Key Takeaways:
Yes, Capital Gains Tax has changed in Australia.
Pete breaks down what they actually are, when they come into effect, and likely outcomes.
This might be a helpful prompt to reconsider your own criteria for investment 
Pete Burrows: "You want to get ahead, but ahead of who?"

Got a question, comment or personal story to share? Send it through at hopepodcasts.com.au. Ben and Pete will get stuck into it on a future episode.

Join the Money: Faith and Finance Facebook community.

Pete Burrows is an accountant for small business and individuals with Lower Russell and Farr in Penrith, Western Sydney, Australia.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings on Hope 103.2FM in Sydney, Australia.

Key Takeaways:
<ul>
<li>Yes, Capital Gains Tax has changed in Australia.</li>
<li>Pete breaks down what they actually are, when they come into effect, and likely outcomes.</li>
<li>This might be a helpful prompt to reconsider your own criteria for investment&nbsp;</li>
<li>Pete Burrows: "You want to get ahead, but ahead of who?"</li>
</ul>
Got a question, comment or personal story to share? Send it through at <a href="https://hope1032.com.au/show/money/">hopepodcasts.com.au</a>. Ben and Pete will get stuck into it on a future episode.
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1H4MuBgQ4w/">Join the Money: Faith and Finance Facebook community.</a>
Pete Burrows is an accountant for small business and individuals with <a href="https://www.lrf.com.au/">Lower Russell and Farr</a> in Penrith, Western Sydney, Australia. Ben McEachen hosts <a href="https://hope1032.com.au/programs/hope-mornings/">Hope Mornings on Hope 103.2FM</a> in Sydney, Australia.

Money: Faith & Finance explores the profound and practical of everyday finances. In every episode, we explore the real-life impact of everything from superannuation to stewardship, the World Bank to your wallet – and what does God have to say about money?

Welcome to the profit, loss and real balance sheet of wherever money intersects with you.

Pete Burrows is an accountant for small business and individuals with Lower Russell and Farr in Penrith, Western Sydney, Australia.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings on Hope 103.2FM in Sydney, Australia.

Money: Faith &amp; Finance explores the profound and practical of everyday finances. In every episode, we explore the real-life impact of everything from superannuation to stewardship, the World Bank to your wallet – and what does God have to say about money? Welcome to the profit, loss and real balance sheet of wherever money intersects with you.
Pete Burrows is an accountant for small business and individuals with <a href="https://www.lrf.com.au/">Lower Russell and Farr</a> in Penrith, Western Sydney, Australia. Ben McEachen hosts <a href="https://hope1032.com.au/programs/hope-mornings/">Hope Mornings on Hope 103.2FM</a> in Sydney, Australia.

Money: Faith & Finance

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

This podcast is not offering financial or investment advice. It's always best to do your own research and to consult a professional financial or investment advisor before making any financial or investment decisions.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at <a href="http://www.hopepodcasts.com.au/">hopepodcasts.com.au</a>. And send the team a message via <a href="https://hope1032.com.au/listen/#apps">Hope 103.2’s app</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Hope103.2">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sydneyshope1032/">Instagram</a>. This podcast is not offering financial or investment advice. It's always best to do your own research and to consult a professional financial or investment advisor before making any financial or investment decisions.

Check the Facts Before You Worry About Capital Gains Tax

Do you still need an accountant now that AI can answer almost anything? Ben McEachen puts that question to Pete Burrows, an accountant with Lower Russell Farr in Penrith. Pete's quick answer: AI is okay, but sometimes you need actual intelligence. He shares when a simple tax return is fine to do yourself, the red flags of a dodgy accountant, and why a phone call before a big purchase beats fixing a costly mistake. Plus, a client who went all in on crypto, and a super tip many couples miss.

 

Key Takeaways
Actual Intelligence Over Artificial: AI can process your numbers, but an accountant interprets them and helps you act on them.
Complexity Is the Trigger: Simple PAYG returns may not need an accountant. Investments, capital gains, negative gearing, a new business or an SMSF usually do.
Ask Before You Act: A quick call or email costs far less than fixing a big financial mistake after the fact.
Honesty Is Non-Negotiable: A good accountant won't help you hide income or stretch deductions. One who will is a red flag.
Welcome the Pushback: Much of the value in advice comes from someone testing your ideas and naming the risks before you commit.
Conversations Uncover Opportunities: Face-to-face discussions surface tax and super strategies, such as spouse contributions, that you may not think to ask about.

