2025-26 Federal Budget - what’s in it for small businesses?

Up to $18 million for Creditor Assistance Payments is now available to support eligible South Australian and Whyalla-based businesses impacted by the Whyalla Steelworks administration.

Also available is the Whyalla Small Local Business Support Grant, which offers grants of $10,000 for businesses that have experienced a reduction in turnover.

The grants are part of the Australian and South Australian Government’s $2.4 billion investment to secure the long-term future of the Whyalla Steelworks.

The Budget will provide up to $722.8 million over four years to deliver increased support for apprentices and employers to encourage growth of the construction workforce.

This includes up to $10,000 in financial incentives for apprentices in housing construction trades from July 2025 through the Key Apprentice Program.

The Federal Government is extending the Energy Bill Relief program for six months until the 31 December 2025. Around one million eligible small businesses will receive energy bill rebates of $75 per quarter to provide cost-of-living relief and manage high energy prices.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) inquiry into the National Electricity Market will be extended for 12 months to help ensure small businesses are getting a fair deal from their energy retailer.

Do you run a hospitality venue, brewery, distillery or winery? The Government is making changes to the alcohol tax settings in Australia, supporting local jobs and regional tourism.

This includes pausing indexation on draught beer excise and excise equivalent customs duty rates from August 2025 for a two-year period.

The Government will also increase support available under the existing excise remission scheme for manufacturers of alcoholic beverages and Wine Equalisation Tax Producer rebate.

This will reduce industry costs by $165 million over five years.

The Federal Government is investing $23.9 million over five years to strengthen the Indigenous Procurement Policy to boost opportunities for First Nations businesses to grow and create jobs.

$3.4 million has also been allocated to First Nations women in business through a new place-based business coaching and mentoring program.

The Federal Government will work with the states and territories, unions and employers on a national occupational license for electrical trades to allow electricians to move where they are needed most.

Under the National Productivity Fund, the creation of a national licensing scheme will enable tradespeople to work across state borders without needing to reapply for licenses or pay additional fees, reducing the administrative burden.

The Government is investing to make permanent 100,000 TAFE places every year from 1 January 2027.

Small businesses can save on training costs by taking advantage of free TAFE courses for their employees to upskill or reskill, allowing you to invest in other areas of your business and adapting to changing market conditions to help you stay competitive.

The Federal Government will work with states and territories on extending Unfair Trading Practices protections to small businesses by:

• Strengthening enforcement of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Franchising Code of Conduct by investing $7.1 million over two years.
• Extending protections from Unfair Contract Terms and Unfair Trading Practices to businesses regulated by the Franchising Code of Conduct, including automotive dealers.
• Providing additional funding to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to ensure a more transparent and effective regulatory framework for the franchising sector.
• Extending unfair trading practice protections to more small businesses to address the imbalance when engaging with large businesses.
• Investing $2.9 million to help fresh produce suppliers to understand and enforce their rights under the Food and Grocery Code.