AGP Executive Report

AI Leadership Shift: Meta VP Sandhya Devanathan is leaving after more than a decade to join OpenAI as Vice President for Southeast Asia and Australia, based in Singapore and tasked with consumer growth, enterprise adoption and partnerships. SME Hiring & Work Design: Fair Work Commission support for model WFH terms in an office-workers’ award adds another layer for employers managing flexible work. Insurance Gap for Home Offices: Brokers warn homeowners policies often exclude business use inside the home, leaving common risks (tools, inventory, visitor injuries, and income loss) uncovered. Restructuring Rules: A practical employer guide compares Australia and New Zealand redundancy obligations, focusing on consultation and genuine business reasons to reduce legal risk. Tech for Small Business: ChatGPT’s free tier now carries ads in Australia and other markets, while paid tiers stay ad-free—important for budgeting and expectations. Funding for Defence SMEs: The Albanese government announces a $US3b Defence Industry Growth Facility with loans, bonds, guarantees and equity, aiming to speed access to finance for smaller suppliers. Local Business Risk: NSW’s $37m Business Connect replacement rolls out with an AI focus, while Bathla Group’s collapse triggers knock-on effects for partners like the Western Sydney Wanderers. Workplace Boundaries: Advice for small business owners on setting work-life boundaries highlights burnout risk even when you’re the boss.

AI for SMBs: Xero is pushing AI deeper into accounting, forecasting and workflow automation, while SEEK and CAR Group show how AI is moving from “nice-to-have” to core matching, automation and decision tools. Teen safety & VPN workarounds: Meta’s US settlement promises Instagram/Facebook curfews for 13–17s, but the hard part is proving age and guardianship—especially as Australia’s under-16 ban has been undermined by VPNs. What’s changing in “free” AI: OpenAI’s ChatGPT ads roll out across more regions, with ads on Free/Go but not on Plus/Pro/Business/Enterprise/Edu—an important cost-and-value check for Australian small businesses. Work-life boundaries: The Fair Work Commission backs a Clerks Award right for office workers to request work from home, without forcing employers to accept it—useful context for owner-managers setting expectations. Local business pressure: NSW’s Business Connect replacement rolls out with an AI focus, while banks warn small firms about scams and fake invoices. Funding & growth: Airwallex backs 10 AI startups with $1m equity-free via Latitude 37, and ANZ fintech Superhero raised $20m to expand AI-powered investing tools. SME finance for defence: The Albanese government announces a $US3b Defence Industry Growth Facility, explicitly aiming to improve timely access to finance for SMEs. Workplace culture: Macquarie Cloud Services tops Great Place to Work’s small business category for the third year running. Community & events: Wollongong’s Yours & Owls festival is set to inject $4m into the local economy, backed by NSW event funding.

NSW Small Business Support: NSW has rolled out a $37m replacement for Business Connect, branded Small Business Advisory, with fee-free face-to-face, phone and digital expert sessions starting next month and full support from February 2027, including targeted regional help plus women-led and Indigenous-led programs. Workplace Flexibility: The Fair Work Commission backed a new Clerks Award right for office workers to request work from home, with employers able to agree but not forced via a “major regulatory intervention”. Defence Funding for SMEs: The federal Government announced a Defence Industry Growth Facility offering loans, bonds, guarantees and equity to expand or upgrade defence capabilities, explicitly aiming to improve timely finance access for small and medium enterprises. Fintech & AI Investment: Airwallex’s Latitude 37 program awarded $1m (10 startups) in equity-free funding for AI-focused businesses, while two ANZ startups—Superhero ($20m) and Azonic ($1m)—secured fresh capital. Local Business Boosts: Wollongong’s Yours & Owls festival is set to inject $4m into the visitor economy, and WA locked in a three-year WWE deal to keep major events coming to Perth through 2028. Reputation & Risk: A reminder for owners: online reputation is increasingly decentralised and harder to control, with AI-assisted attacks and fake reviews raising the stakes.

