Business Alert at 9:00am With CVA – Budget Points You May Not Know

Clear Vision • April 16, 2019

Budget Points You May Not Know

Not everything is televised on mainstream television. Here are some budget points we found interesting.

Fire ants under attack…. The government has allocated $18.3 million over three years to assist an immediate program to support the eradication of fire ants.

Tax breaks for Men’s and Women’s Sheds Have you spotted the Men’s Sheds and Women’s Sheds around town? Well the budget is allowing gifts of $2 or more to be tax deductible from 1 July 2020. The deduction applies to both gifts of money & property, and the measure is designed to encourage philanthropy and support for the not-for-profit sector.

Museum & memorial for sex abuse victims The budget has allocated $2.5 million in 2019/2020 for consultation on options for a national museum or memorial for victims & survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. The funds will also be used in preparatory work for a national orphanage museum.

Adelaide Space Centre Adelaide’s status as the centre of Australia’s newly formed space industry will be secured with $6 million funding for a Mission Control centre to support the emerging space startup industry.

Dark Mofo light show Hobart’s Dark Mofo festival will receive $1.5 million for a major light show to encourage tourism to Tasmania during the closure of the Tahune Airwalk as a result of recent bushfires.

Facilities for para athletes Essendon Football Club’s “The Hangar” facility, which is also Paralympic Australia’s Victorian base, will receive $4 million over two years to construct new facilities.

Sports integrity A new body called Sport Integrity Australia will be established as part of $33 million in funding to safeguard the integrity of Australian Sport. The new body will carry out anti-doping and a National Sports Tribunal will be created to hear and resolve rule violations.

The Federal Budget was developed with the May election in mind and therefore these budget items will only be in play if they are reelected.

By Caroline Gillies March 26, 2026
More data doesn’t mean better decisions. Many business owners are drowning in numbers but starving for direction, tracking everything and understanding nothing. The result? Decisions based on gut feel, cash flow surprises, and growth that looks good on paper but doesn’t actually strengthen the business. Vanity metrics can be misleading. Total revenue, website traffic, or social media likes might feel positive, but they don’t always reflect real performance or profitability.  Real KPIs tell a different story. They give you clarity, control, and confidence in your decisions. While every business is different and the right KPIs will vary, here are some examples of powerful KPIs businesses often track: • Profit Margin – Are you actually making money? • Cash Flow – Do you have enough cash to operate and grow? • Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) – What does it cost to win a new customer? • Debtor Days – How quickly are you getting paid? • Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) – How much is each customer worth over time? If you’re not tracking the right numbers for your business, you’re essentially flying blind. Because success isn’t about more data—it’s about the right data.
By Caroline Gillies March 1, 2026
From 1 July 2026, the Federal Government will introduce one of the most significant changes to superannuation administration in recent years: “Payday Super.” These reforms fundamentally shift how and when employers meet their Superannuation Guarantee (SG) obligations. What’s Changing? Under the new rules, SG contributions must be paid at the same time as salary and wages and received by the employee’s super fund within seven business days of payday. This replaces the current quarterly payment system. The changes apply to all eligible employees, including those captured under the expanded definition of “employee,” and extend to salary sacrifice amounts and other qualifying earnings (QE). Employers will calculate SG at the legislated 12% rate on QE, which includes ordinary time earnings and relevant additional payments. Contributions remain subject to the Maximum Contribution Base, limiting employer liability to approximately $30,000 per employee per financial year. Employers will also be required to report QE and SG liabilities through Single Touch Payroll (STP), enabling the ATO to monitor compliance more closely and identify underpayments earlier. Operational Impact for Employers The shift to payday reporting and payment means payroll systems must be updated to calculate, process, and remit super contributions each pay cycle. Businesses will need to ensure their software can manage QE calculations and facilitate timely electronic payments to super funds. Cash flow management will also require attention, particularly for small businesses accustomed to quarterly payments. Super will become a real-time obligation rather than a periodic liability. Importantly, failure to meet the new deadlines will trigger the revised Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC), including penalties and interest. While late contributions and SGC amounts remain tax deductible, interest and penalties do not. Employers currently using the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House must transition to alternative payment solutions before its closure on 30 June 2026. Preparing Now Although implementation begins in 2026, early preparation is essential. Reviewing payroll systems, assessing cash flow impact, and updating internal processes will help ensure a smooth transition and minimise compliance risk. Payday Super represents a move toward greater transparency and timeliness, but it also demands proactive planning from employers. If you would like assistance preparing your business for Payday Super, our team at Clear Vision Accountancy Group is here to help. Please contact us on 4688 2500 to discuss how we can support your transition and ensure you remain compliant. We drew inspiration for this article from the ATO
By Caroline Gillies December 11, 2025
The ATO is cracking down on people who claim too many tax deductions for properties that they use both personally and as rentals — especially holiday homes. A new draft ruling says that if you use a property for both personal use and renting it out, you must split (apportion) the expenses in a fair and reasonable way. You can only claim deductions for the portion of time or space used to earn rental income. If the ATO thinks your property is really a holiday home — for example, you block out peak times for your own use and only rent it occasionally — they can classify it as a “leisure facility.” If that happens, you cannot claim big expenses like mortgage interest, council rates, land tax or maintenance. You’ll only be allowed to claim small costs like cleaning, advertising and platform/agent fees. The ATO says many owners of holiday homes have been claiming too much by showing “rental losses” every year. They are now looking more closely at cases where the owner keeps the property unavailable for rent during busy periods.  How do I stay off the ATO naughty list? If you mix personal use with rental use, be careful. Only claim the rental part of your expenses, or the ATO may deny most of your deductions.