Notable Quotes
"Artificial intelligence is okay. I think occasionally you will need actual intelligence." — Pete Burrows
"A phone call to us is cheaper than a big bad mistake that you're going to make if you don't." — Pete Burrows
"Doesn't always mean they're going to like the answer, but you need to work with the truth." — Pete Burrows
"If I went to an accountant and they were supportive of my dodginess, I should really, at that point be walking out the door." — Ben McEachen
"The advice you gave at the time was right for the time. But circumstances and life is dynamic and does change." — Pete Burrows

 

 

Do you still need an accountant now that AI can answer almost anything? Ben McEachen puts that question to Pete Burrows, an accountant with Lower Russell Farr in Penrith. Pete's quick answer: AI is okay, but sometimes you need actual intelligence. He shares when a simple tax return is fine to do yourself, the red flags of a dodgy accountant, and why a phone call before a big purchase beats fixing a costly mistake. Plus, a client who went all in on crypto, and a super tip many couples miss.
&nbsp;
Key Takeaways
<ul>
<li>Actual Intelligence Over Artificial: AI can process your numbers, but an accountant interprets them and helps you act on them.</li>
<li>Complexity Is the Trigger: Simple PAYG returns may not need an accountant. Investments, capital gains, negative gearing, a new business or an SMSF usually do.</li>
<li>Ask Before You Act: A quick call or email costs far less than fixing a big financial mistake after the fact.</li>
<li>Honesty Is Non-Negotiable: A good accountant won't help you hide income or stretch deductions. One who will is a red flag.</li>
<li>Welcome the Pushback: Much of the value in advice comes from someone testing your ideas and naming the risks before you commit.</li>
<li>Conversations Uncover Opportunities: Face-to-face discussions surface tax and super strategies, such as spouse contributions, that you may not think to ask about.</li>
</ul>
Notable Quotes
<ol>
<li>"Artificial intelligence is okay. I think occasionally you will need actual intelligence." &mdash; Pete Burrows</li>
<li>"A phone call to us is cheaper than a big bad mistake that you're going to make if you don't." &mdash; Pete Burrows</li>
<li>"Doesn't always mean they're going to like the answer, but you need to work with the truth." &mdash; Pete Burrows</li>
<li>"If I went to an accountant and they were supportive of my dodginess, I should really, at that point be walking out the door." &mdash; Ben McEachen</li>
<li>"The advice you gave at the time was right for the time. But circumstances and life is dynamic and does change." &mdash; Pete Burrows</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Why You Still Need an Accountant in the Age of AI

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/258d2f07-1164-48e4-970c-accc0047a4ed/clips/d0a4e51a-60d5-4ae2-91a6-b4d40019779f/transcript

Card surcharges disappear on 1 October 2026. Tap for a $100 purchase, pay $100. Simple enough, until you ask the question accountant Pete Burrows keeps coming back to: the business still has to pay to process that card, so who ends up wearing the cost? Ben McEachen and Pete sort out what's actually changing on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa, what isn't, and what to watch for at the till.

Key Takeaways:
From October 1st, Australia will implement a ban on surcharges for payments made with Eftpos, MasterCard, and Visa cards.
The policy aims to enhance price transparency, allowing consumers to see the full cost of their purchases at the point of sale without additional surcharges.
Businesses must decide how to handle transaction costs moving forward, possibly through pricing adjustments.
Surcharges for services like Amex, UnionPay, and PayPal will also be removed, expanding the global shift toward reduced transaction costs.
The episode highlights the need for consumers and businesses to stay informed about these regulatory changes and their broader financial impact.

Notable Quotes:
"Technically, that fee is meant to go towards helping the business, but the reality is that business still has costs." - Pete Burrows
"They’re trying to say, look, it's transparency. When you go and pay for something, that’s the full price." - Ben McEachen
"Depending on the size of the business too, they may have different costs." - Pete Burrows
"Most people are using plastic. Really, the question is why should that cost me more every time?" - Pete Burrows
"Amex has traditionally been one of the higher cost cards…that’s a big win." - Ben McEachen

Resources

The RBA's weblink on removal of credit card surcharges here: RBA

https://www.cardsurcharge.com.au/

 

Card surcharges disappear on 1 October 2026. Tap for a $100 purchase, pay $100. Simple enough, until you ask the question accountant Pete Burrows keeps coming back to: the business still has to pay to process that card, so who ends up wearing the cost? Ben McEachen and Pete sort out what's actually changing on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa, what isn't, and what to watch for at the till.
Key Takeaways:
<ul>
<li>From October 1st, Australia will implement a ban on surcharges for payments made with Eftpos, MasterCard, and Visa cards.</li>
<li>The policy aims to enhance price transparency, allowing consumers to see the full cost of their purchases at the point of sale without additional surcharges.</li>
<li>Businesses must decide how to handle transaction costs moving forward, possibly through pricing adjustments.</li>
<li>Surcharges for services like Amex, UnionPay, and PayPal will also be removed, expanding the global shift toward reduced transaction costs.</li>
<li>The episode highlights the need for consumers and businesses to stay informed about these regulatory changes and their broader financial impact.</li>
</ul>
Notable Quotes:
<ul>
<li>"Technically, that fee is meant to go towards helping the business, but the reality is that business still has costs." - Pete Burrows</li>
<li>"They&rsquo;re trying to say, look, it's transparency. When you go and pay for something, that&rsquo;s the full price." - Ben McEachen</li>
<li>"Depending on the size of the business too, they may have different costs." - Pete Burrows</li>
<li>"Most people are using plastic. Really, the question is why should that cost me more every time?" - Pete Burrows</li>
<li>"Amex has traditionally been one of the higher cost cards&hellip;that&rsquo;s a big win." - Ben McEachen</li>
</ul>
Resources
The RBA's weblink on removal of credit card surcharges here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/review-of-retail-payments-regulation/2026-03/conclusions-paper/faqs/">RBA</a>
<a href="https://www.cardsurcharge.com.au/">https://www.cardsurcharge.com.au/</a>
&nbsp;

