On 1 July 2023, award rates of pay and the National Minimum Wage increased by 5.75%.
It is critically important that all employers review their payroll systems and ensure they are applying the correct
rates and Awards. The National Minimum Wage applies to workers not covered by an Award or registered agreement.
From 1 July 2023, the National Minimum wage has increased to $23.23 per hour ($882.80 per week for a full time employee working a
standard 38 hours week). For casuals, the minimum wage including the 25% casual loading is a minimum of $29.04 per hour.
For workers under an Award, adult minimum award wages increase by 5.75% applied from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2023.
Proportionate increases apply to junior workers, apprentice and supported wages.
In addition, the superannuation guarantee increased from 10.5% to 11% on 1 July 2023.
If the employment agreement with your workers states the employee is paid on a ‘total remuneration’ basis (base plus
SG and any other allowances), then their take home pay might be reduced by 0.5%.
That is, a greater percentage of their total remuneration will be directed to their superannuation fund. For employees paid a rate plus
superannuation, then their take home pay will remain the same and the 0.5% increase will be added to their SG payments.
We want our people to be the best they can be.
.png)
MP SHIRE SMALL BUSINESS FESTIVAL / LIVE WORKSHOP
Friday 31 August, 4:00pm-6:00pm
Join our practical,
educational workshop designed to help business owners understand the lending process and in preparation for funding conversations, learn how lending decisions are really made and what banks actually look for.
.png)
MP SHIRE SMALL BUSINESS FESTIVAL / LIVE WORKSHOP
Tuesday 25 August, 10:00am-12:00pm
This practical, confidence-building session is designed to give business owners control. Know Your Numbers is a hands-on workshop created specifically for non-financial business owners who want clarity and confidence in their decision-making.
.png)
MP SHIRE SMALL BUSINESS FESTIVAL / LIVE WORKSHOP
Monday 24 August, 5:30-7:30pm
This practical, education-first session helps business owners cut through the confusion and take back control of their business insurance
decisions.
.png)
MP SHIRE SMALL BUSINESS FESTIVAL / LIVE WORKSHOP
Monday 10 August, 5:30-7:30pm
This practical session, in collaboration with the Mornington Peninsula Shire as part of the Small Business Festival, helps small business
owners understand AI and automation and shows how small businesses can use smarter tools to reduce manual work, improve accuracy and
create more capacity for growth.
Conference // 5 August, 2026 - ALL DAY EVENT
The B.I.T.E. Business Conference 2026 is the Mornington Peninsula’s premier event for bold business owners ready to rethink what’s
possible, reinvent how they operate, and reignite their growth. Hear from global keynote speakers including Grant Hackett, Andrew Griffiths
and Kate Christie plus local business innovators.
Since the beginning of 2025, 62 per cent of occupiers leasing more than 1,000 square metres have either expanded or maintained their footprint.
Darwin's commercial property sector is strengthening with rising rents.
| SMART Business Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Josh Underhill as Partner, recognising his outstanding contribution to the firm and the clients he supports every day. |
.png)
Smart Business Solutions is proud to announce that Ryan Smit, an accounting student at RMIT University and Assistant Accountant at SMART Business Solutions, has been named Accounting Student of the Year, recognised for his forward-thinking approach to the profession and his commitment to integrating AI, intelligent workflows and technology into modern accounting practice.
For many business owners, superannuation is something that gets attention in June — when tax planning comes into focus. But the real opportunity lies in planning your super contributions at the start of the financial year, not the end.
The new financial year has officially clicked over – and with it comes the trio of mid-year obligations every employer needs on the radar: Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation, WorkCover declarations, and Payroll Tax annual reconciliation.
On 26 June 2026, the Federal Government passed a significant change to how Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) can invest in residential property. New Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) to purchase residential property inside an SMSF will be banned from approximately 10 August 2026 — 45 days after Royal Assent.
Grant Hackett joins Shannon Smit to share what it takes to perform at the highest level - from Olympic success to leading an ASX-listed business. This episode unpacks the mindset, discipline and leadership habits that drive long-term success, including key lessons on consistency, blind spots and building sustainable high performance.
The First Home Guarantee allows eligible buyers to purchase with a 5 per cent deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
The 2026 Federal Budget proposed the most significant changes to residential property tax settings in a generation.
How a business crosses the 30 June line matters more than many owners realise
From 1 July 2025, interest charges on business tax debt were also deemed non-deductible by the ATO, increasing the real cost of carrying that debt.
Commercial property investors are increasingly focused on asset quality over broad sector performance.
.png)
AI-Enhanced Automation for Accounting and Finance Professionals: Leveraging ChatGPT, Copilot & Claude for Innovation and
Productivity.
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop in MELBOURNE with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using cutting-edge
Agentic AI tools including Chat GPT, Claude, CoPilot and Gemini. This workshop is built for accountants,
bookkeepers, finance teams, and business owners who want to move beyond basic prompts and turn AI into a reliable, ethical, and practical
system for everyday work.
