INVEST BRISBANE GROWTH TALENT LIFESTYLE FUTURE YOUNG DYNAMIC MULTICULTURAL INNOVATIVE CREATIVE DIVERSE VIBRANT OPPORTUNITY ENERGY GLOBAL
Brisbane is a city transformed – vibrant, confident and taking its rightful place in global business. Our phenomenal population and economic growth is fuelled by high levels of business investment and the largest public infrastructure spending programme in Australia’s history. Now one of the fastest growing capital city in Australia, Brisbane is experiencing a fundamental shift in its business landscape. The city’s spirit is infectious and is a magnet for talent. Our ability to attract quality professionals, combined with Brisbane’s highly-educated and motivated locals creates a labour pool with both depth and breadth. An excellent quality of life and lower living costs combined with a relaxed, subtropical atmosphere creates our undisputedly fabulous lifestyle. Brisbane offers investors opportunities across traditional and emerging industries. One third of Queensland’s economy stems from knowledge
intensive sectors – life sciences, information and communication technologies (ICT), creative industries and food and beverage manufacturing are booming. Brisbane’s manufacturing sector is also innovating, moving into high-technology specialisations such as plastics, ingredients development and the production of super yachts. An open, supportive and stable business environment is boosted by pro-business governments at all levels. Invest Brisbane, an experienced and world-class investment promotion agency, plays a strategic role in helping companies navigate this environment. We focus on securing investment decisions that will maximise long-term economic growth for Brisbane and its investors. Young, dynamic and looking to the future – welcome to Brisbane.
BRISBANE IS A CITY TRANSFORMED – VIBRANT, CONFIDENT AND TAKING ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN GLOBAL BUSINESS.
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BRISBANE
M A N U FA C T U R IN G
BRISBANE : A RISING URBAN STAR
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NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION, 2007
Real GDP Growth Rates
BRISBANE IS A RISING URBAN STAR. GENERATING PHENOMENAL GROWTH, BRISBANE IS NOW A GLOBAL PLAYER IN ITS OWN RIGHT.
20,000 10,000 0
-30,000
Source: Queensland Economic Review, OESR, Dec 2006
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook 2008.
Resilience of Economy to Economic Cycles 2008
Key IndicatORS of doing business
RANK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
ECONOMY STARTING A BUSINESS Australia 3 Brazil 127 Canada 2 France 14 Germany 102 India 121 Japan 64 Russian Federation 65 Singapore 10 Spain 140 United Arab Emeriates 113 United Kingdom 8 USA 6
COUNTRY SCORE Australia 6.78 Denmark 6.73 Switzerland 6.43 Israel 6.14 Austria 6.00 Norway 5.96 Chile 5.89 India 5.87 Brazil 5.83 Finland 5.80 Singapore 5.78 Sweden 5.66 Netherlands 5.66 Malaysia 5.66 Hong Kong 5.61
RANK 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 28 29
NSW
-20,000
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
-10,000
VICTORIA
0.1 0.2 -0.2 -0.6 0.5 -0.1 1.2 3.5 2.2 1.4 0.7 3.5 3.5
NORTHERN TERRITORY
As Queensland’s thriving capital, Brisbane is the engine room of the state’s outstanding economic performance. Queensland consistently outperformed the national economy in 2007/08, with a growth of 5.1 per cent. This climate of growth fostered in Brisbane stimulates business to invest and reinvest – Queensland’s business investment growth rate is more than double the national average.
The region’s population is projected to reach approximately 3.7 million people by 2021 – an increase of nearly one million people. Much of this growth is driven by interstate and overseas migration. Lifestyle however, is not the only attraction – Brisbane’s population growth is dominated by people chasing our education and employment opportunities.
1.6 1.8 1.4 -1.8 0.7 1 0.7 4.1 2.5 1.2 1.7 4.1 3.6
TASMANIA
Brisbane has one of the fastest growing populations of any capital city in Australia and continues to develop at a breathtaking rate. The population of Brisbane has reached 1.8 million people and the larger South-East Queensland corner is home to over 2.7 million people, providing a large and readily accessible labour force. This represents over 65 per cent of Queensland’s population.
2 2.2 3.7 6 2.1 3 2.7 5 4.2 2.7 3.3 6.4 7.7
30,000
ACT
Australia has been ranked the most resilient economy in the world for five of the past six years. The economy is now in its seventeenth year of uninterrupted growth, the longest boom in history. Real GDP growth in 2008 saw Australia outperforming global competitors such as the UK, USA, Germany and Spain. According to the OECD, Australia will be one of the only developed countries whose economy will continue to grow in 2009.
