Australia's Productivity Commission aims to double philanthropic giving by 2030. Is this a realistic ambition?  Tune in now for CPA Australia expert analysis of the Commission’s review into philanthropy and find out what you need to know.  Host: Dr Jane Rennie, General Manager Media and Content, CPA Australia Guest: Ram Subramanian, Senior Manager Reporting and Audit Policy, CPA Australia If you’d like to read more about this topic, CPA Australia’s submission to the Productivity...

The Treasurer’s Federal Budget 2023 has been delivered with CPA Australia's tax and business experts dissecting the announcement.  Stay informed with this in-depth budget breakdown. Listen now. Host: Dr Jane Rennie, General Manager Media and Content, CPA Australia Guests: Elinor Kasapidis, Senior Manager Taxation Policy CPA Australia and Gavan Ord, Senior Manager Business Policy, CPA Australia For additional coverage, head online for CPA Australia’s 2023-24 Federal Budget coverage.  CPA...

There’s a crisis in Australia.  Construction companies are going into liquidation at a record rate, leaving home buyers, tradespeople, employees and the industry in shock.  CPA Australia’s insolvency expert shares advice and need-to-know insights.  Listen now.  Host: Jennifer Duke, External Affairs Lead, CPA Australia Guest: Kristen Beadle, Manager Public Practice and SME, CPA Australia And for more, CPA Australia has a guidance page on indicators of financial distress for SMEs.  ...

Australia’s superannuation system is a global leader.  Worth around AUD $3.4 trillion, the nation should be proud of the world’s fifth-largest super system, one that covers around 16 million Australians as they work towards retirement.  So, why is the Australian Government seeking to legislate an “objective” for super? A public consultation on the objective recently closed, and CPA Australia has made a submission.  CPA Australia thinks that superannuation is only one component of a...

Did you know the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) was last reviewed in 1981? That was the Campbell inquiry reporting to the then Fraser Government.  Much has changed since then.  Little wonder there’s great interest in this current review to be delivered to the Federal Government imminently, and which was triggered by the reporting of senior Sydney Morning Herald and The Age correspondent Shane Wright.  The respected correspondent joins Jennifer Duke, CPA Australia’s Walkley...

A new Asia-Pacific Small Business survey by CPA Australia was released this week.  And the survey has some surprise findings, despite the economic turbulence and COVID-19-related issues.  However, we’ve flagged issues with the government that we believe could harm our future growth. Want key learnings from CPA Australia’s 14th annual Asia-Pacific small business survey?  We received responses from 4280 small businesses in: Australia New Zealand Mainland China Hong Kong India Malaysia...

Retirement and financial wellbeing depends on ensuring all Australians can access appropriate, high-quality financial advice. Right? However, aspects of this sector haven’t worked as well as they could. Instead, consumers and advisers are grappling with high costs, a lack of trust and excessive documentation.  For these reasons, there has been a review (Michelle Levy’s Quality of Advice Review, otherwise known as the QAR).  The aim of the review is to improve the accessibility and...

In this special episode, we explain what this statement actually means. And why a professional accounting organisation like ours is actively supporting reconciliation.   And we ask the tough questions, such as, is this an appropriate thing for businesses to be doing? And is there a risk that some will engage in so-called ‘social washing? Providing perspective and insights on this important issue are two experts from CPA Australia.  Simone Spaulding, CPA Australia Senior Manager, Culture,...

Superannuation for many Australians is at risk of a 45 per cent penalty tax due to ATO rules around applying your own professional or trade skills to your personal life.  And who is at most risk of this super rule? Accountants, solicitors, real estate agents and tradies.  The current rules prohibit transactions with related parties at “mate’s rates” or no rate at all. Even mistakenly using a work laptop to complete a personal task could trigger a breach. To examine this rule and offer...

Today’s episode features special guest, ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh.  He’ll be discussing the changes made by the ATO to working from home (WFH) deductions and what these revisions mean for you.  Listen now.  Host: Elinor Kasapidis, Senior Manager, Tax Policy, Policy & Advocacy at CPA Australia Guest: Tim Loh, Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Assistant Commissioner CPA Australia publishes three podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance,...

Today’s episode examines new reporting requirements for electronic distribution platforms.  This is relevant to many Australians as an estimated 250,000 work in the online economy, otherwise known as the gig, sharing or barter economy.  And some of these changes from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) will start on 1 July 2023.  Explaining what you need to know is guest expert Elinor Kasapidis, senior manager of tax policy at CPA Australia.  Listen now.  Host: Dr. Jane Rennie, General...

Today’s episode looks at budget submissions made to the Federal Government.  Each year, hundreds of organisations make submissions to the Treasury. This includes CPA Australia, which has 44 recommendations.  Discussing the business issues underlying these requests is guest expert Gavan Ord, Senior Manager of Business Policy at CPA Australia. Listen now.  Host: Dr. Jane Rennie, General Manager Media and Content, Marketing and Communications at CPA Australia Guest: Gavan Ord, Senior...