.png)
AI-Enhanced Automation for Accounting and Finance Professionals: Leveraging ChatGPT, Copilot & Claude for Innovation and
Productivity.
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop in BRISBANE with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using cutting-edge Agentic
AI tools including Chat GPT, Claude, CoPilot and Gemini. This workshop is built for accountants, bookkeepers, finance teams,
and business owners who want to move beyond basic prompts and turn AI into a reliable, ethical, and practical system for everyday work.
A caravan loan can make the upfront cost manageable, but it’s the ongoing expenses that can catch first-time owners off guard.
Fixing your rate can offer certainty, but it also involves trade-offs that are worth understanding before making a decision.
Lenders calculate how much you can borrow based on your income, existing debts, living expenses and other financial commitments.
Business Growth brings its own financial pressures, and cash flow is often where those pressures first show up. It’s a pattern that catches many business owners off guard.
| The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has handed down its 2026 Annual Wage Review, and the numbers are in. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage will rise by 5.97%, and modern award minimum rates will increase by 4.75%. |
The luxury residential sector is experiencing uneven performance across Australia's major cities.
.png)
WEBINAR // 28 May, 2026 - 12:30 - 1:15pm
From 1 July 2026, Australian employers must pay super on payday - not quarterly. Join us on Wednesday 28 May for a practical 45-minute briefing on what Payday Super actually requires, where the risks are for small businesses, and the steps you can take right now.
Can’t make it live? Register anyway - all registrations will receive access to the recording to your inbox.
Rental performance is increasingly fragmented across the country.
Consumer habits have shifted markedly, with daily convenience trips now replacing the traditional big-shop model, turning neighbourhood and convenience centres.
Australian farmland prices are expected to continue their modest growth trajectory in 2026, with the median price per hectare forecast to increase by two per cent.
Lunch & Learn Workshop // 22 May, 2026 - 12:00 - 1:30pm
$35pp includes lunch
This session is designed to change that. Pricing, Profit &
Your Ideal Client
is a practical workshop that helps you understand where your
profit really comes from,
how pricing decisions affect margins, and why working with clients that align with your business makes a measurable difference to both
profit and cashflow.
Buy now, pay later can be cost-effective if you pay on time.
Institutional capital is flowing back into Australian commercial property as market fundamentals strengthen, with experienced investors moving ahead of broader market confidence.
Now's the time to review what strategies you can use to minimise your tax before 30 June.
Making strategic investments in new assets before EOFY can position your business for growth in the year ahead.
.png)
The Federal Budget, delivered on the night of May 12 2026, was one of the most significant in years. We know you will have questions — and we have put together this document to answer the ones we are hearing most.
.png)
The 2026–27 Federal Budget brings major changes to CGT, negative gearing, trusts and super. Find out what it means for you and your business.
This established production business was growing. A diverse team crossing over from admin, trades and operations. The team were all getting on with it, but with no real structure in place, the cracks were starting to show.
Like a lot of growing businesses, revenue looked strong on paper, but timing was the issue. Jobs didn’t always start when expected, expenses were creeping up, and there was no clear visibility on when cash would be coming in versus going out.
This client was a solid, established manufacturing business selling both wholesale and direct to retail customers. They knew their numbers mattered, but their engagement and active management was inconsistent and the lack of rhythm and accountability, impacted their bottom line and decision making.
The ATO has released Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2026/D2, and it’s very clear where they’re focusing next, property development structures, particularly where land ownership and development activities are split.
New equipment is essential to growth. Whether it’s machinery, vehicles, or specialised technology, the right assets could improve efficiency, increase production, and help secure larger contracts.
What if time wasn’t your biggest constraint – but your biggest opportunity? In this episode of The Accountant That Builds Podcast, we are joined by Kate Christie, internationally recognised time management expert, keynote speaker, and bestselling author. Kate has spent more than two decades helping business owners, leaders and teams take control of their time, energy and priorities.
What does it really take to stop discounting yourself and start charging what you’re truly worth? In this episode of the The Accountant That Builds Podcast, host Shannon Smit sits down with Andrew Griffiths, Australia’s #1 small business author and one of the most respected voices in business and personal growth.
Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business. Even when sales are strong and invoices are being issued regularly, delayed payments could create bottlenecks that make it difficult to cover everyday expenses.
Brisbane and Perth recorded the most affordable office fit-out costs in the country at an average of $934 per square metre.
Industrial property delivered total returns of 8.6 per cent in December 2025, with capital growth of 4.1 per cent, the strongest of any major asset class.
Commercial property markets have returned to positive capital growth after two years of adjustment.
Before applying for a caravan loan, it’s important to understand what you could comfortably afford.
For many business owners, superannuation is something that gets attention in June — when tax planning comes into focus. But the real opportunity lies in planning your super contributions at the start of the financial year, not the end.
The new financial year has officially clicked over – and with it comes the trio of mid-year obligations every employer needs on the radar: Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation, WorkCover declarations, and Payroll Tax annual reconciliation.
