Every WA licence holder can claim $100 for fuel. Do not leave it behind.
The WA Government is giving a one-off $100 Fuel Support Payment to everyone who holds a valid WA driver's licence, learner's permit or provisional licence. It was announced in the 2026-27 State Budget as a cost-of-living measure, and claims are open now. If your licence is current you are eligible, and so is every adult in your household and every member of your team who drives.
You claim it through the ServiceWA app using your Digital ID, your licence number and an Australian bank account, and the $100 lands straight in your account. There is one payment per licence holder, so it is worth a quick nudge to your staff and family, not just yourself. If someone cannot or would rather not use the app, alternative claim options are available.
The reason to act is simple. It is real money, it takes about five minutes, and claims close on 31 December 2026, after which it is gone.
How to claim: Transport WA and ServiceWA
Stripe read a million disputes. Here is how to win the "I never got it" ones.
Stripe analysed the evidence from one million payment disputes over sixteen weeks to see what actually swings a "product not received" chargeback in the business's favour. For any business that ships goods or delivers a service and then gets hit with a "never arrived" claim weeks later, this is money you can either fight for or quietly lose.
The short version is that proof wins. Tracking numbers, delivery confirmation, timestamps, and a clear record of what the customer ordered and agreed to are what tip these disputes your way. The practical takeaway is to keep that evidence as a matter of habit, not scramble for it after a dispute lands, because by then the clock is already running.
The full analysis: Stripe
OpenAI launched a program specifically for small business
OpenAI has announced a ChatGPT for Small Business program, aimed at helping owners build practical AI skills, automate the repetitive parts of the work, and use ChatGPT in day to day operations. It is a signal worth noting: the big AI companies have worked out that small businesses, not just large enterprises, are where a lot of the real use is.
You do not need to jump at it, but it is worth a look if you have been meaning to get past the "I tried it once" stage. Start with the three tasks that eat your week, quotes, replies and chasing invoices, and let the tool draft them for you to edit.
The program details: OpenAI
Google is pitching Gemini as a way to start a side business
In the same week, Google published a guide on using Gemini to design a side hustle, do market research and automate the logistics of getting it off the ground. Whether or not you are starting something new, it is a useful window into what these tools can do for planning and research, which is often where a small operator is stretched thinnest.
The honest framing is the same as always. It is a strong research and drafting assistant, not a substitute for judgement, but for a one-person operation it is like having a junior who works fast and never sleeps.
The guide: Google
Microsoft is letting small teams share automated agents without handing over the keys
Microsoft Copilot Studio now lets whoever builds an automated agent share it with staff in run-only mode, so your team can use the automation without being able to edit or break it. For a small business, that is the difference between one person building a useful workflow and everyone actually being able to use it safely.
Details: Microsoft 365 Roadmap
The AI model releases keep coming at pace, with new Gemini and other models landing again this week, which mostly matters to you as steadily better and cheaper tools inside the software you already use, not as something to chase. We are also keeping an eye on a security incident OpenAI and Hugging Face disclosed during AI model testing, which is a reminder that the AI supply chain is now part of everyone's security picture. If any of it turns into something a small business needs to act on, you will read it here first.