Lois Maskiell

Zip Co, one of Australia’s original buy now, pay later (BNPL) players, is fast moving into the business-to-business payments market with the release of Zip Business ‘tap to pay’.

After a lengthy approval process the competition watchdog has given the green light for BPAY, eftpos and NPP Australia to merge under the banner of Australian Payments Plus.

Aussie tradie marketplace Hipages has rolled out a COVID-19 vaccination badge, allowing tradies to show potential customers if they’ve had the jab.

The federal and state governments are signalling that vaccine passports for travel and entry into pubs, hair salons and cafes could be rolled out as soon as next month.

The prudential regulator has given Australian business lender Avenue Bank the green light to offer short-term finance to small businesses.

The peak body for Victorian real estate agencies is calling on the state government to relax what it says are onerous and unnecessary restrictions on the property market.

Business advocates have called out the National Summit on Women’s Safety for failing to include more small business voices, saying that any discussion about the role of employers in women’s safety is not complete without their perspective.

Hotels and pubs paying senior full-time staff award wages can now offer a higher rate of pay instead of entitlements such as weekend loading.

The Victorian government is spending $4.7 million on a trade program in a bid to help exporters affected by disruptions to global supply chains.

Bag brand Crumpler has filed for voluntary administration after ongoing lockdowns and store closures have pushed the business to collapse.

Victoria is expected to run a series of outdoor vaccinated entry pilots in regional pubs ahead of establishing a system that would bar unvaccinated patrons from entering some businesses.

On Saturday, the Victorian government announced new support for small businesses in response to changing circumstances.