Fri, 12th Jun 2026

In this episode of Financial Services Online's Weekly Finance News Wrap, Paige Estritori discusses the impending Payday Super reforms set to impact Australian SMEs, including a move from a quarterly superannuation payments system to wage-aligned payments, which raises cash flow and readiness concerns. This instability is compounded by an imminent card surcharging ban. Despite this, half the SMEs are using AI tools to adapt. There's also focus on the Caravan repair industry struggling with an escalated fuel crisis leading to considerable sales drops. Furthermore, rising living costs have seen Australians borrowing a record $5.1 billion to cover basic necessities. This heightens fears of potential debt spirals, with the average interest rate for new loans reaching 9%. Meanwhile, APRA's decision to retain the mortgage serviceability buffer at 3% offers some stability against global uncertainties. Listeners are encouraged to seek financial advice to successfully navigate these changes.n