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Allyce Cameron, owner of Leederville-based Boundless Books, says independents have the ability to deeply embed themselves in local communities.

RetailCommentsPremiumWhy your local bookshop is thriving in the age of Amazon

As some of Australia’s biggest booksellers struggle to defy the dominance of e-commerce, it’s the independents that have found ways to thrive.

Cheyanne Enciso

Erin Bell says without careful consultation and targeted exemptions, there was a real risk these reforms would unintentionally weaken one of the few sectors ‘actively building Australia’s future economic competitiveness’.

StartupsCommentsPremiumTax overhaul to dampen interest amid dire startup landscape

WA startups fear Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ capital gains tax overhaul could dampen investor appetite in what they say is already a dire funding landscape, warning of ‘devastating’ impacts on the ecosystem.

Cheyanne Enciso

Anthony Albanese has laughed off a growing backlash over his budget changes to the capital gains tax.

Small BusinessCommentsPremiumFamily businesses fight back on capital gains tax changes

The lobby group for small business owners is hoping enough nervous Labor MPs raise concerns about tax changes that could cause unemployment to rise.

Stephen Johnson

Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson will front the National Press Club on Wednesday. NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

UPDATEDCall for ‘bold’ Liberals after diabolical poll

The Liberal Party will need to be its “most bold, confident” off the back of bruising polling, the shadow treasurer claims.

Nathan Schmidt and Ria Pandey

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Small BusinessCommentsPremiumWA small businesses face double tax blow under CGT changes

The Federal Government’s changes to capital gains taxes could see WA small businesses cop a double tax bill if they restructure to cope with the overhaul.

Adrian Lowe

Indigo Commercial founder Tarrsha Watkins, fourth from the left, is offering work opportunities for people who needs hours that align with school drop-offs, pick-ups, or other family commitments.

Workplace MattersCommentsPremiumThe WA firm creating jobs that work around the school run

The boss of a local labour provider says its family-friendly shift model aiming to work around the school run could become as mainstream as the regular 9-5 working day.

Cheyanne Enciso

Business groups have warned the Federal Budget risks adding another layer of pressure to firms already bracing for higher wage costs, after the peak union body lifted its pay claim for millions of award workers.

BusinessCommentsPremiumBudget and wage woes weigh heavy on businesses

Business groups have warned the Federal Budget risks adding another layer of pressure to firms already bracing for higher wage costs.

Ryan Johnson

Newton Tran, co-founder of Subiaco-based café and barber shop Revival Studios, said he was not expecting huge things in Tuesday’s Budget.

Small BusinessCommentsPremiumSmall businesses ‘never going to be’ Federal Budget focus

A local small business owner says the lack of targeted Federal Budget measures to support firms like his came as no surprise because it was never going to be the priority amid a cost-of-living crisis.

Cheyanne Enciso

Fresh NAB data shows businesses are experiencing a margin squeeze, with input costs rising faster than they can increase selling price.

EconomyCommentsPremiumFirms brace for more price pain but no room to pass it on

Businesses are bracing for more price rises in input costs in the coming months, a senior economist says, at a time when there’s little room to pass it on to already-crunched consumers.

Cheyanne Enciso

Building inspector Russell McCarthy warns rising fuel prices hitting small businesses will be passed on to the consumer.

Small BusinessCommentsPremium‘Not enough’: What small business wants from the Budget

Only a fraction of small businesses are highly confident the Federal Budget will address their challenges, according to new research. Here’s what they really want from Jim Chalmers’ speech to Parliament.

Ryan Johnson

Amarettos

FoodComments‘Not easy’: Family restaurant shuts doors after decade

Foodies in Perth’s north-east have been left heartbroken as a family-run restaurant revealed it will shut after more than a decade. 

Tegwen Bescoby

Older small business operators hoping to make voluntary concessional contributions to superannuation have been told to make sure they satisfy employment rules before sending any money to their fund.

Your MoneyCommentsPremiumA super work hurdle for older small business owners

Older small business operators hoping to make voluntary concessional contributions to superannuation have been told to make sure they satisfy employment rules before sending any money to their fund.

Nick Bruining

Speaking at The West Australian’s post-Budget breakfast on Friday, Rita Saffioti said maintaining consumer confidence was crucial in keeping small businesses running.

Small BusinessCommentsPremiumBusiness pushes for more targeted relief than fuel vouchers

WA business groups have renewed pleas for more government action to help small and medium-sized enterprises following Rita Saffioti’s $100 handout to drivers she hopes will lift consumer confidence.

Cheyanne Enciso

Fremantle Seaweed co-founder and managing director Chris De Cuyper.

SEAWEED FACILITY GREENLITCommentsPremiumWA’s first commercial seaweed hatchery goes ahead

Fremantle Seaweed secures 1,331sqm waterfront site to establish Western Australia’s first commercial-scale Asparagopsis hatchery and processing facility.

Danielle Marsland

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock announced interest rates needed to rise to 4.35 per cent. NewsWire / Christian Gilles

FINANCEGrim reason three rate hikes aren’t enough

Three consecutive rate hikes have failed to tame inflation – with oil price shocks now threatening to trigger even more aggressive monetary policy.

Cameron Micallef

Tax on businesses

BusinessCommentsPremiumThousands of businesses flag interest in ATO tax relief

The Australian Taxation Office is preparing contingency plans in case business conditions deteriorate but said only thousands of businesses have so far flagged interest in tax relief.

Ryan Johnson

New analysis from the Super Members Council found one in four Australian workers missed out on super between 2018 and 2023, costing employees $24.4 billion nationally.

Your MoneyCommentsPremiumWA workers missing billions in unpaid super

New analysis from the Super Members Council found one in four Australian workers missed out on super between 2018 and 2023, costing employees $24.4 billion nationally.

Ryan Johnson

Not Supplied

CRIMEPilates studio fireball engulfs arsonist

A deliberately lit fire at a pilates studio that explodes in an arsonist’s face has been linked to another suspicious blaze.

Blair Jackson

More than 1000 young people converged in the CBD for the Worship the Cactus event.

opinion
opinion
OpinionCommentsPremium
opinion
Cactus worship event highlights being young in pricey Perth

What the cactus worship event highlights about being young in pricey Perth.

Kim Macdonald

Parry’s owner Jan McKenzie celebrates the store’s 100th birthday.

100 years Parry’s Narrogin store celebrates 100th milestone

A small drapery that has grown into one of Narrogin’s best-known stores hosted past and present employees and community members to celebrate its centenary at the weekend.

Hannah Whitehead

Re-Rack It business owner Annie Campbell in her shop in Leederville.

BusinessCommentsPremiumHustling thrives as fewer Australians start up businesses

Growth in solo businesses has coincided with a rise in second jobs, side hustles and digital-platform work. But new companies employing staff has steadily fallen, a new report reveals.

Rebecca Le May

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updatedPremiumWarning of Covid-style supply chain woes

Peak transport bodies have given a dire update as they bid to have large corporations at the top of supply chains cover truckies’ soaring fuel bills.

Blair Jackson

Not Supplied

MONEYAussies face grim warning amid new ban

Card surcharges are banned from 2026 - but small businesses are warning the move will backfire spectacularly as Aussies are forced to pay more for everything.

Cameron Micallef

The changes were designed to support small businesses amid rising costs and supply chain disruptions, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said. NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

FINANCECommentsPremiumTax relief for small businesses hit by Middle East war

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced one group of Aussies will receive major tax relief amid the disruptions triggered by the Iran war.

Ria Pandey