to diversify and use credit data earlier. Local business marketing: A Melbourne council allocates $50,000 to help small local publishers, including digital start-ups, via its small business grants approach. Consumer trust: A real estate agent’s fake “theft” social media stunt goes viral, raising fresh concerns about misleading marketing. Cyber & AI for SMEs: WatchGuard names five winners in its $10m AI cybersecurity innovation challenge, showing growing demand for practical AI in managed services.

Small Business Cashflow: The new Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman is warning owners that late payments and customer debt are turning disputes into real cashflow threats, urging diversification and using credit data to spot risk early. Workplace Law Watch: Victoria has delayed its Work From Home Bill to July 1 next year after business backlash, with chambers and the BCA arguing flexible work already exists under current laws. Tech & Managed Services: US firm Integris has cleared its acquisition of First Focus, bringing together managed services for small and mid-sized businesses and expanding AI, cybersecurity and 24/7 support. Local Media Funding: City of Melbourne has earmarked $50,000 to help small local publishers like Docklands News, aiming to back newer boutique outlets rather than only big conglomerates. Regional Jobs & Water Pressure: SunRice will cut 78 roles across Leeton and Deniliquin, blaming structural water and irrigation changes tied to Murray-Darling Basin buybacks. Consumer Compliance: Consumer Affairs Victoria is seeking a court injunction that could force Panda Mart stores in Cranbourne and Preston to close over product safety and labelling concerns. Business Growth Capital: The Australian Business Growth Fund has doubled its maximum initial investment in SMEs to $30m, lifting flexibility for larger cheques and majority stakes.

RBA Holds Cash Rate at 4.35%: The Reserve Bank kept the official cash rate unchanged as inflation eases but stays “too high”, warning another hike is still possible—good news for borrowers, but a reminder for small business cashflow planning. Mortgage Broking Under Pressure: With the pause, brokers say owners should use the certainty to refinance or buy, while regulators continue pushing complex trust-related changes that could disrupt lending access. Online Accounts Shut by Algorithms: Australia’s small business ombudsman says platform disputes are surging and some businesses are being locked out of online shops “in seconds” with little human oversight, including high-profile social media account takedowns. Insurance Code Fight: The ombudsman has criticised insurer and broker draft code changes as hollowing out commitments, with brokers facing a “final chance” on remuneration disclosure. Cybersecurity Warning: Agencies flagged Gunra ransomware targeting critical sectors, including healthcare and finance, using known Fortinet and Schneider flaws. Workplace Tech Privacy: Smart glasses are sparking debate after claims of workplace recording—prompting calls for clear employer policies. Retail Delivery Boost: Amazon expands Prime free delivery speed in Sydney and Melbourne, raising the bar for local e-commerce and logistics expectations. Regional Disruption: A port strike in WA’s north is forcing cruise and supply operations to shift to manual loading, hitting tourism and small suppliers.

RBA Holds Rates at 4.35%: The Reserve Bank kept the cash rate unchanged, but warned inflation is still “too high” and could mean more tightening later—good news for mortgage holders, but a reminder for small businesses to plan for higher-for-longer costs. Work-from-Home Law Delayed in Victoria: Victoria’s planned right to work from home (two days a week) has been pushed back to July 2027 after business backlash, with groups warning of added compliance and hiring impacts. ASIC Calls Out Car Insurers: ASIC says car insurance premiums rose 8% (to July 2025) and insurers aren’t explaining the drivers clearly enough, which could mean more scrutiny and pressure on pricing transparency. Tax Debt Pressure on SMEs: New reporting highlights New Zealand’s tax debt surge, with micro and SMEs behind most outstanding amounts—an SME warning sign on what happens when liabilities stack up. Enforcement Hits Illicit Tobacco: ABF raids targeted service stations nationwide over illegal tobacco and vapes, showing regulators are going after supply chains, not just storefronts. Amazon Speeds Up Delivery: Amazon Prime expands faster delivery options in Sydney and Melbourne, raising the bar for local retailers competing on speed and convenience. NSW Export Push to India: NSW launches an India business literacy program to help agrifood and clean energy exporters build capability and enter growth markets. SafetyCulture Rebrands to Mitti: Workplace safety tech giant SafetyCulture has renamed to Mitti and is leaning into broader operations and insurance—another signal of how SMB tools are evolving. Logan 2032 Procurement Prep: Queensland’s Logan invites local SMEs to gear up for Games-related contracts across construction, tech, security and event services. English on Shopfronts Debate: Sydney mayors back a council push for English signage but question whether councils can realistically enforce it.

AI Search Shift for SMEs: Redefine ROI says Google’s AI Overviews are swallowing up to 54% of clicks, so it’s folding LLM optimisation into its core SEO playbook for startups and SMEs. Cyber Risk for Small Business: A parliamentary cyber security committee has launched a short survey asking SMEs what support they need, after warnings that scams, phishing and ransomware are rising. Trust Tax Pressure on Brokers: COSBOA, CAFBA and the MFAA warn proposed minimum tax changes for discretionary trusts could force finance brokers to restructure and revisit licensing, lender accreditation and aggregator deals—risking delays and disruption to small-business lending. Payments Cost Watch: India’s government is moving to allow fees on some UPI transactions via a bill update, with the stated aim that consumers won’t be charged and most merchant payments stay free. Local Business Recognition: Titlespace (digital conveyancing) is a finalist again in the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards. SME Banking Leadership: Lloyds appoints Fiamma Morton to lead SME banking support across the UK. Regional Growth Signal: Adelaide is named among the world’s fastest-growing emerging business travel destinations, driven by corporate travel and new routes. Energy for the Regions: Construction starts on WA’s 108MW Waddi Wind Farm, backed by the Capacity Investment Scheme, with local business opportunities flagged.

Trust & Tax Pressure: The Australian Industry Group warns almost half a million businesses could face a “tax shock” from discretionary trust changes, with potential state stamp duty bills of $550,000+ unless states waive transition costs. Insurance Costs: NSW business and community groups are calling on all parties to scrap the state’s insurance tax (Emergency Services Levy), arguing it adds ~18% to home and ~34% to business premiums. Cyber Readiness: A Parliamentary Select Committee has launched a short survey asking SMEs what cyber threats they face and what support they need, as scams, phishing and ransomware keep rising. Privacy & Smart Glasses: The Attorney-General has asked the privacy watchdog to prioritise a review of smart glasses after concerns about discreet recording and misuse. Energy & Jobs: Construction starts on WA’s 108MW Waddi Wind Farm, backed by the Capacity Investment Scheme, with local business opportunities and jobs expected. Regional Business Boost: Fresh & Save expands with a new Mackay store at Mackay Airport’s Milton Precinct, aiming to open mid-2027. Infrastructure Update: Fremantle’s new traffic bridge is set to reopen before year-end, ahead of schedule, with locals saying impacts were less than feared. Workforce Hiring Strategy: A guide highlights why many founders are choosing contractor vs employee arrangements when hiring across APAC to access talent and manage compliance. Retail Disruption: Proud Poppy Clothing has entered voluntary administration, with the founder telling customers it’s a restructure, not a shutdown.