USA France Spain Ireland Japan United Kingdom Canada Korea Australia Sweden Switzerland Hong Kong SAR Singapore
2009
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
P O P U L AT IO N G R O W T H
2007 2008
QUEENSLAND
E C O N O M IC G R O W T H
COUNTRY SCORE Taiwan 5.52 Czech Republic 5.41 Canada 5.36 Germany 5.34 Slovenia 5.29 USA 5.29 Estonia 5.27 Jordan 5.15 China Mainland 5.15 Ireland 5.02 Belgium 4.98 United Kingdom 4.90 Luxemburg 4.83 New Zealand 4.80 Slovak Republic 4.70
Source: IMD WLY Executive Opinion Survey 2008.
EMPLOYING WORKERS 8 121 18 148 142 89 17 101 1 160 47 28 1
GETTING CREDIT 5 84 28 43 12 28 12 109 5 43 68 2 5
Source: World Bank Group, Doing Business 2009 Report. Economics are ranked on their case of doing business, from 1-181, with first place being the best. The rankings are from the period April 2007 to June 2008.
A U S T R A L I A – Q UICK FA C T S : • 17 years of uninterrupted economic growth.
• Ranked as having the highest level of political stability in the world since 2006.
• First in the world for ease of starting a business (number of days, capital and procedures required etc).
• Australia’s economy is ranked as the most resilient in the world for the sixth successive year.
• Highest ranking within the Asia Pacific region for industry productivity.
• Australia is positioned in the Asian Time Zone and bridges the closing of the USA and the opening of the European business day.
• 2008 Population – 21 million.
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• Australia’s economy ranks second against countries with populations of 20 million or more, behind only the USA.
GROW TH
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THE ENERGY OF OUR CITY IS HIGHLY INFLUENCED BY THE TALENT IT PRODUCES. BRISBANE IS HOME TO YOUNG, WELL EDUCATED AND SKILLED PEOPLE – COMPANIES CHOOSING TO INVEST HERE HAVE A DEEP AND DIVERSE TALENT POOL FROM WHICH TO DRAW. WITH AT TIMES MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE PER WEEK MIGRATING TO BRISBANE FROM SOUTHERN STATES, THE TALENT POOL IS CONSTANTLY GROWING. IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS BUSINESS MIGRATION, NOT JUST LEISURE MIGRATION – THE LARGEST AGE DEMOGRAPHIC IS THE 24 TO 40-YEAR-OLD AGE GROUP, REPRESENTING SKILLED WORKERS. AT 14 PER CENT, BRISBANE HAS A 4 PER CENT HIGHER PROPORTION OF GRADUATES WITH BACHELOR DEGREES THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
DI V E R S E & M U LT ICU LT U R A L Our talent is extremely multicultural, with over 16 per cent of households speaking a language other than English at home. Many businesses are utilising this diverse language mix to service global consumer markets from Brisbane. IBM, Mindpearl, Macquarie Bank, DHL International and P&O Nedloyd all take advantage of this unique business asset, to service international markets from their Brisbane operations.
TALENT
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BRISBANE’S HIGHLY EDUCATED WORKFORCE
MA JOR SECOND L ANGUAGES SPOKEN AT HOME, BRISBANE 0.14
16% BRISBANE
14%
AUSTR ALIA
12% 10%
0.12
0.1
0.08
8%
0.06
6% 0.04
4%
0.02
2% 0%
0
JAPANESE
FRENCH
KOREAN
GERMAN & RELATED LANGUAGES
DUTCH & RELATED LANGUAGES
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census Data, 2006
GREEK
Source: Office of Economic and Statistical Research, 2006
ITALIAN
POSTGR ADUATE DEGREE
CHINESE
BACHELOR DEGREE OR HIGHER
E DUC AT ION A L E XCE L L E NCE Brisbane draws great strength from its tertiary education sector, boasting three world-class universities each recognised for the quality of its graduates and its R&D. Comprehensive undergraduate and postgraduate programs are offered by all, as well as specialist studies. In 2007 Brisbane’s universities collectively enrolled almost 140,000 students – there is no shortage to Brisbane’s talent. The University of Queensland (UQ) UQ was recently named among the top five Australian universities, is consistently ranked in the top 50 universities in the world and receives the highest R&D funding of any university in the country. UQ is home to the $70 million Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Technology and the recently built $64 million Brain Institute, concentrating on the major fields of neuroscience. 2006 Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer developed the cervical cancer vaccine Gardisil at UQ’s Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine.
