The Uniden XTRAK 50 is a UHF handheld radio with industry-leading features. It is now possible to turn the handheld UHF radio into a fully functional in-vehicle radio, which ensures users are never out of contact and are always able to communicate while on the road or in remote locations.

Ideal for work vehicles, fleet cars and 4WD situations, the waterproof XTRAK 50 transitions easily from portable use to an in-vehicle hands-free device when accompanied by the Uniden ACCX50 car kit, including a charger, magnetic mount bracket, and magnetic antenna that sits on top of the vehicle. This flexibility also enables the radio to be used between vehicles, handy for both professionals and recreational drivers.

The accessory instantly enhances the accessibility and stability of the smart UHF radio, which includes an Australian-first one-touch instant replay button on a handheld UHF radio. This feature can record and replay up to four minutes of recent messages and avoids missing important transmissions in noisy environments, with the ability to listen to communications received up to six minutes prior. Away from the vehicle, the XTRAK 50 is a compact companion to keep users in touch in the outdoors, thanks to a range of up to 17km.

The UHF accessory car kit also secures and mounts the XTRAK 50 for easy visibility of the large anti-glare OLED display. The radio provides 5-Watt power, 80 UHF channels, and a Smart Key to toggle between instant channel, monitor, call tone or equaliser. The long-life battery achieves exceptional performance with a standby time of 30 hours, making it the perfect unit for rugged conditions and heavy-duty use.

Uniden XTRAK 50 5-Watt Waterproof Smart UHF Handheld Radio with Large OLED Display and One Touch Instant Replay Function RRP: $329.95

Uniden ACCX50 UHF Accessory Car Kit – Charger, Magnetic Bracket & Antenna for XTRAK 50 Series RRP: $129.95

The Salvation Army’s annual Red Shield Appeal is now in its final week, aiming to reach the $36 million goal by 30 June. The Salvos are asking Australians to consider a different kind of End of Financial Year deal – using their tax-break donations to make a difference in someone’s life. 

“While Australians prepare for this year’s tax return and decide on their End of Financial Year spending and saving, we ask them to consider making a tax-deductible gift to the Red Shield Appeal,” says Major Bruce Harmer, The Salvation Army’s National Public Relations Secretary. 

“A gift of $50 can help someone experiencing financial hardship pay for essential groceries, while $75 can provide hearty meals for a week for someone doing it tough. These gifts are particularly important at this time, given the mounting pressure on families and individuals across the nation, because of the rising cost of living,” says Major Harmer. 

Recent research from The Salvation Army revealed that nine in ten respondents (93%) were living below the poverty line, while 48% went without meals because they couldn’t afford it.

Over half (56%) could not afford medical or dental treatment when needed, and over a third (36%) could not afford medicines when prescribed by a doctor. 

Unsurprisingly, 32% could not afford to pay their rent or mortgage on time– a trend that will worsen with rising interest rates and growing housing stress. 

“This research paints a picture of just how tough it is for individuals and families. Australians have felt the pinch the last few years, but for some the situation is so dire that they find themselves living below the poverty line – in a country that’s as ‘lucky’ as ours.” 

“That’s why we ask, if you are able to please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our Red Shield Appeal. Your donation will make a difference in someone’s life – and what better deal could you possibly ask for this End of Financial Year?” says Major Harmer.

Around one person is assisted every 17 seconds through The Salvation Army’s nationwide network of services.* That’s approximately three people each minute, and over a million Aussie’s each year.

“On behalf of The Salvation Army, thank you for helping us leave no one in need,” says Major Harmer. “We couldn’t do it without you.”

To donate to The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, or if you need support from The Salvos, visit salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS. You can also donate at any Salvos Store.

Supply chain shortages on heavy machinery and transport equipment have driven demand for end of financial year auctions through the roof as businesses struggle to get their hands on assets to complete projects.

Supply chain shortages are hindering global vehicle and equipment production and is expected to persist through 2022 and into early 2023 until supply can catch up with demand.