Today’s episode looks at Australia’s rollercoaster property market. What do the fluctuations mean for property owners, buyers (including first-time buyers), investors and renters? Discussing this is guest expert Warren Hogan. He is the chief economic adviser at Judo Bank and has recently commenced doing residential property research as an economic adviser to Halo Technologies. Warren is also a former chief economist of the ANZ Banking Group and a principal adviser to the Federal...

Today’s episode looks at the Federal Government’s commitments on environmental policy, and what they mean for business in Australia. This includes climate-related disclosures, new emissions limits, net zero, greenwashing, costs to businesses, just transition and more. Discussing this is our guest expert Patrick Viljoen, Senior Manager of Environmental, Social and Governance Policy at CPA Australia. Listen now. Host: Dr. Jane Rennie, General Manager Media and Content, Marketing and...

In this first episode of 2023, we forecast what’s in store for business this year. Specifically, we focus on key areas such as economic growth, the labour force, inflation, and interest rates. To discuss this is our guest expert Gavan Ord, Senior Manager of Business Policy at CPA Australia. Listen now. Host: Dr Jane Rennie, General Manager Media and Content Guest: Gavan Ord, Senior Manager of Business Policy at CPA Australia CPA Australia publishes three podcasts, providing commentary...

In 2023, the CPA Australia Podcast is changing its name to With Interest. With Interest brings you unrivalled commentary and thought leadership for businesses, accounting and finance professionals. Each week, we share expert industry opinions, insights and resources across accounting, public practice, taxation, auditing, finance, strategy, leadership, economic and business-related issues. Subscribe today to stay up-to-date with the latest episodes. With Interest is presented by CPA...

In this episode, we examine the summer employment market.  We look at what jobseekers, recruiters and employers need to know, including those in the accounting and finance industries.  We also explore job ads, wages growth, and WFH home trends. To discuss this is our guest expert Matt Cowgill, Senior Economist at Australian online employment marketplace, SEEK. Listen now.  Host:  Dr Jane Rennie, General Manager Media and Content Guest: Matt Cowgill, Senior Economist at SEEK For more...

In this episode, tech evangelist Doug Boyd from Data reFactory delves into different aspects of financial data.  He simplifies what it is and how financial data can be combined with other data to provide meaningful information and business insights.  Specifically, he offers his insights into key areas that relate to CPA Australia members and, more broadly, the accounting profession, such as data triangulation, data governance and data sovereignty. Listen now.  Host:  Dr Jana Schmitz,...

In this episode, we look at the risks and approaches to drought planning, preparedness and recovery and the role that accountants can play in this cycle. To help explore this topic is our guest expert Courtney Bryant, Assistant Secretary from the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Listen now.  Host:  Kimberley Ohayon, Manager of Advocacy and Engagement at CPA Australia Guest: Courtney Bryant, Assistant Secretary from the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture,...

In this episode, we examine Labor’s proposed industrial relations reforms, currently before Parliament.  What will change for business, who might be impacted, and when could this happen?  To help answer these questions is our guest expert Michael Nicolazzo, who specialises in employment and workplace law at Maddocks law firm. Listen now.  Host:  Dr Jane Rennie, CPA Australia General Manager Media and Content Guest: Michael Nicolazzo, a partner at Maddocks law firm specialising in...

In this episode, COP27 (the United Nations Climate Change conference of the Parties) is explained by CPA Australia’s Senior Manager of Environmental, Social and Governance Policy.  From what’s on the agenda to Australia’s participation and the potential outcomes from this major climate change conference, currently being held in Egypt.  Listen now.  Host:  Dr Jane Rennie, CPA Australia General Manager Media and Content Guest: Patrick Viljoen, CPA Australia’s Senior Manager of...

In this episode, we discuss the support available to small businesses following a severe storm, flood, bushfire, earthquake, or landslide. Specifically, we highlight the not-for-profit Small Business Debt Helpline and how it can help small business owners and sole traders in financial difficulty following a natural disaster. Listen now. Host: Dr Jane Rennie, CPA Australia General Manager Media and Content Guests: Helen Davis, Small Business Debt Helpline General Manager and Sandra Blake,...

PivotTables allow you to create reports without using a single formula. The standard calculation for a PivotTable is SUM. 

Federal Labour has handed down its first Budget since it came to power earlier this year.  Has this first Budget delivered on what Australia needs in these challenging economic times? How does this Budget rate and what does it mean for small business?  What were the taxation measures announced? And is there a clear roadmap for future growth from the Albanese Government? CPA Australia’s policy experts analyse and dissect the Budget announced by the Treasurer Jim Chalmers.  Listen now.  ...

The recent large-scale Optus data breach in Australia is a timely reminder to small business of cybersecurity.  In this episode, we explain what small businesses can do to avoid falling prey to cyber criminals.  It includes advice and explanations on the different types of data breaches, email phishing scams, how cyber insurance works and more.  Additionally, CPA Australia has its own cybersecurity hub which has information on how your business can protect its data.  Other useful...