Professor Frazer is now working towards human trials of a world-first skin cancer vaccine. One of Asia Pacific’s leading research institutions, the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) undertakes globally competitive research to unlock the information contained in the genes and proteins of plants, animals and humans. Queensland University of Technology (QUT) QUT is one of the nation’s major universities, and the largest provider of bachelor degree graduates into the Australian workforce. Its reputation as a “university for the real world” reflects close links with industry in teaching and research. The world’s largest agribusiness company, Swiss-based Syngenta, chose QUT as its international partner in the commercial development of a sugar cane-based ethanol industry – this is the first time Syngenta has established a partnership of this type with an academic body. QUT is home to major IT research facilities such as the Microsoft QUT eResearch Centre and Information
Security Institute (ISI). The ISI multi-disciplinary approach provides QUT with an opportunity to play a leading role in research in the area of Safeguarding Australia. QUT is internationally recognised for its focus on applied research; consequently QUT has produced a significant portfolio of technologies which are commercially applicable, and in many cases industry backed.
autologous olfactory cell transplantation in human spinal cord injury. Since establishing Australia’s first university School of Environmental Studies 30 years ago, Griffith University’s national leadership in climate adaptation research now underpins its success in leading the new $50 million National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) from 2008.
Griffith University
TAFE Network
Griffith University actively builds partnerships with industry – it has truly world-class research centres in drug discovery, health, the environment and social sciences. Not only does Griffith University partner with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, it has announced a partnership with Pfizer, the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company, for the Eskitis Institute with a focus on natural drug discovery. Eskitis is also home to The National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research (NCASCR), which recently completed the world’s first clinical trial using
The Technical and Further Education (TAFE) network in Queensland trains more than 230,000 people annually in trades and technical skills including engineering, electrical, plumbing, information technology and hospitality. It engages the private sector in consultation in order to better develop courses to train staff and provide for industry. Strong relationships exist between TAFE Queensland and Alphapharm, Boeing and Aviation Australia as well as Lockwood and QMI Systems.
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Brisbane is the lifestyle capital of Australia. Amongst the world’s most desirable destinations, it is a youthful and progressive Australian city offering diverse and rewarding experiences. For those migrating to Brisbane for employment and education, our lifestyle is a principal drawcard – offering an excellent quality of life, a lower cost of living and a safer community environment. Australia is consistently ranked in the top ten countries for its quality of life, sitting above the USA, UK, Hong Kong, India and Singapore. The same story is seen when comparing Brisbane’s cost of living with international city rivals. People in Brisbane have the highest wellbeing of all Australia’s capital cities, according to the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index. Brisbane residents scored highly across a number of indicators, with the highest levels of personal wellbeing and community of all the cities. An alive and bustling city, it features the all-essential offerings of the nation’s fastest growing capital – world-class facilities, ever expanding infrastructure and remarkable recreational experiences.
With more daily hours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia, Brisbane represents an unique environment of relaxed sub-tropical flair. From sun-drenched beaches to cool, crisp mountain rainforests, from endless outdoor activities to expansive parks and gardens, there is no end to the lifestyle opportunities in Brisbane. The city also boasts the very best in food, wine, arts, entertainment and sporting facilities, plus easy access to the world famous Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Great Barrier Reef. In 2007 Billboard Magazine voted Brisbane as one of the five international music hot spots for the year; the others are Beijing, Berlin, Birmingham and Marseille. Quality of Life Index 2008 RANK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2008 2007 COUNTRY SCORE RANK COUNTRY SCORE Switzerland 9.71 1 Australia 9.71 Austria 9.64 2 Switzerland 9.45 Australia 9.28 3 Norway 9.25 Canada 9.27 4 Australia 9.24 Luxembourg 9.21 5 Luxembourg 9.21 Norway 9.16 6 New Zealand 9.10 Sweden 9.08 7 Denmark 9.08 Denmark 8.98 8 Canada 8.96 Netherlands 8.91 9 Singapore 8.96 New Zealand 8.91 10 Netherlands 8.74
Note: IMD WCY Opinion Survey based on an index from 0 to 10, taken from 55 economies in the 2008 survey.
