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Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy.

How much Aussies plan to spend on Christmas presents this year

Australians are set to spend more on Christmas presents this year despite high inflation, interest rate hikes and cost of living pressures on households. The Christmas Retail Trends Report, conducted by Monash Business School’s Australian Consumer and Retail Studies, found shoppers intend to spend 16 per cent more on clothing, footwear and accessories, compared to last year.

Australian SMEs are embracing strategic spending for growth

The recent Amex Trendex: B2B Edition survey, focusing on business-to-business spending, reveals a strategic growth mindset among Australian businesses.

Sharp drop in Australia’s economic competitiveness

Deteriorating energy infrastructure, lacklustre entrepreneurship and poor competition rules are holding back the Australian economy, with a new report suggesting a drop in competitiveness is putting at risk future prosperity.

All eyes on RBA messaging for hints on rates outlook

Borrowers will be hoping for signs the Reserve Bank can stop lifting interest rates in the minutes from the last meeting and public appearances from the top central bankers.

Higher GST? Negative gearing changes? Why we’ve got to talk about tax

As our population ages, Australia is going to need to spend more on increasingly expensive services such as health and aged care, while facing fewer people of working age to pay income tax – which happens to make up the greatest proportion of federal income. The problem is one that all economists (who can never usually agree on anything) are in furious unison over: Australia needs tax reform.

Job ads dive in Australia’s most populous states, according to nation’s biggest employment website

Job ads slumped 5 per cent in October and are nearly 20 per cent lower over the past year, with hospitality and tourism leading the drop despite the looming peak summer holiday season.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday ‘surge has already started’

Australia Post Executive General Manager Gary Starr says the Black Friday and Cyber Monday “surge has already started”.

Up to one in ten homes in Australia may be empty. Could they ease the housing crisis?

Up to one in 10 homes may be vacant at any one time in Australia, with land banking, short-stay accommodation and legal matters just some of the reasons properties may be kept empty. So what’s being done to help open more housing up to people?

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Posted by Strategic Wealth Management 16 Dec 2025

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Posted by Strategic Wealth Management 08 Dec 2025

Super on Payday: Fundamental Changes for Employers

If you run a business, you already know the juggling act that comes with managing the payroll process — paying staff on time, managing cash flow, and staying compliant. From …

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Posted by Strategic Wealth Management 02 Dec 2025

The ATO has holiday homeowners in its sights

The ATO is toughening its approach to deductions related to properties used for both personal and rental purposes, such as holiday homes. The regulator has issued a draft taxation ruling …

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Posted by Strategic Wealth Management 13 Nov 2025

Metrics to measure business progress

Here are 5 important metrics to pay attention to when it comes to the success of your business, including ways you can improve them. 1. Gross margin Gross margin is …

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Posted by Strategic Wealth Management 06 Nov 2025

A guide for effective cash flow management

An up-to-date business cash flow forecast can help you manage your business more efficiently. It’s an estimate of the amount of money you expect to flow in and out of …

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Posted by Strategic Wealth Management 30 Oct 2025

Significant changes to Division 296 tax

On 13 October 2025 the Federal Treasurer announced some significant changes to the design of the proposed Division 296 tax. Some of the key changes are: Introduction of a second …

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Posted by Strategic Wealth Management 13 Oct 2025

Payday Super legislation introduced

On 9 October 2025 the Government introduced the Payday Super legislation into Parliament. The new system is proposed to take effect from 1 July 2026 and will basically ensure that …

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Posted by Strategic Wealth Management 11 Jul 2025

ATO is assessing a business’ ability to pay

‘Business viability’ is whether a business is surviving. This survival is linked to its financial position and performance. A business is viable where either: it’s returning enough of a profit …

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Posted by Strategic Wealth Management 23 Jun 2025

Your top 5 work from home questions

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has discreetly bumped the fixed rate work from home deduction. Taxpayers can now claim 70 cents per work hour under the revised fixed cost method. …

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