AI & cyber for SMEs: PwC has launched an AI-powered managed services option for finance functions, pitching it at private and mid-sized firms that lack talent and want more consistent, secure processing. Tech reliability hits productivity: Atlassian’s Jira Cloud and Confluence outage disrupted Australian teams, with services restored within hours and a public postmortem promised. Scams & security pressure: Banks are warning small businesses ahead of Scams Awareness Week, while a SANS report flags AI as the second-biggest human risk at work and says most programs still lack staffing to move beyond basic training. Local business marketing ideas: Docklands TV is rolling out a community-and-commercial “internet TV” model for businesses to reach customers via live video. Payments/accounting tools: Xero unveiled a new expense management tool, aiming to let small businesses track, categorise and approve spending in one place. Policy & cost squeeze: Consumer groups say an AEMC gas-network draft would push higher costs onto households and small businesses as gas networks shrink. Business climate tensions: Business leaders are publicly pushing back on the PM’s message to “consume, be silent, die,” adding to the sense of strain between government and the business community.

Gas Bills Pressure: The AEMC’s draft gas reforms could push up prices for gas households and small businesses sooner, as networks plan for a long decline in gas use. Business Costs & Compliance: Atlassian’s Jira and Confluence outage hit Australian teams, with a fix rolled out and a report promised within 30 days. SME Tech & Tools: Xero unveiled a new expense management tool at its annual conference, aiming to keep small businesses’ spending capture and approvals inside the platform. Hiring Signals: A report flags casual employment slipping as Australian SMBs turn cautious on hiring. Regional Growth & Jobs: WA’s South West will showcase future industries and jobs at the Innovative Industries of the Future Conference in Bunbury (Oct 27–28). Local Business Support: Perth commercial landscaping specialist Externals is urging property managers to consolidate grounds care under one fixed annual contract. Events Funding: Kiama’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are back after crowdfunding helped council cover costs. Cyber Disruption to Retail: A cyber attack on Hachette’s distribution arm has left bookshops struggling to restock ahead of Christmas. Export Finance Example: UK shortbread maker Dean’s of Huntly secured UKEF-backed trade finance to scale production for markets including Australia. Skills Crunch: An electrician school closure in Rockhampton has left 80+ apprentices in limbo, with training pathways unclear.

SME Hiring Watch: Casual employment is slipping as Australian small and medium businesses get more cautious on hiring, even while many leaders remain positive about the next six months. Workplace Rules for AI: The Fair Work Commission has issued new guidance aimed at AI-assisted claims, requiring applicants to disclose if generative AI was used and how, from late October. Energy Cost Pressure: The AER is being urged to cut network charges and return about $1 billion to consumers, a move that would ease cost-of-living strain for small firms. Payments for Small Business: PayRewards (Pay.com.au’s US arm) has launched in America with a 1.75% bank-transfer fee to earn points, pitching “fairness” for small merchants versus big-company rewards deals. Local Business Boosts: Sunshine Coast Airport opened a new Relay store in its $170m terminal redevelopment, highlighting opportunities for local suppliers. Regional Tourism & Trade: Victoria Pass rebuild funding is welcomed but regional leaders say more business support is still needed; meanwhile, cross-border local government tourism talks are underway in SA’s Naracoorte Caves. Cyber & Scams: Banks and regulators are warning small businesses to stay alert to scams as Scams Awareness Week approaches. Innovation & Skills: OpenAI is backing Aussie founders with $5.5m in startup credits for AI use, while accounting firms continue shifting toward advisory services beyond compliance. Business Tech Moves: Addigy partnered with Leader Cloud to expand Apple device management access for Australian MSPs.

Workplace Rules Tighten: The Fair Work Commission has issued new guidance aimed at stopping generative AI “hallucinations” in disputes, requiring parties from Oct 20, 2026 to disclose if generative AI was used and how, with extra checks on case references. SME Cyber & Fraud Pressure: Banks are warning small businesses ahead of Scams Awareness Week, as scammers push fake invoices and other rip-offs that can hit cash flow fast. Consumer Squeeze Watch: Retail reporting shows households still spending, but more selectively—delaying big-ticket buys and clustering around promotions—keeping pressure on stores and suppliers. Independent Retail Ecosystem: Metcash continues to position itself as the backbone for independent grocers, liquor and hardware, highlighting its scale and franchise network as a competitive lever. Regional Business Resilience: A Warragul restaurant reopened after fire damage tied to suspected illegal tobacco activity next door, with local MPs urging support for the family-run operator. Energy Reliability & Data Centres: AEMO has pushed NSW’s reliability benchmark out to 2030–31 as data centre demand rises, raising cost and planning concerns for businesses. AI Adoption in Practice: NAB says Australian SMEs are ready for AI in back-office work, but only with the right training. Payments Innovation: Miracle Pay and zerohash are teaming up to let U.S. merchants accept stablecoin payments with near real-time settlement. Funding Boost for Growth: FireFly Metals secured about A$180m to advance its Green Bay project, using proceeds for early works and drilling.