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“GREATER BRISBANE NOW OFFERS ARGUABLY THE BEST EXAMPLE OF AN ARTICULATED URBAN ENVIRONMENT WITHIN AUSTRALIA. WITHIN A 90-MINUTE DRIVE THERE IS CRITICAL MASS AND INDEPENDENT CULTURES FOCUSED AROUND THE BEACH, THE HINTERLAND, THE ‘BURBS AND NOW, PREVIOUSLY THE MISSING LINK, THE FUNKY INNER SUBURBS.” BERNARD SALT, DEMOGRAPHER, KPMG
LIFEST YLE
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INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Queensland’s information and communication technology (ICT) industry is a key growth sector within the state’s economy. With 5600 businesses employing over 77,000 people, it produces an estimated total sales value of $23.6 billion (a $2.5 billion increase since 2004). Brisbane and the South East Queensland region is the base for over 80 of these companies, with over 70 per cent of the QLD industry directly involved in either software development or the provision of ICT services. The wider Australian ICT sector is incredibly robust with fast and secure network infrastructure and world leading intellectual property protection underpinning the industry. In a 2008 report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which benchmarked IT competitiveness, Australia was ranked seventh in the world and ranked second in the Asia Pacific Region. Brisbane boasts particular expertise in the ICT areas of e-Security, games development, mining technology and multimedia applications. Brisbane is also home to one of the largest e-Security R&D communities in the southern hemisphere. Areas of specialisation include threat and vulnerability assessment, security policy development, data encryption, secure communications and transactions, forensics and intrusion detection. World-leading firms RSA Security (EMC) and Internet Security Systems (IBM) have both located in Brisbane to take advantage of this cluster.
BRISBANE’S KEY SECTORS
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Attracted by the availability of highly-skilled and creative labour, software development multinationals – Microsoft, SAP, Sun Microsystems, Red Hat, Boeing, IBM and Mincom – are investing in Brisbane. KPMG ranks Australia fourth amongst developed countries for competitiveness in this industry. Brisbane is the unquestionable hub of games development in Australia. Low production costs, fresh creative talent and a high development environment (compared with other centres globally) are drawcards for publishing giants Sony, Electronic Arts, Nintendo and Microsoft. Established games developers based in Brisbane include The Creative Assembly (Sega), Krome Studios, Tantalus and THQ Studios. CREATIVE INDUSTRIES Queensland Government estimates that their Creative Industries are worth $3.4 billion annually and generate approximately $1.1 billion in annual export sales. A $60 million Creative Industries Precinct at the Queensland University of Technology is dedicated to the co-location, development and promotion of the creative industries in Brisbane. The convergence between creative industries and ICT will continue to be a focus for sourcing investment into Brisbane from major markets such as the UK, USA and Asia. Games development, digital media and digital content will provide outstanding opportunities.
Case Study: RED HAT Red Hat has launched a new engineering and support facility in Brisbane to sustain its expanding product line. The new facility is triple the size of its predecessor and now is Red Hat’s largest engineering centre in the Asia-Pacific region. According to Paul Gampe, who is the software vendor’s vice president of Engineering Services and Operations, many technology companies have moved their development and support functions to China and India. “But for Red Hat, the growth of these two economies has contributed to the expansion of our operations in Australia. Brisbane is the regional headquarters for Engineering in Asia,” Mr Gampe said. Red Hat’s Brisbane location was chosen nine years ago because of overwhelming government support and the quality of local engineering talent. Red Hat’s Asia Pacific engineering and support staff conduct software research and development, product engineering, project management and software engineering activities.
LIFE SCIENCES Brisbane offers outstanding opportunities in the fields of agri-food, biomedical, biopharmaceutical and human therapeutics, diagnostics and clinical trials. Brisbane is a recognised centre of excellence – home to not only the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), the largest medical research institute in the southern hemisphere, but also the Clive Berghofer Cancer Research Centre. The University of Queensland is host to the Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence, Australia’s leading facility for pharmaceutical research, education and drug commercialization, while Griffith University partners with global giants AstaZeneca and Pfizer in the natural drug discovery arena. The world’s largest agribusiness company, Swissbased Syngenta, chose Queensland University of Technology (QUT) as its international partner in the commercial development of a sugar cane-based ethanol industry. This is the first time Syngenta has established a partnership of this type with an academic body. This collaboration of tertiary education with the private sector delivers a world-class pool of scientists, engineers and technical staff. In fact, Australia has more PhD graduates in biotech-related disciplines per capita than the USA or UK.
