Surcharges Banned, Junior Rates Scrapped & Wages Rising Again: What's Coming for Hospo | April Hospo Update

On the 31st of March, two major blows landed on the hospitality industry.And most owners didn't see them coming.In this month's industry update, Tim sits down with Wes Lambert — CEO of ARCA and the man in Parliament having these conversations on behalf of every café and restaurant owner in Australia — to break down exactly what's changed, what's coming, and what you need to do about it right now.This isn't doom and gloom for the sake of it. It's the information you need to make the right moves before the next wave hits.You'll hear:00:00 – What just happened on March 31 (and why it matters) 02:30 – The surcharge ban explained: what it actually means for your margins 05:30 – You can't pass on merchant fees anymore — here's the real cost 07:00 – Junior wage rates getting scrapped: who it affects and when 09:30 – Why this will almost certainly roll out across all of hospo 11:00 – Rate rises coming in May, June and August 12:30 – Award wages rising 4.5–6%: how to budget for it now 13:30 – Payday super hitting 1 July — are you ready for the cash flow hit? 14:30 – Fuel levies up 30% and tourism down: the full picture 15:00 – Wes's headline for 2026: the great reset 16:00 – Why you must put your prices up this year (and how to do it right) 19:00 – What separates the operators who survive from the ones who don't 21:00 – Why joining an industry association matters more than ever right nowKey takeaways:From 1 October, you cannot pass on merchant fees to customers — that's a 1–2% hit to your bottom line, starting nowJunior rates for 18, 19 and 20-year-olds are being phased out from December — and the rest of hospo is likely nextIf you haven't raised your prices by 10% in 2026, you will lose significant marginNot acting is a decision — and right now it's the most expensive one you can makeARCA has a seat at the table in Parliament. The more members they have, the louder the voice.If you're not on top of your pricing, your labour costs, and your margins right now — this is your signal. Book a free call with the Foodie Coaches team at https://discover.foodiecoaches.com/bac Join ARCA at https://www.arca.org.au/ Follow along: @foodie_coaches @tim.kummerfeldNew episodes every Wednesday.