Card surcharge ban fallout: From 1 October, businesses can’t add card surcharges, so many will pivot to “cash discounts” and reprice overall—good news for shoppers, but a cost squeeze for smaller retailers that relied on surcharge revenue. Local safety funding: NSW will fund a three-year Beaumont Street CCTV trial in Newcastle to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, with local businesses pushing for safer trading conditions. SME lending leadership: OnDeck Australia appoints Chris McCall as chief credit officer, signalling continued focus on data-driven digital lending for small business borrowers. Payments and pricing pressure: Research and commentary point to a likely shift toward cash incentives as businesses absorb card fees rather than pass them on. Tourism staffing risk: Queensland tourism groups warn proposed Working Holiday Maker visa ballot caps could leave regional venues short-staffed during peak events. Startup tools for operators: Airtasker co-founder relaunches Soho as SohoAI, aiming to act like a property “concierge” using an AI chat for searches and calculations. AI adoption in practice: CommBank analysis says small businesses are doubling down on AI tools that save time and money, not just experiments. Business confidence watch: NAB survey flags business conditions turning negative for the first time since the pandemic, with wage costs and margin pressure front and centre. Retail disruption: Footscray traders say street disorder is driving customers away, forcing cuts to staff and opening hours.