A quarter of modern medicines are derived from natural compounds making Brisbane and Queensland gold mines for biotech companies. Queensland comprises of 19 terrestrial and 17 marine bioregions and five world heritage sights covering 40 million hectares. Just one hectare of the Daintree Rainforest in North Queensland contains more species of native plants than the whole of North America, and about 80 per cent of those species can be found nowhere else on earth. Case Study: PFIZER In the quest to develop the next generation of anti-infective medicine, Griffith University and Pfizer, the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company, announced another leading industry partnership for Griffith’s Eskitis Institute. The Institute has spent past 14 years developing Nature Bank, a unique library of 200,000 natural product fractions derived from a collection of over 40,000 samples of plants and marine invertebrates collected from diverse areas of tropical Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea and China. The Institute’s research includes a program to search new compounds from nature that can be developed into drugs.
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LEADING INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES SUCH AS LION NATHAN, CARTON UNITED BREWERIES, CADBURY SCHWEPPES AND COCA-COLA AMATIL HAVE ALL INVESTED IN BRISBANE. FOOD & BEVERAGE Contributing almost $10 billion annually to the Queensland economy, the food and beverage sector is well established and highly successful. The growing consumer market, skilled workforce, lower start-up and operation costs and excellent infrastructure have drawn companies such as Coca-Cola Amatil, Kerry Ingredients, Smiths Snackfoods (PepsiCo), and Arnotts (Campbell Soup Company). Brisbane is fast becoming a hub for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturing in Australia. Leading international companies such as Lion Nathan, Carlton United Breweries, Cadbury Schweppes and Coca-Cola Amatil have all invested in Brisbane to take advantage of the logistical efficiencies, growing consumer base and lower operating costs. Queensland is the undisputed home of beef production in Australia, exporting $3.3 billion in high quality beef products every year. Meat processors in Brisbane enjoy some of the world’s best grazing land, have access to leading technology in breeding, feedlotting and processing, and are well supported by specialist food transport operations. The ingredients sector in Brisbane is at the forefront of global best practice. Its success is epitomised by the visionary development of functional ingredients, designed to add value to existing staples. Leading the
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way is Food Spectrum, a $38 million annual turnover global manufacturer of functional food ingredients, aseptic fruit and syrup preparations and formulated pre-mixes, as well as stabilisers and fortified blends. TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE Leveraging from over $1 billion spent by overseas visitors to Brisbane, Invest Brisbane officially added Tourism Infrastructure to its investment attraction portfolio in 2007. Acting as a catalyst for change, we are working with Tourism Queensland, local councils and industry bodies to determine future directions for the region. Strategies are guided by the Regional Tourism Infrastructure and Investment Plan (RTIIP), which forms part of the State Government’s Queensland Tourism Strategy. Invest Brisbane released the Moreton Bay & Islands Tourism Infrastructure Plan in 2008 which highlighted several opportunities, including the development of high-end eco-resort styled accommodation, to establish Moreton Bay as the premier eco-tourism location in Australia. Invest Brisbane has continued to lead several projects aligned with the catalyst projects of the Brisbane RTIIP, including the Moreton Bay & Islands Terminal Study and the Brisbane hotel sector study. The current pipeline of tourism infrastructure projects is worth in excess of $200 million – a figure which is expected to grow significantly as private and public partnerships increase.
Case Study: Discover and create functional ingredients Worldwide consumer demand is soaring for healthy, functional foods, and Brisbane provides the perfect base for functional food and nutraceutical discovery and development. The opportunity for biodiscovery in Queensland is only matched by that of the Amazon rainforest; however until now Queensland’s biodiversity has been a relatively untapped resource by the health foods and nutraceutical industry. Scientists are now discovering the health benefits of Australian bush fruits such as Kakadu and Burdekin plums, which have more than four times the antioxidant levels of blueberries. However this is considered just the start, as 50 per cent of plant and animal species in Australia remain undiscovered. Imagine finding the next Acai Berry – recently discovered in the Amazon and now touted as the world’s number one “superfood”. Brisbane’s biodiscovery opportunities are complemented by strong research and commercialisation capabilities. Our clinical trials industry is world-leading, and manufacturing in Brisbane is highly competitive, with access to quality facilities, talent and distribution systems.
MORETON BAY IS THE ONLY DESTINATION TO OFFER A MARINE SANCTUARY AND SIGNIFICANT ISLAND EXPERIENCES WITHIN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A CAPITAL CITY.
