Our latest insights

The 2025 Grant Thornton Family Business Report revealed that only 19 per cent of family businesses have a documented succession plan in place. This finding is both striking and concerning, especially at a time when generational transition has never been more complex, and the stakes have never been higher.

Treasury has released the most recent rework of the proposed Division 296 tax. Although it has provided some much-needed relief from the original draft, the rework now includes addition hurdles requiring careful planning and consideration.

The AUSTRAC AML/CTF Starter Programs provide a structured pathway to achieving AML/CTF compliance that will significantly reduce the effort and cost of AML/CTF compliance for entities required to meet AML/CTF obligations under Tranche 2.

Starting from 1 July 2026, the general transfer balance cap will increase from $2m to $2.1m, allowing further tax benefits for superannuation fund members.

The 2025 family business survey found that 63 per cent of family businesses are already mentoring rising generation family members; 60 per cent are gradually integrating the rising generation into decision making and 31 per cent are engaging external advisors to support development.

As family businesses transition from one generation to the next, more family members become involved in the business. What usually begins with a couple of founding members quickly grows to include siblings, and cousins each with their own experiences, personalities and perspectives.

Recent findings from the Family Business Report 2025 reveal that cash-flow management and economic uncertainty are the most pressing concerns for businesses in the construction and real estate sectors.

The Federal Court’s $5.8M ACL decision signals a new era for privacy, cybersecurity, and governance in Australia. It reinforces that privacy and cyber obligations start Day 1 of any acquisition, governance failures will be scrutinised, and accountability cannot be outsourced. Boards must ensure robust oversight, deep cyber due diligence, and forensic incident response. With OAIC escalating regulatory enforcement, organisations face heightened legal, financial, and reputational risks.

In June this year, APRA published its eight proposed changes to its governance prudential standards. We have summarised APRA’s updated/clarified position and provided guidance on some steps that boards should be doing to prepare for the revised standards.

From 1 July 2026, superannuation guarantee contributions must be paid on payday, with funds reaching employees’ accounts within 7 business days. This replaces the current quarterly payment cycle and means 15 months of super payments will be made in a 12-month period – a major shift in cash flow management.

In October, APRA Executive Board Member Suzanne Smith delivered a speech at the ICA Conference 2025. In her speech, Suzanne Smith urged the insurance industry to embrace resilience, innovation, and leadership as core pillars to future proof the industry, at a time of heightened scrutiny around operational resilience, consumer trust, and the evolving risk landscape driven by climate change and artificial intelligence.

The 2025 Family Business Report explored the mindset of Australian family business leaders as they navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain landscape. While the top challenges varied between incumbent leaders and the rising generation – ranging from staffing and cashflow to succession planning – there was notable alignment with the broader threats identified in the survey.