Investing in Queensland
Topics relating to trade and investment for Queensland business, including importing, exporting and the benefits of establishing a business in Queensland.
Queensland offers a range of business advantages including a stable economy, supportive government, and a solid growth forecast. Queensland's low operating costs, highly skilled workforce and strategic Asia-Pacific location create an attractive investment destination.
Click "Show more" for more information about the benefits of investing in Queensland, or choose a topic below.
- Queensland's stable and pro-business economy
- Land for industrial development
- Low business costs in Queensland
- Queensland's highly skilled workforce
- Queensland's reliable infrastructure
- Innovation, research and development in Queensland
- Queensland's idyllic lifestyle
Queensland's stable and pro-business economy
Queensland's pro-business economic environment and forecast growth offers investors a safe, long-term investment climate within a stable and resilient economy.
By relocating to Queensland, you will benefit from:
- a competitive tax environment
- a growing, diverse economy
- solid population growth.
About Queensland's economy
Economic indicators for Queensland
| Economic indicator | Queensland figures |
|---|---|
| Population (at 30 September 2015) | 4.79 million |
| Population growth (year to September 2015) | 1.2% |
| Gross state product (current prices, 2014-15) | $305.8 billion |
| Real gross state product annual growth (2014-15) | 0.8% |
| Trend employment growth (year to May 2016) | 1.0% |
| Trend unemployment rate (May 2016) | 6.4% |
| Annual CPI inflation (March quarter 2016, Brisbane) | 1.7% |
| International exports of goods (year to April 2016) | $48.1 billion |
| International imports of goods (year to April 2016) | $35.8 billion |
Economic growth
Economic growth in Queensland is forecast to strengthen to 3½% in 2015-16 and 4% in 2016-17, stronger than all other states. International exports will be the key driver of growth in these years as the liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects ramp up.
Exports
Around 75% of Queensland's international exports (in nominal terms) were to Asia in year to April 2016. The state's largest merchandise export destinations (by value) in the year to April 2016 were China, Japan, South Korea and India.
Queensland's share of Australia's exports
Reflecting our strong outwardly focused economy, Queensland was Australia's second largest international merchandise exporter (by value) in the year to April 2016.
Dwelling investment
New dwelling construction has increased strongly over the past 2 years and growth is expected to remain strong in 2015-16 and 2016-17, driven by demand for the construction of medium-to-high density dwellings (flats, units or apartments).
Population
Queensland's population is projected to increase to between 8.0 and 11.3 million people by 2061.
Queensland percentage of employment by industry, year to March quarter 2016
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 6291.0.55.003 February 2016
Land for industrial development
Strategic areas of land (state development areas) for industry, infrastructure corridors and major public works have been established by the Queensland Government to promote economic development, build wealth and generate jobs.
Learn more about Queensland's state development areas.
Low business costs in Queensland
Businesses in Queensland enjoy many advantages, including low set-up and running costs. For example, Queensland can offer your business or investment:
- low business taxes (including the lowest rate of payroll tax in Australia)
- economical commercial and industrial property costs
- competitive utility costs
- low office rental costs
- low workers' compensation premiums.
These cost advantages make Queensland an internationally competitive location for your business.
Taxation in Queensland in 2016-17 is estimated to be $767 per person less than the average of other Australian states and territories. Queensland's low business costs offer you a strong destination for business and investment.
Payroll tax
At just 4.75%, Queensland companies pay the lowest rate of payroll tax in Australia. In addition, this tax is not required to be paid until the total wages and salaries of a company exceed $1.1 million each year.
Since 1 July 2015, in addition to being exempt from payroll tax, the government is providing a 25% rebate on payroll tax on the wages of eligible apprentices and trainees. This measure recognises that apprenticeships and traineeships provide a great employment pathway, particularly for younger Queenslanders.
You can use these payroll tax calculators to work out how much your business can expect to pay.
