The Bottom Line
Updated Wednesday 21 October 2026
The Treasurer announced draft regulations to double the financial reporting thresholds for proprietary companies, raising the consolidated revenue threshold to $100 million and the consolidated gross assets threshold to $50 million, with changes to take effect from 1 July 2027. The Treasurer claimed the reforms will save business over $210 million in compliance costs each year and described them as part of the broadest productivity reform agenda in decades. The Treasurer stated the thresholds have not been updated since 2019.
ABS figures show the unemployment rate reached 4.7 per cent in September 2026, up from 4.1 per cent in January, its highest reading in the year's data. The RBA cash rate stands at 4.60 per cent after four rises this year, from 3.60 per cent at the start of 2026, a full percentage point added across moves in February, March, May and September.
CBA chief economist Luke Yeaman, as reported by MacroBusiness, warned that Australia is approaching the most difficult phase of the inflation battle and sees a meaningful risk that inflation will stay structurally higher, driven by weak productivity, elevated public spending and higher neutral interest rates. CBA's base case, as reported by MacroBusiness, remains that slowing growth will eventually allow the RBA to pause.
MacroBusiness, citing Cotality data, reports that Perth dwelling values have turned from the strongest performer among the major capitals to leading the national price downturn.
Every figure is checked against official data or attributed to the body that announced it. Past editions