Lloyds Auctions are seeing a rise for demand in their auctions which is driving up prices on equipment in the civil and transport industries.

“Over recent months we have seen a massive demand from our bidders who are constantly actively looking to secure ready to work equipment in order to complete major projects and keep hard-working Australians in jobs,” said Mr. Lee Hames, Chief Operations Officer for Lloyds Auctions.

“As we come towards end of financial year the demand for this equipment is skyrocketing as businesses are looking to claim tax benefits before June 30, so we have actually enlisted 5 heavy equipment and transport auctions across the country online right now,” continued Mr. Hames.

“Many businesses are unable to wait until early next year for equipment to come in, they need it now, and we hope through these auctions we can help the community get the equipment they need,” said Mr. Hames.

Lloyds are holding online auctions in locations across the nation including Western Australia, Darwin, Southeast Queensland, Mackay and Northern New South Wales from the 27th – 29th June.

The auctions feature equipment including dump trucks, wheel loaders, tipper trucks, prime movers, excavators, utility vehicles and more.

“Bidders can expect to get their hands on some ready to work machinery and transport equipment that they normally wouldn’t be able to get until next year due to the currently supply chain shortage around the world,” continued Mr. Hames.

The auctions run from the 27th-29th June and you can view all of the auctions here

Australia Post has today announced its 2022 Local Business Heroes, celebrating and supporting dozens of local Australian businesses, including many in regional areas.

A total of 57 Local Business Heroes were chosen from nearly one thousand entries, with each recipient now set to receive a ‘Heroes Package’ worth up to $5,000 thanks to their unique and valued connection to their local community.

Australia Post’s Heroes will each feature in a marketing campaign in their local Post Office for a month, receive personalised sending offers and gain access to business coaching through Small Business Australia.

Research conducted by Deloitte Access Economics last year showed that two out of three businesses visited the Post Office at least once a week with 82 per cent of businesses stating that Post Office services positively impacted their business.

Australia Post Executive General Manager Retail, Catriona Noble said the organisation was delighted to be supporting these deserving Local Business Heroes, with the help of local Post Offices.

“This program is a great reflection of the important and essential role Post Offices play in connecting communities and supporting local business,” Ms Noble said.

“Many of the small business heroes were nominated thanks to an established and strong relationship with their local Post Office team, so it’s wonderful to see these connections strengthened even further.”

Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial, Gary Starr said the program, now in its second year, played an important role in supporting local businesses to grow.

“We know small and medium businesses are the backbone of Australian communities and we’re committed to helping them succeed,” Mr Starr said.

“I look forward to seeing each of the Local Business Heroes feature across our network and connecting them with even more customers.”

The full list of Australian Local Business Heroes is available now at auspost.com.au/localbusinessheroes

Australian outdoor and adventure brand, Tactica, is set to launch its first equity crowdfunding campaign following years of success internationally. After increasing revenue by 100% between 2021 and 2022, the multi-award-winning NSW North Coast based product designer is launching its crowdfunding campaign via Birchal on June 28, with expressions of interest opening on June 7. 

What started with an experimental and innovative multitool on Kickstarter (raising more than $950K) has rapidly evolved into a trustworthy range of everyday carry tools that combine function and style. Utilising a unique and high-tech composite material, Tactica’s products are also incredibly versatile and strong. The rarely-in-retail material is 70% glass, making it incredibly lightweight without sacrificing strength, functionality or quality. It’s also tech-friendly and non-scratch – it won’t scratch phone, laptop or camera surfaces – making it adaptive enough to work effortlessly alongside the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts.

Born out of a passion for adventure and exploring the great outdoors, product designer and material scientist Mike Chijoff launched Tactica to meet the need for more diverse products in the outdoor range that matches today’s modern lifestyle. Growing up using everyday carry products like Leatherman, Victorinox and Swiss Army Knives, he watched the vast range of options become too similar, too expensive and weighed down by traditional methods. Tactica’s range now includes 22 different products that have been designed for today’s lifestyle needs. And they don’t break the bank  ( each tool costs under AU$65).

