Federal Budget Business Roundtable: What our members told us
26th May 2026
By Kylie Harding
Cash flow and tax measures are still a major pressure
Awareness of the $20,000 instant asset write-off is high (95%), but most respondents haven’t used it (62%) and views on usefulness are mixed.
PAYG instalments are a real cash-flow issue for many businesses, with 57% reporting moderate-to-significant pressure. Loss carry-back provisions also appear underutilised — 38% of respondents weren’t aware of the measure, and many others said they need clearer guidance.
Compliance burden remains heavy
Members rated the overall compliance and administrative load as high, with payroll/super obligations (76%) and BAS/tax reporting (67%) the biggest pressure points.
Cost of doing business: insurance and wages are hitting hardest
The top cost pressures were insurance premiums (71%) and wages/on-costs (67%), followed by energy costs and input cost inflation. Over half of respondents said insurance costs have been a major pressure (or worse) over the past 12 months.
Grants and growth support need to be easier to access
Nearly half of respondents weren’t aware of federal grant programs relevant to their business, and the biggest barriers were time, complexity, and not knowing what’s available. When asked what support would help most, training and upskilling grants ranked highest.
We have shared these findings with Dr Sophie Scamps and Jacqui Scruby to ensure local business realities are represented.
Read the full survey results on PDF attached.
Cheers, Kylie
President,
Mona Vale Chamber of Commerce
For more information download this document