David Adams, Author at SmartCompany - Page 2 of 78

David Adams is a senior business journalist at SmartCompany. He is interested in the challenges and opportunities facing Australian businesses, along with the influences of technology, culture, and a changing climate. Before SmartCompany, David served as a reporter for Business Insider Australia. You can find him on Twitter at @DavidAdams_AU.

housing construction migration

Bet the house: Home ownership an uncomfortable challenge at small business summit

It commanded no keynote speech or panel, but home ownership emerged as the de facto theme of 2024's most important small business summit, with politicians and policy experts alike conceding the housing market is punishing young entrepreneurs.

regulators cosboa

Australia’s regulatory super-squad says it wants to be friend, not foe, to SMEs

It felt like something out of a superhero movie, but Australia’s top tax and corporate regulators didn’t meet on Thursday to challenge a global villain or alien threat.

independent

Tell us how you really Teal: Independent MPs blast Labor, Coalition on small business policies

Federal independent MPs Dai Le, Kylea Tink, Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender shared their frustrations at the Council of Small Business Organisation Association national summit on Wednesday afternoon.

rob heferen ato commissioner

‘Won’t pretend to have all the answers’: New ATO chief pledges to listen to SMEs

New Commissioner of Taxation Rob Heferen has introduced himself to the small business community with humility, using a conference to admit he has much to learn about life in the private sector.

competition

Competition taskforce turns attention to non-compete clauses

Businesses that level non-compete clauses on staff could be stifling the Australian economy, Competition Minister Andrew Leigh says, as the government's competition taskforce considers a crackdown on contract terms that limit worker mobility.

NSW Small Business Commissioner Chris Lamont

Insolvencies are sky-high, but the NSW Small Business Commissioner fears policymakers aren’t taking note

NSW Small Business Commissioner says despite sky-high insolvencies, he fears “the voice of small business” is often overlooked or ignored.

insolvency small business minimum wage

COSBOA: Cap minimum wage increase at 3% in “cost of doing business” crisis

The minimum wage should not rise any more than 3% as small businesses slog through a “cost of doing business crisis”, says the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia.

Peter Dutton

Dutton takes the nuclear option in pitch to small businesses

It's a common refrain that small businesses are the engine room of the Australian economy, but Opposition leader Peter Dutton says nuclear power should be the engine room for small businesses.

cosboa

Labor, Coalition to compete for small business hearts and minds at COSBOA summit

The federal government and the Opposition will show off their duelling visions for the small business sector at this week's COSBOA National Small Business Summit, one of the last big-name business events before the May budget outlines taxpayer support for SMEs.

april fool's

Subs, socks and stats: Australian brands try out their best April Fool’s 2024 pranks

As businesses contend with thin operating margins and consumer sentiment in the doldrums, 2024 may have brought fewer social media posts and staged PR releases than we've come to expect. Nevertheless, here are a few of the April Fool's stunts that caught our eye this year.

merger complaints accc

SMEs invited to have their say on the ACCC’s new VIP competition complaint system

Three business and consumer representative groups will have access to Australia's new and turbo-charged competition complaints system, according to a Treasury draft outlining the long-awaited scheme.

restaurant skills shortage business

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.

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