Since launching on Kickstarter in 2016, Tactica has shipped more than 100,000 units to 100 countries and brought in close to  $4M in revenue. And despite most of the world being locked inside due to the pandemic, Tactica has continued to increase revenue growth as each new product launches; between the end of 2021 and 2022, the brand increased revenue by more than 100%. 

Led by the crowdfunding and outdoor communities since day one, this is Tactica’s first equity raise and gives new and experienced investors an opportunity to become part of the company’s rapid growth. The business’s planned expansion will allow Tactica to capitalise on increasing demand, expand on existing markets and enter new ones and develop new products to match the needs of outdoor, sporting and adventure enthusiasts globally 

“Since the beginning, our community has been our biggest asset in providing feedback and direction on our offering,” Mike said. “Previously our crowdfunding campaigns have been about developing new products; now we’re self-sufficient enough to push ourselves further and keep innovating, but it’s an essential mantra of our operations that we maintain that connection with our supporters. They are the core of who we are, why we exist and why we keep continuing to grow, adapt and create new products.”

Alongside the new campaign, Tactica is launching a new range of adventure knives made with the same sleek glass composite that has made them so popular amongst outdoor enthusiasts around the world. 

The K.100 Pocket Knife and K.150 Micro-knife are both sleek folding knives that feature superb ergonomics, blade quality and customised carry through integrated lanyard/pocket clip carry. These are the first knives from Tactica and, like all of their products, have been developed and released off the back of customer demand. 

For more information  tacticagear.com.au

Also read Small Business Answers guide to Equity funding.

SME confidence returning despite 1 in 2 failing to reach revenue targets Rising wage inflation is the top concern for small business with over 70% of SMEs worried about increased wage costs impacting their business this year.

According to the latest round of the SME Growth Index by Australia’s leading nonbank business lender, ScotPac, 75% of larger SMEs (revenue between $5 – $20 million) are worried about rising wage costs, with 68% of smaller SMEs (revenue between $1m and $5 million) citing an increase to employee expenses as their number one concern for reaching revenue targets this year.

Rising interest rates are also posing a big threat to SMEs with 45% of SMEs concerned about the impact of higher borrowing costs on their business.

However, despite 53.6% of SMEs falling short of revenue targets set 12 months earlier (April 2021) – with an average shortfall of 18.8% – almost two-thirds were confident they will achieve their 2022 business revenue targets.

ScotPac CEO Jon Sutton said: “SMEs are reporting a higher level of confidence in the economic outlook with a majority saying they are confident in the outlook for their business.

‘However, they are well aware of further challenges on the horizon, with rising wage costs and interest rates the major concerns and they will be looking to the incoming Federal Government for support.’

According to the Index, other key concerns that SMEs expected to negatively impact their operations in 2022 included:

• Rising fuel prices (30%)
• higher energy costs (27%)
• Regulatory and compliance costs (27%) and
• Logistics fees (25%)
• Insurance fees (17%)
• Rising commodity prices (13%)

“With the inflation rate of 5.1% at a 20-year high, it’s clear that rising cost impacts represent a genuine threat to SMEs achieving their targets this year,” said Mr Sutton.

“That will inevitably put additional pressure on business cashflow as SMEs grapple with rising cost impacts and delays in passing these costs through to their customers.

“SMEs should carefully consider various solutions to finance their cashflow requirements in this environment, including invoice finance and business loans.

Mr Sutton said the SME sector, which employs millions of people across the country, would look to the incoming Federal Government to assist them in addressing these headline challenges .

‘More than 700 small and medium business leaders participated in the SME Growth Index and they were clear in the type of support they want from the Federal Government.

‘It includes further extension of the accelerated deprecation scheme (24% of SMEs), deeper company tax cut relief (18%) and simplified Business Activity Statement (BAS) and regulatory requirements (18%),” Mr Sutton said

ScotPac’s bi-annual SME Growth Index, is Australia’s longest running research report on small business sentiment towards growth prospects.

