Finance

A select group of small business owners will tonight share an audience with federal lawmakers in Canberra, as rising costs, staff shortages, and troubling Christmas spending forecasts heap pressure on the sector.

Australian consumer confidence has fallen to levels not seen since the dawn of COVID-19 lockdowns and the depths of Global Financial Crisis despair, Westpac says.

Rising interest rates, winding-up applications and court recoveries by the ATO all key indicators of tricky times for the SME sector.

The federal government says it will overhaul Australia's migration system to better meet the needs of tomorrow's economy.

Breaking down entrenched gender norms in Australia could unlock $128 billion per year in the economy and 461,000 additional full-time employees.

With the cost of seemingly everything rising, why are house prices falling? And who will be hit hardest?

New data about goods and services provided to the state government has revealed Queensland’s procurement from First Nations-owned businesses went up 36% in the last financial year. 

One favourite has already come good on Melbourne Cup day after the Reserve Bank of Australia raised its cash rate target 25 basis points to 2.85%.

Speaking to SmartCompany, Collins says Labor's budget is more focused on long-term sustainability than directly alleviating today's sharp cost pressures.

Small business luminaries fear the move to redirect funding could limit the Small Business Ombudsman's other business support initiatives.