Cyber & Scams: Banks are urging small businesses to stay alert as Scams Awareness Week ramps up, warning that one fake invoice or a single rushed payment can wipe out hard-earned cash. AI & Security: Mimecast’s CEO argues AI risk is really human risk, pushing a platform approach that ties security to user behaviour and training. Data Centres & Continuity: ConnectWise says its new Australia-based data centre for Axcient x360Recover lets APAC partners store backup data locally for better recovery confidence and lower latency. SME Finance: MyState’s home lending and equipment finance push continues, while Selfco (MyState) reports strong equipment finance growth after its merger. Cost-of-living pressure: Anglicare flags young Australians’ home ownership hitting an 80-year low, a sign of widening generational strain that also hits small business confidence. Local community support: Canberra charity Rise Above is back with another fundraiser for people living with terminal illness and their families, with local sponsors again stepping in. Trade & e-commerce rules: Temu’s parent PDD says it will boost governance and compliance as tariffs and import rules shift. Workforce & hiring: A report notes Australian SMEs are ready for AI, but want the right training to make it practical. Hospitality friction: A Central Coast restaurant owner’s public cakeage dispute sparks debate about respect, fees, and how small venues survive.

Scamwatch Warning for SMEs: Banks are pushing stronger anti-scam tools, but a single fraudulent invoice can still wipe out a busy day’s work—SMEs are urged to “Stop, Check and Protect” by verifying supplier details on known numbers. Retail Pressure Watch: Wesfarmers heads into its full-year result with hardware, health and capital allocation in focus as households stay tight. AI Credits for Aussie Builders: OpenAI has handed out $5.5m+ in API credits to Australian founders, including two Year 12 students, as more SMEs look to practical AI use. Data Centre Rules: Anthony Albanese wants new data centres kept away from homes, schools and prime farmland, with Queensland pushing back—this could shape future SME and housing-adjacent development. Cyber/Website Basics: A reminder for Canberra businesses: “data sovereignty” isn’t guaranteed just because your site looks local—check where hosting and support actually sit. Local Growth & Community Business: Sunshine Coast charity Smart Pups runs a Paint Party fundraiser; and Escape This hits 500,000 players as it expands nationally. Cost-of-Living & Energy Debate: Angus Taylor renews calls for more gas supply to pressure bills, while regulators and banks keep spotlighting mortgage and cost pressures. Housing Supply Push: NRFC backs Built Living with a $120m loan for faster, cheaper modular apartments. Food & Hospitality Friction: A NSW restaurant cakeage dispute sparks debate online, highlighting how small charges can become big reputational risks.

SME Cybersecurity: Scamwatch says Australians have lost nearly $187m to scams this year, and AI is making rip-offs harder to spot—banks warn small and medium businesses are frequent targets, including fake invoices and business impersonation. Practical Energy Help for Regional Businesses: RE-Alliance and Farmers for Climate Action released a plain-English guide to help rural SMEs choose electrification options (solar, batteries, electric machinery, stand-alone power, microgrids) as the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme expands from 100kW to 1MW from 1 Oct 2026. Nighttime Economy Boosts Local Trade: New research on Australia’s after-dark economy finds record jobs and sales, with nightlife shifting beyond alcohol into food, culture and sport—plus Thursday emerging as a key social night. Payments Rewards for SMBs: Pay.com.au’s PayRewards launches in the US with US$28m funding, letting small businesses earn points on payments like ACH and tax bills. IP Support for Queensland Firms: Macmillan Lawyers and Advisors expands Brisbane/Southeast QLD intellectual property services, including trade marks, copyright, design rights, licensing and enforcement. AI Adoption for Owners: NAB highlights that SMEs want practical AI training for everyday tasks (proposals, paperwork, customer comms), not big tech overhauls. Local Procurement Dispute: ACT light rail works face disruption after a traffic-control certificate issue, reigniting debate over the Secure Local Jobs Code and its impact on local firms. Defence Jobs in WA: The Albanese and Cook governments selected the Henderson Defence Precinct site, aiming to build a shipbuilding and sustainment hub and support thousands of jobs.