The full report, which is scheduled for release in September incorporates feedback from 700 plus industry participants on topics encompassing revenue forecasts and profit expectations, cashflow management practices, and growth financing intentions. It is a comprehensive temperature check of a sector responsible for employing millions of Australians.

The ‘rise and rise’ of input costs and fallout from the war in Ukraine are weighing on sentiment in Australia’s agricultural sector, with rural confidence declining in the latest quarter.

Results of the quarter two Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, released today, reveal optimism about high agricultural commodity prices. The prospect of a third consecutive bumper grains harvest has been reined in by the increasing cost of vital farm inputs such as fertiliser, fuel, freight and machinery and broader inflationary pressures in the Australian economy.

In addition, the latest survey reveals that 50 per cent of Australian farmers believe the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine will hurt farm businesses. In comparison, 25 per cent expect the effect could be positive.

While farm income projections for the 12 months ahead remain stable, the number of farmers looking to increase investment has declined slightly this quarter.

The latest survey, completed last month, found that 28 per cent of Australia’s farmers now expect business conditions to improve in the coming 12 months (down slightly from 31 per cent with that view in the previous quarter), while 16 per cent are anticipating a deterioration (from 14 per cent previously). More than half (53 per cent) expect business conditions to remain stable in the year ahead.

This marks three consecutive quarterly declines in net rural confidence and brings farmer sentiment back to levels last seen in June 2020, after the first pandemic lockdown.

Confidence is highest in the cotton and grain sectors, while also very strong among dairy producers, with high prices combined with excellent seasonal conditions providing the perfect setting for those three industries.

Livestock sector confidence has eased, but good commodity prices are helping stabilise sentiment.

Rabobank Australia CEO Peter Knoblanche said farmers had been enjoying high agricultural commodity prices and generally-excellent seasonal conditions in many parts of the country for more than two years. Still, many in the sector were now facing considerable margin pressure with input costs rising on all fronts.

He said the healthy returns of the past two years had put farmers in a strong financial position, and many have invested in new technology, machinery and equipment.

“The benefits of those investments are certainly helping farmers create some efficiencies, but the cost pressure is not easing and producers definitely need those higher commodity prices to meet rising input costs,” he said.

The latest survey found the expectation of rising commodity prices remains the main driver of optimism among farmers with a positive outlook, while 62 per cent of those expecting conditions to deteriorate cited rising input costs as a key cause for concern, ahead of falling commodity prices (27 per cent), overseas markets (15 per cent) and labour shortages (nine per cent).

Ukraine conflict impact on rural confidence

Mr Knoblanche said the Russia-Ukraine war was also hanging over the sector, with its impacts on key inputs of fuel and fertiliser sending prices for both skyrocketing, and cutting farmer margins in a range of sectors.

“It is undoubtedly exacerbating many of the cost and supply issues already in play last year,” he said. “But for some sectors, especially grains, we are seeing the conflict impact global supply and push prices higher, and also deliver higher local prices with strong demand for Australian grain as the world turns to our producers to help meet critical food needs.

“But as the next round of EU sanctions come into force, farmers are cautious about what this will mean for the longer term, which is flowing through to lower levels of optimism.”

This quarter, farmers were specifically asked their views about the impacts of the war in Ukraine on agribusiness. Of the 50 per cent believing it would have a negative or very negative effect on their farm business, the main concerns were in relation to higher fuel prices (cited by 49 per cent) and increased costs for inputs including fertiliser and freight (cited by 61 per cent).

The 25 per cent who believed it would have positive market impacts said this would be primarily in maintaining high commodity prices and affecting supply/demand. This view was strongest in the grain sector.

States

Sentiment levels have eased or remained relatively stable in all states, except Western Australia, where farmer confidence recorded a significant bounce back. Confidence levels edged up slightly in Victoria and South Australia.

