Commonwealth Bank Teams Up with Oly Homes for Prefabricated Homes
Commonwealth Bank has partnered with modular home builder Oly Homes to triple its output of prefabricated homes. The collaboration demonstrates the bank's confidence in the prefabricated housing sector. Ship-in homes are becoming increasingly popular, and this partnership may indicate a shift towards more sustainable and efficient building methods.
Source: www.commercialrealestate.com.au
Holyrood & Hampton Offers Walkable Bayside Lifestyle in Hampton
Holyrood & Hampton is a newly completed residential development in Hampton, Victoria. The complex features 59 premium apartments above a full-line Coles supermarket, making it an attractive option for those seeking a convenient and connected lifestyle. Residents can access Hampton Station on the Sandringham line and enjoy multiple bus routes to Southland, St Kilda, and Berwick.
Source: www.propertyobserver.com.au
Taxing Unrealised Gains in SMSFs May Have Pitfalls
Taxing unrealised gains in SMSFs may have pitfalls, according to an expert. A rapid increase in farmland valuation without a corresponding rise in income generation is an example of the challenges in taxing unrealised gains. The Assistant Treasurer has argued that current rules should dismiss liquidity concerns, but experts warn that farmers and SMSFs have the same obligations when it comes to ensuring they can cover their tax bills.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
ATO Focuses on Auditor Compliance in SMSFs
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has ramped up its focus on auditor compliance in SMSFs. A recent Administrative Review Tribunal decision provides a blueprint for auditor compliance, highlighting the importance of ensuring that fund transactions are at arm's length, fund assets are correctly reported at market value, and there are no charges over fund assets.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
Limitations of AI in SMSF Decision-Making
A leading technical expert has warned that overreliance on AI can present challenges in SMSF decision-making. Andy Forbes, chief technology officer at SuperConcepts, cautioned that finance professionals should not be intellectually lazy and always seek truth and be critical about the information presented to them. He also noted that AI can 'hallucinate' and that there are risks of being overly reliant on it.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
Wilson Proposes Alternative to Div 296 Super Tax
Wilson Asset Management chairman Geoff Wilson has proposed an alternative to the proposed $3 million super tax. The Progressive Super Surcharge and Tax Offset would tax large super balances at an even higher rate, but only when a gain is realised. Wilson argues that this approach is more equitable and would reduce concessions on large balances.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
Annual inflation hits 2.1pc in June quarter, down from 2.4pc in March
Inflation eased further in the June quarter, with consumer prices rising at an annual pace of 2.1 per cent, down from 2.4 per cent in the March quarter. The 'trimmed mean' measure of inflation, which is the Reserve Bank's preferred measure of underlying inflation, also declined. It fell from 2.9 to 2.7 per cent between March and June, which broadly matches the Reserve Bank's forecasts from May. Westpac's chief economist Luci Ellis said today's data confirmed inflation was under control and the RBA was now likely to cut interest rates at its August meeting.
Source: www.abc.net.au
IMF upgrades Australian growth forecasts, despite tariffs uncertainty
Australia's economic growth forecasts have been revised upwards by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), despite ongoing uncertainty around Donald Trump's tariffs. Since April, the agency has upgraded Australia's projected GDP growth, from 1.6 to 1.8 per cent, in 2025, and from 2.1 to 2.2 per cent, in 2026. Australia's result mirrored the IMF's expectations for the global economy, which were also revised up for this year and next year.
Source: www.abc.net.au
Actuarial percentages can be ‘predicted’ with caveats: expert
When winding up an SMSF, the actuarial percentage to be used is often determined by the previous year's certificate. However, if there have been significant changes within the year, such as new pensions, large contributions, or commutations, an updated estimate from an actuary may be needed. Industry specialist Meg Heffron advises that while the previous year's certificate can be a 'reasonable predictor' for the current year, accountants and trustees often need an updated estimate due to the time-sensitive nature of the process.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
Atlassian founder spruiks Australian data centre hub
Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar believes Australia can become one of the world's major data centre hubs, powered by renewable energy. He envisions Australia becoming the data centre location of choice for South-East Asia, a region hungry for data and becoming hungrier as artificial intelligence takes off.
Source: www.abc.net.au
Published: 2025-07-30 | Brief ID:
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