News In Brief

Welcome to our ‘News In Brief’ column in which we digest all the news releases for you in no more than five paragraphs.
Below are snippets of all the media releases we received from March 2 till the end of the week.
This article updates throughout the week.

Camping Comeback

Perth, March 2: Millions of Australians are swapping hotel stays for camping as travel costs rise, with new Finder research showing 12% of Australians (about 2.6 million people) have camped in the past two years to save on accommodation. The survey of 1,006 respondents also found 27% haven’t taken a holiday in more than two years.
Taylor Blackburn, personal finance specialist at Finder, said many Australians are being priced out of traditional breaks.
“Plenty of people are skipping flights and fancy resorts altogether as the cost-of-living crunch reshapes the way we holiday.
“For a growing number of households, the choice isn’t between Bali or Byron anymore – it’s camping or your own couch.
“Camping has long been a rite of passage for families, with many generations learning to connect with nature and one another without breaking the bank.
“Many are now rediscovering that tradition out of necessity.”
Blackburn said camping offers an affordable escape for households trying to avoid debt.
“Camping offers something many families are craving right now – a genuine escape that’s affordable, flexible and doesn’t come with a four-figure accommodation bill.”
Finder’s research also found 19% have camped just for fun in the last two years, while previous Finder research found 5% of Australians have gone into debt to take a holiday they couldn’t afford.
“Opt for holidays you can afford upfront, not ones that add pressure to already tight budgets or put you into debt.”

Black Kite Launches

Perth, March 2: Black Kite Partners has launched as a Sydney-based private markets firm focused on tech-enabled businesses, led by former IFM private equity executives David Odgers, Adrian Kerley and Stuart Wardman-Browne, and will oversee $1.3 billion in assets. The firm is backed by a strategic equity investment from Scarcity Partners, while retaining operational independence.
Black Kite will provide advisory services to IFM to support management of six investments, including PRP Diagnostic Imaging, as the team transitions to operating as an independent private markets platform.
Black Kite Managing Partner Adrian Kerley said: “We are delighted to be launching a differentiated private markets platform with an established team, a proven track record and the resources that position us well for the next phases of growth. “The investment from Scarcity Partners, alongside the positive response from potential investors and portfolio companies, is a strong endorsement of the demand for an independent, high-performing private markets platform. We are excited to continue to back ambitious businesses that are ready to scale and to generate great returns for our investors.”
Black Kite said it expects to launch Fund 3 shortly, targeting around $500 million in commitments across software, tech-enabled services and healthcare. The team previously oversaw IFM’s Fund 1 (2016) and Fund 2 (2021), with recent exits including Payapps (sold to Autodesk) and My Plan Manager (sold to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.), and a current portfolio spanning Render, SUPA, Tally Group, Novigi, Splend and PRP Diagnostic Imaging.
Scarcity Partners Managing Partner Adrian Whittingham said: “Black Kite’s strengths lie in its highly experienced and aligned team, a strong track record, and a clear focus on one of the most attractive segments of the Australian private equity market. We are excited about the growth potential that comes from combining a specialist investment platform with Scarcity’s expertise in scaling funds management businesses.”

Tax Reform Urged

Perth, March 2: CPA Australia has warned the Australian Government against making standalone changes to the capital gains tax (CGT) discount or negative gearing, arguing isolated tweaks could have unintended impacts on investment, housing markets and economic confidence. The accounting body says housing affordability needs a multi-pronged approach, with tax settings considered as part of broader reform.
CPA Australia Tax Lead Jenny Wong said the core issue is housing supply and urged reforms that link tax changes with practical measures to increase construction and improve planning systems.
“Changes to tax settings should go hand-in-hand with practical measures to lift housing supply, boost construction capacity and speed up planning systems,” Wong said.
“CGT and negative gearing are part of a bigger tax ecosystem – tweak one lever on its own and you risk pushing further pressure into the rental market or distorting investment decisions,” Wong said.
“Australians need certainty,” Ms Wong said. “Reform must be proportionate, well-designed and aligned with long-term economic and fiscal sustainability – not short-term, fragmented changes.”

AIIMS, AdVisible Announce Merger

Perth, March 3: AIIMS Group and AdVisible have announced a definitive merger, forming a unified digital marketing agency focused on search, automation and performance marketing. AIIMS Group (founded 2010) is known for its “Halo” approach across SEO, branding, design, social media, web development, production via its Creator Hub, SEM, Google My Business (GMB), media buying and custom-built technology solutions. AdVisible (founded 2009) is recognised for “zero-fluff” strategy and ROI-driven execution across paid media, SEO and Google. The merged group will employ more than 100 specialists across Australia and the UAE, serving 1,000+ clients and managing hundreds of millions in ad spend.

Blacktown Backs Plain Language

Perth, March 3: Plain English Foundation has marked 13 years of partnership with Blacktown City Council, as the fast-growing, highly diverse Sydney LGA works to embed accessible communication across the organisation. Blacktown City, home to around 450,000 residents and forecast to reach 600,000 over the next 25 years, has more than 180 languages spoken across the area—making clear information central to service access, consultation and participation.
“Blacktown City Councillors represent an incredibly diverse cross-section of the community. Offering information in clear, simple formats across multiple channels is essential for good governance and public trust,” said Kerry Robinson OAM, CEO at Blacktown City Council.
“A key priority for us is a focus on informing and consulting residents, particularly on major project proposals and community initiatives, and ensuring there are clear, practical avenues for people to provide feedback and have their voices heard.
“Our partnership with Plain English Foundation has helped us achieve that consistently for more than a decade. We have embedded clear communication as a core capability across the entire organisation, shaping how complex material is transformed into clearly written information, and shared with the community.”
The Foundation said it works with stakeholders across all five Blacktown directorates via tailored workshops, templates and ongoing guidance. The Council reported fewer complaints, faster document turnaround and clearer information for councillors after adopting an organisation-wide plain language approach.

WA Hearing Concerns Rise

Perth, March 3: Nearly half (47.71%) of Western Australian residents say they have noticed problems with their hearing, according to new national data released for World Hearing Day by hearing health clinic Audika. The survey found 43.14% of WA respondents struggled to hear over the past year, while 51.63% reported avoiding social events due to difficulty following conversations. Concerns about future quality of life (74.51%) and personal independence (75.82%) were also high.
Nationally, around one in five Australians live with some form of hearing loss, with projections suggesting up to 7.8 million could be affected by 2060. Despite this, 59.58% of WA residents said their last hearing check was more than three years ago or they have never had one.
“The new data shows hearing difficulties are more common than many Australians or healthcare professionals might realise. What’s particularly concerning is the impact hearing difficulties have on people’s lives, with many surveyed reporting avoiding social situations or feeling left out because they can’t follow conversations as easily as they once could,” says Mona Hemsley, Director of Audiology at Audika.
“We know that hearing loss is a common sensory impairment in older adults, yet it is often under-recognised and poorly managed. This has real consequences for social participation, independence and quality of life,” says Hemsley.
“Our survey shows many Australians may recognise something isn’t right with their hearing yet continue to delay getting it checked. This World Hearing Day, the key message is simple: early screening tests are easy, and addressing issues early can help maintain connection so you don’t miss the moments that matter,” Hemsley says.
Audika is encouraging Australians—particularly older adults and caregivers—to prioritise routine hearing checks, noting free hearing tests are available for adults aged 26 and over.