Climate change featured heavily during the election and now the Albanese Government is putting into place some of the promises it made. We look at the current state of play and the likely impact.
The Government’s Climate Change Bill passed the House of Representatives in early August and is now before the
Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for review. But what impact does the legislation have on business and
consumers in Australia?
Under the Paris
Agreement,
a legally binding international treaty, Australia and 192 other parties committed to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas
emissions to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 2 degrees Celsius while pursuing efforts to limit the increase
even further to 1.5 degrees. At this level, the more extreme impacts of climate change - floods, heatwaves, rising sea levels, threats
to food production - can be arrested. As part of this commitment, the parties are required to communicate their emissions reduction
ambitions through a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). On 16 June 2022, Australia communicated its updated NDC to the UN,
confirming Australia’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and a new, increased target of 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 (a
15% increase on the previous target). The Climate Change Bill enshrines these emission targets into legislation.
The Bill itself sets an accountability framework for climate targets but does not introduce mechanisms to cut emissions.
Impacted industries
The energy sector is at the heart of climate change producing around three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions. In Australia, the CSIRO says energy contributes approximately 33.6% of all emissions, with a further 20.54% from stationary energy (from manufacturing, mining, residential and commercial fuel use), transport 17.6%, and agriculture 14.6%. The future of the energy industry is also at the crux of the Government Powering Australia policy.
Rebalancing is a clever way to keep your superannuation fund investments in order.
The good news is that you may be able to use some of your home equity to boost your super and help fund your life in retirement.
Falling property prices and rent hikes mean the average income earned from residential property has risen.
ONLINE Webinar
19 January 2023 @ 12:30 - 1:30pm
Phase 2 STP will be the compulsory way to process Xero payroll as of March 2023.
Increasing gross rental yields. Falling property prices combined with rent hikes means the average income earned from residential property, as a percentage of property values, has risen.
Smart Business Solutions chief executive Shannon Smit, winner of SMSF Adviser of the Year award, talks about the evolution of her business and shares her insights on complex SMSF planning issues.
This video offers a Xero how-to on the latest details of the compulsory STP (Single Touch Payroll) Phase 2 rollout including Pay Item Transition.
This video offers a Xero how-to on the latest details of the compulsory STP (Single Touch Payroll) Phase 2 rollout including Leave Transitions.
Changes are coming about how you manage Xero payroll with Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2. This video explains how to manage Employee Transition in STP Phase 2.
Summer is a great time to list and a sell a home as buyers have been thinking about property over the summer.
When new couples start living together one of the first things they need to consider is how they will manage their finances.
A great way to deal with the post-Christmas financial hangover is to look at different ways to consolidate your debts.
Giving peace of mind and a sense of direction and calm is one of the greatest gifts that we feel privileged to offer our clients.
Getting a good grasp of your business’s cash flow situation will help put you in a strong financial position.
Commercial office assets represented 34.2 percent of all commercial property sales during 2022, up from 27.2 percent last year.
The commercial property sector continues to grow. 2023 is shaping up well with a range of opportunities for investors.
You will be amazed in this race against time to reach the finish line. Welcome to The Amazing Race memoir - Smart Business Solutions 2022 End of Year Team Building and Christmas party.
The Government’s ‘Secure Jobs, Better Pay’ legislation passed Parliament on 2 December 2022.
If you are required to but have not yet applied for your ID, you should seek an extension immediately.
The most effective way of sharing Christmas joy with customers is not necessarily the most tax effective.
In many instances, businesses might need to wait 60 days or more to get paid, which can put a strain on the business's cashflows.
While conditions for retail tenants have been tough during lockdowns, the luxury end of the market and certain sectors continue to perform strongly.
After a record-setting few years, industrial property has continued to perform strongly throughout 2022.
A car loan is a great way to purchase a vehicle when you don’t have all the money to pay for the car upfront.
Getting your finances organised well in advance is one of the most important stages of the auction procesS.
Many lenders will offer competitive interest rates to new customers as well as other incentives that could save you money.
Purchasing a property is a big decision and it’s important to determine the best location to buy that will give you the best return over time.
When the time comes to sell, if you’ve got the budget to style your property, you might find that it can really help entice buyers.
If your goal is to buy a property in the new year, then it’s important to not let a Christmas splurge get in the way of your real estate dreams.
While we all love giving presents, if you’re looking at potentially applying for a home loan in the new year, it’s important that you don’t do any damage to your chances of getting finance by overspending
Here are the 5 signs you personally should look out for when deciding whether or not you should hire a professional bookkeeper.
Demand for second-hand vehicles and equipment has reached record levels, as supply chain problems have made new products difficult to obtain.
Record low vacancy rates have seen industrial rents jump 30 percent across Sydney and more than 20 percent in Melbourne.
The surge in commercial lending is the largest annual growth since 2009.
17 NOV 2022 @ 3:30-5:00pm
Come and warm our newly extended and renovated office space at Smart Business Solutions in Mornington alongside Bruce Billson, Small
Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.
Many are looking at ways to get their repayments down. The best thing to do is speak to a finance broker who can compare your options and find a loan product.
If you’ve owned a home for a number of years, you might be able to access some of the equity to use as a deposit for another home.
With the RBA’s ongoing cash rate hikes, mortgage rates are also continuing to climb.
With Spring selling season in full flight, thousands of homeowners across Australia are looking at how they can make their homes more appealing to buyers.
While many people are excited about the idea of buying their first home, it can also be overwhelming knowing that you have to eventually pay off a large mortgage.
Legislation before Parliament will lift penalties for serious or repeated privacy breaches, and provide new powers to the Australian Information Commissioner.
The increase in interest rates is starting to take effect helping to restore price stability. However, in its statement, the RBA said that it will be a challenge to return inflation to 2-3%
If you’re famous and make an income from your fame and image, the way the ATO believes you should be taxed on the income you make may change.
In July, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) reported a new wave of ‘Tax refund SMSF scams’.
Consumer price inflation rose by 1.8% in the June quarter, and by 6.1% on a rolling 12-month view. Whilst high, these measures were below consensus expectations. In turn, this prompted hopes that local interest rates might not need to increase as much as previously feared.
With seven months before the 2023-24 Budget released in May 2023, this Budget is a shuffling of the deck not a new set of cards.
The traditional diversification strategies of super funds are failing, and a worsening inflation.
The Optus data breach is top of mind for a lot of Australians, particularly those who have had their data breached.
The Queensland Government has backed away from an amendment that would have seen the land tax rate for investment property in Queensland.
Tax planning is more than just a financial necessity—it's a strategic advantage for businesses of all sizes. By proactively managing your tax strategy, you can significantly reduce your liabilities, enhance cash flow, and ensure full compliance with ever-evolving tax regulations.
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