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INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURING With turnover exceeding $40 billion annually, exports of nearly $10 billion and over 180,000 workers – Queensland’s manufacturing sector is booming. Brisbane is the only region in Australia where manufacturing is expected to grow in terms of employment and output over the next 20 years. Highly innovative in nature, the industry has concentrated on specific niches – advanced manufacturing, machinery and equipment, plastics and metals, packaging and recycling, and marine – to ensure this growth. Strong industry growth means manufacturers enjoy well established infrastructure as well as solid plans for future road and rail development. The Queensland Manufacturing Institute supports and promotes the sector through R&D and training, whilst earmarked industrial land across Brisbane will provide development opportunity into the future. Precision manufacturing is a growth sector for the city. Following the population explosion, residential construction growth has fuelled demand for fabricated metal and plastic products. EGR Plastics, world’s leading designer and manufacturer of
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thermoformed automotive accessories, supplies to companies such as General Motors and Ford Motor Company. While Alphapharm, one of Australia’s largest pharmaceutical companies has its research, production and packaging facilities in Brisbane. In 2006, it supplied more than 2.5 billion tablets and capsules to some 5,000 consumers in Australia, as well as to consumers in more than 60 export markets. Brisbane has also emerged as a major centre for the production and maintenance of the rapidly expanding super yacht market. With over 252 marine companies and more than 43 per cent of the national industry’s turnover, Queensland is Australia’s largest boat building state. LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION Growth in the manufacturing and resource sectors has created excellent opportunities for logistics, transport and warehousing providers. Brisbane is the ideal logistics location offering unequalled infrastructure, strategic location, land availability, lower operating costs and significant labour advantages. The existing infrastructure network in Brisbane is world-class. Australia TradeCoast is Australia’s most
BRISBANE IS THE ONLY REGION IN AUSTRALIA WHERE MANUFACTURING IS EXPECTED TO GROW IN EMPLOYMENT AND OUTPUT OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. integrated trade precinct, combining both the Port of Brisbane and Brisbane Airport. The Port of Brisbane is the only purpose-built, capital city, intermodal port complex in Australia, whilst the Brisbane International and Domestic Airports operate curfew-free, 24-hours a day. A combined expenditure for the next 20 years of $55 billion will see the development of the Gateway Arterial Expansion (duplication of a six-lane toll bridge), the North-South Bypass Tunnel, the Northern Link and Airport Link. As the global trend to shorten supply chains continues, Brisbane offers fast access to national and international markets. Direct air and shipping links to all key Asian ports, means major Asian destinations can be reached by air in seven to nine hours. Continuing this efficiency, firms locating in Brisbane have unique access to land and property in transport locations near the Brisbane Airport and Port of Brisbane – all within 20 kilometres of Brisbane’s CBD.
Case Study: RIO TINTO ALCAN
AVIATION
Global aluminium producer, Rio Tinto Alcan, recently announced plans to move all of its R&D activities to Brisbane – a move that will create nearly 50 jobs for highly-skilled Queenslanders, consolidating the majority of its Australian bauxite and alumina R&D activities in the one location in 2010. The company will move its Pacific Technology Centre from Melbourne and combine it with its already established Queensland Research and Development Centre in Brisbane.
Currently employing over 14,000 people, the aviation and aerospace industry in Brisbane is the fastest growing hub in South-East Asia. Brisbane Airport has a 24-hour, curfew-free operating policy, and sits on 2700 hectares – a land space almost three times that of Sydney Airport.
The new facility is expected to be operational in 2010 and will enhance the organisation’s primary metal, bauxite and alumina operations in Australia and globally. The consolidation will result in a pooling of resources and greater collaboration on potentially ground-breaking research. Rio Tinto Alcan is a world leading mining organisation which supplies high quality bauxite, alumina and aluminium globally. It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
The critical mass of aviation companies including the Boeing Australia Headquarters, Virgin Blue Headquarters, Qantas Boeing 767 maintenance, EADS and Raytheon, provide excellent supply chain opportunities. Brisbane’s major universities have over 5000 students enrolled in engineering technologies and the Boeing/University of Queensland training facility, which offers a Masters degree in Systems Engineering, is bolstering work force standards. Quality land is available for development close to Brisbane Airport within the Australia TradeCoast precinct. No other Australian capital city can offer such strategic high-grade commercial and industrial land in such close proximity to the airport. Add to this the servicing advantages gained from Brisbane’s proximity to Asia and strong government support – Brisbane aviation is a world-class offering.