Comparison of payroll tax rates and thresholds (as at 1 July 2015)
| State or territory | Tax rate (%) | Exemption threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 4.75 | $1,100,000 |
| Victoria | 4.85 | $550,000 |
| South Australia | 4.95 | $600,000 |
| New South Wales | 5.45 | $750,000 |
| Western Australia | 5.50 | $800,000 |
| Northern Territory | 5.50 | $1,500,000 |
| Tasmania | 6.10 | $1,250,000 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 6.85 | $1,850,000 |
Office rental costs
Office rental prices in Queensland are significantly lower than those of many of the world's major cities.
Total occupancy costs - office rental (US$/sqm/pa)
Source: CBRE Research - June 2015 Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs
Queensland's highly skilled workforce
Queensland has a highly skilled, motivated and employment-ready workforce, with a large number of bilingual speakers. Our enviable lifestyle and low cost of living attract skilled international workers, particularly from the Asia-Pacific region making it possible for companies to retain valuable employees.
Your business or investment will benefit from Queensland's increasing number of skilled professionals in our workforce.
Queensland's reliable infrastructure
The Queensland Government is continuously upgrading hard infrastructure (including roads and energy networks) while also supporting soft infrastructure development (e.g. research and development, and innovation) - the key to growing a knowledge-based economy.
Queensland's commitment to strong and up-to-date infrastructure offers your business or investment many benefits, including:
- a stable environment that caters for Queensland's growing population
- opportunities to tender for a range of infrastructure projects.
Learn more about the capital infrastructure program for 2016-17.
The Queensland Government remains committed to delivering key infrastructure and rural economic development initiatives to ensure regional Queensland remains sustainable, liveable and prosperous.
Learn more about regional development.
Innovation, research and development in Queensland
Queensland has been recognised by the World Bank as a global innovation hot spot. Our investment in high-end research capacity has seen some of the world's best scientists and researchers attracted to Queensland.
Technology, research and innovation in Queensland
Queensland has become a hub of research and innovation, making it one of the easiest places to do business in Australia. As a business owner or investor in Queensland, you are encouraged to undertake research and development (R&D) and innovation activities, and can access a range of support services at every stage of the innovation process.
Find out about the support services available for science and research in Queensland, including international science partnerships.
There is also significant support for businesses wanting to take their idea to market. Support for commercialisation is provided by Innovate Queensland.
Since 1998, the Queensland Government has invested $3.6 billion in R&D and innovation, supporting 40 new research institutes and more than 300 research-related projects, scholarships and fellowships. This has led to the number of scientists in Queensland growing to over 19,800 in the past decade. Among these are world-class researchers in fields such as translational therapies and neuroscience who have established cutting-edge research clusters in Queensland.
Support for business innovation
There is continuing support for innovation and business growth in Queensland, with the Queensland Government investing in research infrastructure, business innovation and scient talent to ensure Queensland stays at the forefront of high-end research.
The Queensland Government also aims to increase by 50% the number of businesses undertaking R&D or innovation by 2020.
Find out about Queensland's R&D Investment Strategy 2010-2020 (PDF, 2.2MB).
Read the 2014 Queensland Business Innovation Survey Report.
Intellectual property (IP) protection
Protecting your intellectual property is vital to the success of your business. Australia has uniform national IP laws that respect and protect IP rights. Through IP legislation that reflects international best practice, Australian-based businesses and industries can benefit from the most comprehensive protection available.
Queensland's idyllic lifestyle
Queensland is multicultural, vibrant and diverse, with many people visiting and migrating from other parts of Australia and across the world. The diversity of the state also makes Queensland a great place for you to do business or invest on a local and global scale.
There are many benefits to living in Queensland, including:
- Safe, secure and family-focused communities
- affordable housing
- sub-tropical climate with an average of 300 days of sunshine a year
- world-renowned beaches, national parks, rainforests and reefs
- world class education systems and public health services.
Australia's quality of life rates highly on the world scale, exceeding that of the United States, the United Kingdom and many of our Asia-Pacific neighbours.
- Last reviewed: 06 Aug 2016
- Last updated: 06 Aug 2016