Western Australian rural confidence is back in positive territory this quarter – with more of the state’s farmers optimistic than pessimistic about the 12 months ahead – as producers expect agribusiness conditions to improve due to rising commodity prices and international market opportunities.

A dry start to the year had little impact on South Australian farmer confidence in the second quarter, while recent step-ups in milk contracts and the ongoing strength in the beef cattle trade have helped soften the blow of rising input costs in Victoria’s farm sector.

Producers’ investment intentions remain at near-record levels in Queensland, despite overall confidence levels slipping. Beef producers continue to be the most optimistic sector in the state.

For New South Wales, while farmer confidence remains the highest in the nation, expectations of any further improvement in current conditions are waning. The state’s grain and cotton producers are the most optimistic sectors, although wet conditions have been challenging for farmers trying to harvest crops or needing to replant due to excessively wet weather.

Mr Knoblanche said producers in flood-affected regions of south-east Queensland and the NSW north coast and Northern Rivers were in a rebuilding phase replacing stock and infrastructure lost during the second major flooding event to hit the area in less than 12 months.

Close to two-thirds of Tasmanian farmers are forecasting a continuation of the high commodity prices and excellent seasonal conditions which have benefited the state’s agricultural sector for more than two years, although those expecting business conditions to further improve had declined.

Rural confidence of sectors

Confidence has rebounded in the grains sector this quarter, with more than 40 per cent of growers expecting business conditions to improve over the year ahead, which is driving up investment intentions.

Rabobank’s recently-released 2022/23 Winter Crop Outlook identifies the potential of a third consecutive bumper grains harvest this year, with the estimated area planted forecast to reach a record 23.83 million hectares – up nearly one per cent on last year’s record planting.

Half of all grain growers surveyed this quarter expect the Russia/Ukraine conflict will have some positive impact on their business, mainly due to upward pressure in commodity prices, while 40 per cent believe it will have a negative impact due to increased input, fuel and freight costs.

Cotton sector confidence was also shown to be very high in the survey.

Mr Knoblanche said cotton prices had been the “silver lining” during the cotton harvest, which had been challenged due to wet conditions. Excellent water availability was also helping underpin long-term optimism, he said. 

Dairy sector confidence also stood out in this survey, with more than three-quarters of dairy farmers expecting current good conditions to continue or further improve.

The survey found gross farm income expectations among dairy producers are at their highest level in two years with 59 per cent expecting an increase in income in the coming year.

However, 67 per cent of Australian dairy farmers believe the war in Ukraine will impact their business negatively, because of input costs and dearer fuel.

Confidence among sheep producers dipped slightly from last quarter. Investment intentions and farm income projections have also dampened.

Beef producer confidence also declined, again due to concerns about rising input costs and falling commodity prices. The survey found 56 per cent of beef producers believe the conflict between Russia/Ukraine would impact their business negatively.

The sentiment was mixed in the sugar sector, with an almost equal proportion of growers thinking conditions will improve, stay the same or worsen. That said, 90 per cent of cane growers were found to be intending to maintain or increase investment in their farm businesses.

Farm business performance and investment

While fewer farmers in this survey were looking forward to higher incomes in the year ahead, 43 per cent were forecasting their gross farm incomes would stay at current strong levels. 

Farm investment will largely be maintained at current levels, according to the survey, with 61 per cent of Australian farmers saying their investment levels would stay the same, while 33 per cent intended to increase spending on their business over the year ahead.

On-farm infrastructure continues to be the main focus for those increasing investment in their business (nominated by 77 per cent), however, 23 per cent of those lifting spending signalled their intention to purchase property to expand their enterprise.

A comprehensive monitor of outlook and sentiment in Australian rural industries, the Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey questions an average of 1000 primary producers across a wide range of commodities and geographical areas throughout Australia on a quarterly basis. The most robust study of its type in Australia, the survey has been conducted by an independent research organisation interviewing farmers throughout the country each quarter since 2000. The next results are scheduled for release in September 2022.