Nighttime economy boom: New research says Australia’s after-dark economy is expanding fast, with 4.1 million people working at night and growth driven by food, entertainment, sport and culture—not just alcohol. AI for everyday SMB work: NAB says small businesses get the most value from practical AI uses like drafting proposals, cutting paperwork and improving customer communication. Scam pressure on small business: Scams Awareness Week highlights rising losses and warns owners to watch for fake invoices, payment redirection and remote access scams. Energy bills and network charges: Consumer and small business groups are urging the AER to cut the network “rate of return” premium, arguing more than $1b should return to households and businesses. Defence jobs and local industry: The Albanese and Cook governments have selected the Henderson site for a new Defence Precinct, aiming to support thousands of skilled jobs and long-term naval sustainment in WA. Local procurement rules under fire (ACT): ACT’s Secure Local Jobs Code is back in the spotlight after light rail stage disruption tied to traffic-control certification issues, with unions and ministers defending the code. SMB growth via events: triple j’s One Night Stand is pushing late-night and Sunday trading ideas for Griffith businesses. Cyber breach watch: Oz Hair & Beauty is investigating a breach that exposed some customer names and contact details. SME opportunities in defence tech (WA): Defence West is inviting eligible WA SMEs to join a delegation at UDT Australia 2026.

Energy Costs Pressure: Consumer and small business groups are urging the Australian Energy Regulator to cut the Rate of Return Instrument, arguing network charges are overpricing poles-and-wires and siphoning “a billion dollars” from households and SMEs. Local Government Funding Fight: Melbourne’s City of Casey says it spent $780,000 on graffiti removal and wants the state to refund council for cleaning state-owned assets. Small Business Survival Worry: New analysis of ABS data finds nearly 1 million Australian businesses have stopped trading in four years, with survival rates slipping further as inflation bites. Power Market Mystery: WA saw a midnight battery-driven spike in spot prices, raising questions about how batteries are dispatched as the grid transitions. SME Tech Spotlight: Xero’s valuation debate continues as investors weigh strong cash flow and product expansion against premium pricing. Regional Safety & CCTV: Cook Shire Council has expanded CCTV along Cooktown’s waterfront to curb antisocial behaviour and protect local assets. Local Growth Stories: A Sydney tradie turned a $2,000 jewellery side hustle into a $3,000-a-week micro business—and a Canberra café is expanding with a second location at Kingston Foreshore.

Franchising Scrutiny: UK ministers have commissioned reports into how franchising is policed after the Vodafone-linked Howe case, with potential new laws aimed at protecting franchisees without adding red tape for small businesses. Defence Supply Opportunities (WA): WA businesses are being invited to qualify for work supporting Virginia-class submarines under the Defence Industry Vendor Qualification program, with new supply-chain chances from SRFWest from 2027. Local Safety & Footfall: Cook Shire Council has finished expanding CCTV coverage along Cooktown’s waterfront to curb antisocial behaviour and boost public safety—good news for traders who rely on visitors feeling comfortable. Business Survival Pressure: New analysis says almost 1m Australian businesses have stopped trading in four years and survival rates are slipping, with tougher conditions hitting hardest outside government-backed cohorts. Power Prices Mystery: WA saw a midnight battery-driven spike in spot prices, underlining that how batteries are managed could shape costs as the grid transitions. Regional Tourism Boost: Broken Hill’s Mundi Mundi Bash is projected to deliver major local economic gains, helped by a new early-arrival Lightfest. Retail Gambling Reform (WA): New laws passed to ban “pocket pokies” and foreign-matched lotteries from 1 Jan 2027, protecting Lotterywest and the 480 WA small businesses that sell its products. SME Growth & Capital Shift: A report argues wealth is increasingly flowing into property rather than business ownership, while closures remain high.

