For years, planning a larger equipment purchase came with a nagging side question: will the $20,000 instant asset write-off still be there by the time we buy? The threshold was set one year at a time, often confirmed close to the deadline, which made it hard to plan with any real certainty. That part is now settled. In August 2026, Parliament passed legislation making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent for small businesses from 1 July 2026. Here's what that changes

The pay rise landed on 1 July 2026, and if you employ staff, you've likely updated your payroll and moved on. It's worth a second look, because “the increase” is two different numbers, and which one applies depends on how each person is paid. The Fair Work Commission lifted modern award minimum rates by 4.75% and the national minimum wage by close to 6%, both from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Payroll software will have updated the headline rates

When the card surcharge ban was announced, we wrote about what it would mean for businesses. It's now close enough to be worth a second look. From 1 October 2026, surcharges on most card payments end, and that's roughly two months away. If you currently add a card fee at the checkout, this is a good time to have your plan in place rather than sorting it out in the last week of September. A quick refresher on what's changing From 1 October 2026, you won't be able to add a surc