Posts by theo@aacs.org.au

We are excited to share that early this year, Bowser Bean has reached a remarkable fundraising milestone of $1 million for Make-A-Wish Australia! In celebration, we recently held a $1M Party at the BSL – Red Energy Arena Bendigo. Crew members, Make-A-Wish representatives, and key stakeholders gathered to celebrate this achievement with inspiring presentations, the unveiling of commemorative plaques, and heartfelt personal testimonials. This milestone reflects our 15 year partnership with Make A Wish Australia, and the ability to make a difference in the lives of critically ill children and their families. We are truly humbled by this achievement, and the combined efforts of our crew and customers over the years. The $1M Party came just a few days after this year’s World Wish Day – where once again, our network engaged in in-store fundraising activities and wore our themed t-shirts. This was a highly successful day raising over $6265!…

Albanese commits to pre-July 1 decision Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed the government will decide before July 1 whether to extend the three-month fuel excise cut, introduced in April to counter price spikes from the US-led war on Iran. The measure, reducing petrol and diesel costs by 26.3 cents a litre, is costing $2.55 billion in lost revenue. While the budget prioritised long-term fuel security, it offered no commitment to prolong the excise cut, leaving motorists facing a potential sharp price jump. What the decision means for motorists and the economy If the cut expires, motorists could see fuel prices rise by 20–30 cents a litre, compounding cost-of-living pressures already driven by the Middle East conflict. Experts warn the lapse could undermine household budgets despite other tax relief measures in the budget. The government argues its $15 billion fuel security package, including a $3.2 billion national reserve, will build…

The government’s proposed tax measures, including increases to capital gains tax, should not be rushed through Parliament, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has warned today. Reports indicate that the government is looking to rush the tax legislation through Parliament in coming weeks. Australia’s largest and most representative business network says policymakers need to understand the seriousness of the damage to investment in business and the negative consequences for businesses across all industries in Australia. “Every day we are seeing serious unintended consequences emerge as people digest the proposals,” Acting ACCI chief executive officer David Alexander said today. It would be irresponsible to rush such far-reaching and multi-faceted legislation through the Parliament when the downside impacts are so serious.”

People are consuming energy drinks across more occasions than in the past. One reason energy drinks are bigger than ever—people are consuming them across more occasions than in the past. “It’s more people, more places, more often,” said Eric Hanson, president and chief operating officer at Celsius Holdings. The 22-year-old company, which owns Alani Nu and Rockstar in addition to its namesake Celsius, has seen massive growth over the last few years. Hanson attributed that growth to the company’s efforts to create products that fit the wider range of occasions and dayparts. These are some of the trends he’s seeing: Fitness companion: Energy drinks are increasingly a top choice for consumers on their way to the gym, Hanson said. “Celsius was one of the first brands to focus on fitness within the modern energy category,” Hanson said. Energy over alcohol: “We’re seeing substitutions between alcohol occasions and energy,” said Hanson.…

In May 2026, the dominant topic in South Korea’s energy market is the Iran War — the military tensions centred on the Strait of Hormuz that have sent crude oil prices on a historic rollercoaster. Petrol and diesel prices at Korean forecourts have climbed sharply. Consumer outrage is focused on the pump. Operators, meanwhile, are dealing with a painful paradox: higher prices, but falling volumes and squeezed margins. Yet to frame Korea’s service station crisis purely as an oil price problem is to miss the bigger picture. The country’s forecourt sector is undergoing a structural transformation that would be happening regardless of events in the Middle East. The traditional petrol-only model has reached the end of its road. In its place, a new generation of multi-energy, multi-service stations is taking shape — driven by government policy, EV adoption, and the urgent need to generate revenue beyond the pump. A Market…