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Australia has the eighth lowest tax level of the 30 OECD countries. Australia’s strong fiscal position, with low government expenditure levels, balanced budgets and no general government net debt will help sustain this low level of taxation. Australia’s corporate tax rates are on par with other developed countries, as is the more important measure of average effective corporate tax rates. Australia’s consumption taxes are among the lowest of the OECD countries, as are
USA
UK
26.375%
30%
40%
30%
42%
45%
39.6%
40%
47.5%
35%
30%
10%
n/a
17.5%
Highest Capital Gains Tax Goods & Services Tax (VAT)
16%
Source: Clayton Utz, International Services 2007
Average cost of business in Australia is 8 per cent to 9 per cent cheaper than the USA. Australian law recognises a wide variety of business structures – public companies may or may not be listed on an Australian Stock Exchange; trusts, partnerships, sole trading and joint ventures. Capital assets held by an individual or trust for more than 12 months reduce Capital Gains Tax (CGT) by 50 per cent.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Industrial Disputes, Australia, Sep 2007
40 35
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY As the knowledge economy gathers pace, a strong intellectual property (IP) framework is critical to business success. Australia has federal IP laws that reflect international best practice. Its patent and copyright enforcement regime is ranked second in the Asia-Pacific and among the top six in the world – above the UK, Japan, Hong Kong and the USA. In terms of adequate protection of personal security and private property, Australia ranks among the top eight countries globally and in the top three countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
COMBINED WITH AUSTRALIA’S POLITICAL STABILITY, LOW LEVELS OF TAXATION AND STRONG INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FRAMEWORK, BRISBANE IS PRIMED FOR BUSINESS.
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WORKING DAYS LOST PER THOUSAND EMPLOYEES, 2007-2008
30 DAYS LOST / THOUSAND EMPLOYEES
TAX
Germany Australia
25 20 15 10 5 0
AUSTRALIA
Highest Personal Income Tax
Corporate Tax Rate
Australia has continued to create one of the world’s most employer-friendly industrial relations climates. Queensland has a lower number of days lost to industrial disputes per 1000 employees than all other major Australian states.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Australia offers one of the world’s most stable political environments, with the lowest risk of political instability in the Asia-Pacific region and the fourth lowest in the world. Astute political parties have an excellent understanding of today’s economic challenges, and its competition legislation is ranked fifth in the world in terms of facilitating competitive business.
Payroll tax Queensland already boasts the lowest payroll tax regime in Australia at 4.75 per cent and currently has a payroll tax threshold of $1 million, the highest of any mainland state. This improves the competitive advantage of locating business in Queensland’s by extending the $1 million deduction, such that it phases out at a rate of $1 in every $4 of taxable wages above the threshold, rather than $1 in every $3. This change will benefit SMEs, in particular those businesses with taxable wages between $1 million and $5 million.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Tax and Regulatory information
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
QUEENSLAND
Foreign investors in Australia will attract CGT only on taxable Australian property.
VICTORIA
personal income taxes (including social security contributions and payroll taxes).
NSW
Australia’s federal, state and local governments are solidly pro-business. Strong policies of flexible corporate and financial structures for foreign investment are reflected in Brisbane’s open and supportive business environment. Combined with Australia’s political stability, low levels of taxation and strong intellectual property (IP) framework, Brisbane is primed for business.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERT Y RIGHTS
Intellectual property rights are adequately enforced SWITZERLAND SINGAPORE USA DENMARK GERMANY NETHERLANDS AUSTRIA AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND CANADA SWEDEN FRANCE FINLAND IRELAND JAPAN UNITED KINGDOM HONG KONG TAIWAN MALAYSIA ITALY SPAIN CHILE GREECE CHINA MAINLAND INDIA BRAZIL INDONESIA
5
6
7
8
SCORE (10 = ADEQUATELY ENFORCED, 0 = OTHERWISE) Sources: IMD WCY Executive Opinion Survey 2008, based on an index from 0 to 10
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
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S T R AT E GIC P R O J E C T S Invest Brisbane works to address gaps in the Brisbane business landscape through the development and management of strategic projects. These initiatives evolve from ongoing consultation with the business community, and Invest Brisbane drives this by bringing together the public and private sectors. Seeking to further propel the city’s growth, Invest Brisbane has committed to several key projects: The Brisbane and Moreton Bay RTIIPs or Regional Tourism Investment and Infrastructure Plans, aim to provide direction and a central focus for the sustainable development of tourism in the Brisbane and Moreton Bay & Island regions out to 2018. Its purpose is to identify a range of tourism related infrastructure and investment opportunities that, if developed, have the potential to ensure Brisbane’s future as a tourism destination. Ten catalyst projects have been elevated as a priority because of their potential to strengthen Brisbane’s tourism offering for domestic and international visitors, maximise the economic benefits of tourism to the local economy, and help deliver on Brisbane’s tourism vision.
