Business Essentials

As the nation goes to the polls tomorrow, Business Essentials Daily brings you the final episode of our special week of pre-election interviews, and it’s certainly revealing. A new report by OnDeck - small business loan experts, shows that out of the 500 Australian small businesses they surveyed, 85% cite cost of living pressures as the key issue shaping their vote this election. It’s an extraordinary number and illustrates how personal finances have overtaken other small business concerns for the sector. The survey also says energy bills and red tape are still hitting small businesses hard, even though resilience remains strong. In this interview, OnDeck Marketing Director, Justin Brady delivers key insights from the survey.

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Global volatility, tariff tensions, and shifting global trade dynamics continue to shape the outlook for small and medium businesses in Australia. For the next in our special series of pre-election interviews, Economist Professor Robert Brooks unpacks the ripple effects of global uncertainty on Australia — highlighting inflation risks, exchange rate pressures, and why smart, steady policy responses may help shield local businesses from the worst impacts. He also explains how Australia’s exposure to Asian markets adds another layer of complexity, and why avoiding trade retaliation has been crucial in maintaining stability.

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Hospitality is one of Australia’s largest small business sectors, and it’s been on the front lines of recent economic uncertainty. So, are government policies doing enough to help, and what is the Coalition offering? CEO of the Australian Restaurant and Café Association, Wes Lambert, unpacks the pros and cons of each major party’s offerings for small business owners, with a focus on energy relief, tax breaks, and support for apprentices.

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In the lead up to the Federal Election, Monash University economist Professor Robert Brooks assesses the state of the Australian economy. He explores key productivity drivers — from childcare reforms to infrastructure and housing supply — and warns that lasting improvements will depend on smart, long-term policy decisions. Professor Brooks assesses the potential impacts of polices and highlights the need to address ongoing challenges with economic growth and labour availability.

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The status of family businesses needs to come into clear focus this election, according to Family Business Association CEO Catherine Sayer. Family businesses make up about 70% of Australian enterprises, yet they remain largely invisible in federal policy conversations. So, Catherine is calling for greater recognition — through better data collection, targeted representation, and policy consideration — to ensure this vital sector has a seat at the table.

Business Essentials Daily is produced by:

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COVID spelt difficult times for many small businesses, perhaps none more so than in the travel sector. So, when the pandemic brought travel to a halt, owners of the travel app Locomote.com had to rethink their survival strategy to. CEO and Co-Founder of Growth Forum, David Fastuca, focused on repackaging Locomote’s value by highlighting duty of care, governance, and compliance to help SMEs manage post-pandemic travel risks. By proactively reaching out to CFOs and addressing future challenges, he built a strong sales pipeline despite the uncertainty. It’s a classic tale of how strategic pivoting, sharp messaging, and persistence can turn crisis into opportunity.

Business Essentials Daily is produced by:

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When Dr May Chan was a child, she had a fall which resulted in dental issues and an unwillingness to smile for family photos. This experience would later be pivotal in her ambition to pursue a career in cosmetic dentistry. Ten years ago, Dr May and her husband, Dr Reuben Sim, started Dental Boutique in the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn. Today it has grown to 10 surgeries across Australia and New Zealand. They have since won a slew of business awards. She discusses the life-cycle of business growth including, the start-up stage, teenager and maturity stage. The success comes down to maintaining a focus on quality, putting the right systems in place, looking after their staff, and adding value to the community.

Business Essentials Daily is produced by:

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The shift to remote work appears to have improved task efficiency, but is it hindering innovation? Marnie Brokenshire, Founder of leadership and performance consultancy, Uncapped Potential, says productivity in Australia is at its lowest in decades, and spontaneous in-person interactions may be what’s missing. Marnie says leadership is a “contact sport” and how returning to the office, when done right, can drive collaboration, creativity, and long-term business success. She says businesses can move beyond rigid return-to-work mandates to create a culture of engagement, trust, and high performance.

Business Essentials Daily is produced by:

SoundCartel
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Rarely do we know when crisis will strike – a pandemic, war, or a GFC-like event – but if it does happen, the impact on your business and staff could be just as seismic. So how can you prepare for a potential disaster? It helps to have an adaptive mindset, insists Prof Martin Bean, CEO of The Bean Centre, and former Vice Chancellor of RMIT University, during the lockdown days of COVID-19. He has co-authored a book, ‘Toolkit for Turbulence: The mindset and methods that leaders need to turn adversity to advantage’. An adaptive mindset, he says, equips you and your team to deal with fast and unpredictable change, to navigate in uncertainty, to collaborate on complex entangled problems, and to embrace ambiguity and paradoxes.

Business Essentials Daily is produced by:

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Starting a firm with nothing but a printed leaflet and gritty determination, Melissa Browne built a thriving business by focusing on profitability and strategic growth. From helping clients with tax to coaching them on business success, she developed ground-breaking systems that revolutionised her practice. Melissa explains how she scaled, streamlined, and ultimately sold her firm for seven figures.

Business Essentials Daily is produced by:

SoundCartel
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