Senate votes for $30,000 instant asset write-off, expanded eligibility for SMEs
The instant asset write-off scheme will cover purchases worth $30,000 and will expand to medium-sized businesses, according to amendments passed in the Senate that significantly expand a plan put forward by the Albanese government.
Right to disconnect: Tony Burke defends “reasonable” out-of-hours contact as SMEs demand to see fine print
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke says it is reasonable for employers to email staff and enquire about shifts outside of working hours, as the debate about the 'right to disconnect' heats up.
COSBOA slams senators after shock Closing Loopholes Bill split
Australia's most prominent small business lobby has chastised Senate crossbenchers over a last-minute deal that saw "radical" industrial relations reforms pass into law this month.
Lower House battle looms as split IR reform bill pushed through Senate
Independent Senators Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock have successfully pushed four industrial relations reforms through the Senate, setting up a Lower House battle against a federal government still hoping to contain its contentious IR reforms in one giant bill.
COSBOA, Tony Burke face off in campaign to split contentious IR reforms
COSBOA is locked in a staredown with Employment Minister Tony Burke, as the federal government refuses to split off elements of its highly contentious Closing the Loopholes industrial relations reform package.
IR reforms covering small business won’t come into law until 2024 as Senate pushes back
Small businesses have been given some breathing room before the next tranche of industrial relations reforms become law, after the Senate voted push a report on the Albanese government's 'Closing Loopholes' bill into 2024.
Crypto regulation bill rejected, Labor’s token mapping plan still MIA
A Senate committee has rejected Andrew Bragg's crypto regulation bill. Meanwhile Labor has remained quiet on its own token mapping plans.
“Momentous occasion”: New 30% tax break for video game developers passes in the Senate
A tax break providing video game studios a 30% refund on development costs has passed in the Senate, marking what Australian industry leaders have described as a major win for local talent.
$1.55 billion in SME tax breaks pass in Senate, clearing path for major bonus deductions
Small business tax breaks valued at $1.55 billion have passed in the Senate, clearing the way for enterprises nationwide to claim up to $20,000 in bonus deductions this tax season.
Government plans to push for $1 billion small business tax break ahead of June 30 deadline
Should the bill not pass before June 30 this year, small businesses which upgraded their technology in 2022-2023 on the expectation of a generous tax break will go into the new financial year without legislation underpinning their 'bonus' deductions.
“A signal in itself”: Senator Gerard Rennick urges small businesses to speak up about regional bank closures
Lawmakers have urged business owners across regional Australia to respond to a new Senate inquiry on bank branch closures, after the demise of Westpac in the South Australian town of Coober Pedy removed the only bank branch for hundreds of kilometres.
Rural bank branches are a “lifeline”, councils say. Now, a fresh Senate inquiry will investigate mass closures
A Senate committee is set to investigate the consequences of bank branch closures across regional Australia, as communities rail against the decline of in-person financial services.
