Working Capital Pressure: OnDeck CEO Cameron Poolman says many SMEs aren’t failing on performance—they’re stuck with cash going out before it comes in, driving demand for unsecured loans (often with personal guarantees) and faster lending using real-time data. Tax Red Tape Push: CPA Australia urges a 10% cut to compliance costs by 2030, plus fringe benefits tax tweaks, better use of Single Touch Payroll, and publishing the Board of Taxation’s Red Tape Reduction Review. Card Surcharge Fallout: Small businesses and groups are still pushing back after the ATO won’t reverse its move to stop accepting credit cards, while cafe price data shows 17% of venues lifted flat white prices (often by about 50 cents) after the surcharge ban. Hiring Freeze Signals: CreditorWatch finds hiring and overseas expansion intentions are down, with micro and sole traders most cautious as fuel and interest-rate pressures bite. Disaster “Recovery Gap”: QBE-backed research warns severe weather can leave long-term “economic scarring,” with affected communities seeing nearly 10% fewer small businesses two years later. AI & Cyber Risk: Coverage highlights rising concern about rogue AI agents and cybersecurity spending, with SMEs urged to take agentic threats seriously. Privacy Watchdog: OAIC opens an investigation into HeyCyan smart glasses software over how footage is captured and stored. Tourism Costs & Access: The Twelve Apostles precinct will require bookings (and soon payment) for access, adding friction for operators relying on steady visitor flows. Migration Debate: Business groups warn proposed migration cuts could worsen workforce shortages for small firms, especially in hospitality and tourism. NT Wet Season Worry: Northern Territory tourism operators call for a dedicated resilience fund as delayed seasons, higher fuel costs and disaster recovery threaten small family businesses.