Australian economy stories
Cybersecurity and skills gaps are leaving many mid-sized firms unable to turn AI investment into stronger profits or revenue growth.
Rising fuel and energy bills are squeezing margins and leaving Australian firms facing weaker trading conditions ahead.
Survey data showing 35% of small firms hit by cyberattacks has prompted a free Optus scheme to help businesses prepare and respond.
Australian businesses renewing .au domains this May could land an Audi RS3 or GBP £100,000, as VentraIP widens discounts across hosting and email.
Many small businesses may delay investment and hiring unless the Federal Budget delivers tax relief and help with rising costs.
The spending will add 60 jobs in regional Victoria and bolster local supply chains as Mars expands Australian pet food production by 2027.
Australian sole traders are using AI to cut admin time and boost output, with daily or weekly use now at 41 per cent, Hnry found.
Momentum stayed firm for Australian small businesses in the March quarter, as sales, jobs and wages all rose despite higher fuel costs.
Social platforms now account for 11% of online sales in Australia, with smaller firms driving a rapid shift to direct digital storefronts.
Yet most Australian mid-sized firms still lack the training and governance needed to turn AI use into broader revenue gains.
Fuel costs have pushed headline prices higher again, leaving the Reserve Bank of Australia under pressure to raise interest rates despite softer underlying inflation.
Easier consent and wider bank access could lift Consumer Data Right use to more than 18 million Australians by 2035, the modelling says.
Fewer Australian scam reports still cost victims more in 2025, with total losses climbing to AUD $295.4 million and phishing damage surging.
Forecasts may overstate Australia’s data centre build-out unless early-stage projects secure finance, approvals and power connections.
Rising software costs and tighter scrutiny are pushing Australian builders to prioritise control of project data over collaboration features.
Flexibility is emerging as a bigger draw than pay in construction and engineering, as firms battle shortages and retention pressures.
Australian exporters gain a real-time cash-flow boost as PayTo lets them top up World Accounts instantly, even on holidays.
The shortlist comes as the sector weighs new rules on payments, scams and data rights, with 160 finalists vying across 22 categories.
Geopolitical turmoil has pushed Australian firms to lock in currency cover, with exporters hedging 86 per cent of exposure and importers 80 per cent.
AI adoption is widening a gap among Australian SMEs, with users growing 2.8 times faster and many others still holding back.