Each week, we distil the biggest Australian business and insurance headlines affecting offices — from regulation changes and compliance updates to cyber risks, extreme weather, workplace safety and liability trends. Expect a concise, plain‑English recap with clear context, so you know what changed, why it matters, and the practical implications for your team and operations. Trusted, neutral coverage curated for Australian entrepreneurs, sole traders and growing SMEs.
This Week:
This week: card surcharges end on 1 October, so SMEs should update pricing and review payment provider costs. Draft trust tax legislation would let discretionary trusts avoid the thirty per cent minimum tax by electing fixed distributions, with consultation open until 18 September. Insurers returned to profit in the June quarter, which may stabilise pricing pressure; review office cover and compare quotes. ASIC warns on cash settlement fairness; for business claims, verify offers against real repair costs and consider broker support.
Hello and welcome to the Office Insurance Solutions Weekly News Podcast with Paige Estritori, Sunday, 6 September 2026.
First, card surcharges are set to end on 1 October. That means most businesses wont be able to add a fee for Visa, Mastercard or eftpos payments. Interchange caps are also being lowered, so your actual costs may shift. If you currently surcharge, update menus, price boards, websites and POS, and talk to your payments provider about new rates and statements. Build those costs into pricing where needed, and compare providers so youre not overpaying.
Next up, the governments draft trust tax legislation landed this week. Small businesses using discretionary trusts could avoid the proposed thirty per cent minimum tax by electing fixed distributions. Consultation closes on Thursday, 18 September. If you trade via a trust, speak with your accountant about whether a fixed‑distribution election fits your situation and what it means for flexibility. Keep good records now so any change doesnt disrupt cash flow or payroll.
Meanwhile, new figures show general insurers returned to profit in the June quarter, with property lines benefitting from a quieter period for catastrophes. That doesnt guarantee cheaper premiums, because claims costs and reinsurance remain elevated, but it may stabilise pricing pressure. For office policies, its a good time to review sums insured, excesses and risk controls like cyber protections and building maintenance, then compare quotes to make sure your coverage and price still match your operations.
And ASIC — the Australian Securities and Investments Commission — has warned insurers over the fairness of cash settlements after reviewing recent disaster claims. While the review focused on home cover, the message applies to business claims too: a cash offer needs to match real repair and replacement costs. If youre offered a cash settlement, get multiple quotes, check scope and timeframes, and consider using a broker to help you navigate options so repairs dont outstrip the payout.
Thats all for this week. For tailored office insurance, easy comparisons and support choosing the right cover, visit office-insurance.com.au. Im Paige Estritori — thanks for listening, and have a safe and productive week.
The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.
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Knowledgebase
Reinsurance: Insurance that an insurance company purchases from another insurance company to mitigate risk.