No More Card Surcharges: Who Really Pays For It?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/258d2f07-1164-48e4-970c-accc0047a4ed/clips/23c8b3cc-3c42-4dbe-9101-b4c800173978/transcript

Should you be able to access your super before retirement? One Nation says yes, and its own modelling puts the figure at $44 a week. Accountant Pete Burrows and Ben McEachen weigh that against what it costs later: around $25,000 forgone, a one-time window you can never use twice, and billions of dollars flowing into an already stretched housing market. Ben argues we're adults who can be trusted with our own money. Pete has watched clients treat early super access like an ATM. Two fair cases, and one answer.

Key Takeaways
Super is already accessible, but only just. Compassionate grounds, serious illness or six months on Centrelink. The proposal's real change is widening that gate, not creating access where none existed.
The trade is $44 a week now against roughly $25,000 later. Pete's test is the practical one: before you touch super, is there a pay rise, a tax refund or a cost saving that gets you to the same place?
The discipline is the product. Super works partly because you cannot get at it. Take the money out and it is spent. Leave it and it compounds for twenty or thirty years.
Covid is the precedent nobody planned for. Two financial years of early access, and by Pete's account a minority used it well while many treated it as an ATM.
Putting super into housing may not help housing. Billions moving out of retirement savings and into rent and mortgages could push prices up for everyone, including the people the policy is meant to help.
It is a one-shot, and the design has gaps. Three years, once in a working life. It does not appear to be means tested, and the tax treatment could favour people who least need it.

Notable Quotes
"Only in exceptional circumstances should you be accessing your super before retirement." — Pete Burrows
"My question would be, is the $44 a week worth it now versus what you could lose?" — Pete Burrows
"It was like an ATM. They wanted it. At the moment, that's what the ATM stood for. I want the money now." — Pete Burrows
"The one nation proposal is also indicating that we're adults and we can make decisions about our own money." — Ben McEachen
"If you didn't really need it, has it just poured more fuel on the housing fire by throwing more money at housing?" — Pete Burrows
"You take out three grand, five grand from your super today, that money's spent and gone." — Pete Burrows

Should you be able to access your super before retirement? One Nation says yes, and its own modelling puts the figure at $44 a week. Accountant Pete Burrows and Ben McEachen weigh that against what it costs later: around $25,000 forgone, a one-time window you can never use twice, and billions of dollars flowing into an already stretched housing market. Ben argues we're adults who can be trusted with our own money. Pete has watched clients treat early super access like an ATM. Two fair cases, and one answer.
Key Takeaways
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>Super is already accessible, but only just. Compassionate grounds, serious illness or six months on Centrelink. The proposal's real change is widening that gate, not creating access where none existed.</li>
<li>The trade is $44 a week now against roughly $25,000 later. Pete's test is the practical one: before you touch super, is there a pay rise, a tax refund or a cost saving that gets you to the same place?</li>
<li>The discipline is the product. Super works partly because you cannot get at it. Take the money out and it is spent. Leave it and it compounds for twenty or thirty years.</li>
<li>Covid is the precedent nobody planned for. Two financial years of early access, and by Pete's account a minority used it well while many treated it as an ATM.</li>
<li>Putting super into housing may not help housing. Billions moving out of retirement savings and into rent and mortgages could push prices up for everyone, including the people the policy is meant to help.</li>
<li>It is a one-shot, and the design has gaps. Three years, once in a working life. It does not appear to be means tested, and the tax treatment could favour people who least need it.</li>
</ul>
Notable Quotes
<ol dir="ltr">
<li>"Only in exceptional circumstances should you be accessing your super before retirement." &mdash; Pete Burrows</li>
<li>"My question would be, is the $44 a week worth it now versus what you could lose?" &mdash; Pete Burrows</li>
<li>"It was like an ATM. They wanted it. At the moment, that's what the ATM stood for. I want the money now." &mdash; Pete Burrows</li>
<li>"The one nation proposal is also indicating that we're adults and we can make decisions about our own money." &mdash; Ben McEachen</li>
<li>"If you didn't really need it, has it just poured more fuel on the housing fire by throwing more money at housing?" &mdash; Pete Burrows</li>
<li>"You take out three grand, five grand from your super today, that money's spent and gone." &mdash; Pete Burrows</li>
</ol>

Check the Facts Before You Worry About Capital Gains Tax

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