Gambling Reform for WA SMEs: WA’s Lotterywest-linked sellers get a boost as amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act pass, banning “pocket pokies” and foreign-matched lotteries from 1 Jan 2027, protecting consumers and the 480 small businesses that sell Lotterywest products. Business Survival Pressure: New analysis of ABS data shows nearly 1m Australian businesses stopped trading in four years, with the survival rate sliding to 61.9% for the 2022 cohort—pain hitting hardest as inflation and price pressure bite. WA Battery Price Spike: A midnight power-price surge in WA—driven by batteries—has renewed questions about how battery dispatch is managed and what it means for prices during the energy transition. Instant Asset Write-off: The $20,000 instant asset write-off is now set to be permanent, a direct cashflow win for small businesses planning equipment purchases. Regional Tourism Boosts: Killarney lands a major win as Phorest’s salon-spa summit relocates there in Jan 2027, with local venues and suppliers set to benefit. Local Food Expansion: Canberra’s Caffè al Lago is opening a second site at Kingston Foreshore, bringing its in-house baked sandwiches to a new customer base. SME Access to AI: A new parliamentary inquiry will look at barriers between SMEs and AI adoption. Consumer & Business Tech: NSW is fast-tracking data centres as the AI boom ramps up demand, raising both opportunity and pressure for local infrastructure.

Small Business Survival: New analysis of ABS data says almost 1 million Australian businesses have stopped trading in the past four years, with the survival rate slipping to 61.9% for the 2022 cohort as inflation and tougher conditions bite. Energy Costs & Batteries: WA’s spot-price spike was driven by batteries charging in the early hours, raising fresh questions about how battery operators are managed as the state transitions away from coal. Gambling Reform for WA Retailers: WA’s Interactive Gambling Amendment reforms will ban dangerous online keno “pocket pokies” and foreign-matched lotteries from 1 Jan 2027, protecting consumers and the 480 small businesses that sell Lotterywest. Local Business Growth (Canberra): Caffè al Lago is opening a second Canberra site at Kingston Foreshore, expanding its cult sandwich business with in-house bread and a community-first vibe. Regional Tourism Boost (NSW): Hollywood’s Extraction 3 is filming on the NSW South Coast, with local venues and businesses benefiting from the production’s eight-day stay at Willinga Park. Regional Economy (Broken Hill): The Silver City expects a bigger economic lift from the Mundi Mundi Bash, with council estimating $60m+ over four years and a new Lightfest to bring visitors in earlier. Printing Investment (Pacific): BizPrint has installed a first-of-its-kind large digital press in Papua New Guinea, aiming to upgrade quality and speed for regional customers. Cyber & Risk: Businesses are being urged to shore up cyber defences as a new consultation seeks SME input on risk and protections.

Instant Asset Write‑Off: The $20,000 instant asset write‑off is now permanent for eligible small businesses, giving firms more certainty to invest in tools, tech and equipment. Business Survival: New analysis of ABS data shows almost 1 million Australian businesses have stopped trading in the past four years, with survival rates sliding as inflation and price pressure bite. Hiring Signals: Employment Hero data points to softer casual hiring, with casual employment down month on month in July, suggesting SMEs are tightening budgets and scrutinising every dollar. Energy Costs Mystery: A midnight battery-driven spike in WA spot prices highlights how battery dispatch and management can still move power costs sharply, even when batteries are meant to stabilise the system. Regional Tourism Boost: Broken Hill’s Silver City music festival is expected to deliver a bigger local economic lift this year, with council estimating tens of millions in benefits over recent years. Local Safety & Small Business: Charges have been withdrawn in the case of a teen accused over the fatal bashing of a Melbourne grocer, after the victim had raised public safety concerns affecting local businesses. SME Tech & Marketing: Xero has tapped Argonaut for a global brand campaign targeting small business owners across multiple markets, underlining how accounting platforms are competing for attention.