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Invest Brisbane, with the support of Brisbane City Council and Tourism Queensland, is leading and managing the investment process for each catalyst project. The Bay Terminal Project focuses on the need for improved transport linkages between the Brisbane CBD and the Moreton Bay & Islands region. Specifically, Invest Brisbane is promoting the development of an integrated common user terminal on the Brisbane River to connect visitors from the central Brisbane area with the tour operators and transport providers that are currently active in the Bay. The Mining Technology & Services Prospectus aims to promote the strengths of this key sector to the global mining industry. The prospectus will provide a platform to attract potential investors, capitalising on Brisbane’s capabilities and the emerging opportunities arising from this burgeoning sector. The Brisbane Hotel Market Study stems from a critical undersupply of short-term accommodation in the city – Brisbane hotels have the fourth highest occupancy in the world. Invest Brisbane is working with hotel operators, developers, local consultants, Brisbane City Council, and the Queensland Government to identify and facilitate solutions to the current shortage.
SEEKING TO FURTHER PROPEL THE CITY’S GROWTH, INVEST BRISBANE HAS COMMITTED TO SEVERAL KEY STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. THESE PROACTIVE INITIATIVES AND SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND THE ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY.
GR A N T S & INCE N T I V E S There are a range of funding opportunities and government support available to companies choosing to locate in Brisbane. Invest Brisbane is able to assist in sourcing appropriate State and Federal Government grants and incentives to encourage companies to locate their business in Brisbane. In all cases, companies will need to apply to the relevant government body for the grant or subsidy in question. Invest Brisbane can assist by facilitating introductions to the relevant agencies offering these grants and guide companies in making a winning application. QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT The Queensland Government offers a large and diverse range of grants and incentives, which are open to a wide cross-section of industries. Queensland Investment Incentives Scheme The Queensland Investment Incentives Scheme (QIIS) aims to secure important investment projects that support current government priorities and that, in the absence of incentives, would locate elsewhere. Support may be in the form of state tax rebates or establishment grants depending upon the type of short-term impediment affecting the development in
Queensland. All offers are conditional and subject to the fulfilment of due diligence requirements and contractual obligations. For further information please visit www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au Other Incentives Schemes The Queensland Government also offers a range of other incentives programs, primarily focused on innovation and developing the government’s Smart State agenda. For instance, the Innovation Program offers a portfolio of grants with over $3 billion invested to date, targeted at innovative and research orientated-projects. AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT The Australian Government through its AusIndustry department administers grant and incentives for the Federal Government. During 2008 the Australian Government completed a Review of the National Innovation System. The Government is currently considering the Review’s recommendations in preparing a 10 year White Paper on Innovation. It is intended that the White Paper be made available during 2009. In tandem with the Australia’s Future Tax System
Review, it is anticipated that this will enable a number of substantial reforms to the nation’s tax instruments, including incentive models. AusIndustry Research and Development Tax Concession AusIndustry’s R&D Tax Concession is the principal Federal Government incentive to enhance and increase the amount of R&D being conducted within Australia. Eligible companies can claim a tax deduction of up to 125 per cent for eligible R&D expenditure when lodging their annual tax return. A 175 per cent Premium (Incremental) Tax Concession and an R&D Tax Offset (Rebate) are also available in certain circumstances. Other Incentives Schemes In addition to those mentioned above, AusIndustry also offers a large and diverse range of alternate incentives schemes, numbering over 35 programs and collectively worth around $2 billion each year. Some of these programs include:
· Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) Grants · Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund · Green Car Innovation Fund · Climate Ready Program Supported Skills Program Listed below are a number of links that can assist in setting up a business: · AusIndustry www.ausindustry.gov.au · Business Entry Point – assistance with licensing and compliance www.business.gov.au · SmartLicence – assistance with licensing and compliance issues www.business.qld.gov.au
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KELVIN GROVE URBAN VILLAGE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES RESEARCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING
RBH
BOWEN HILLS
HEALTH RESEARCH
URBAN RENEWAL
CITY WEST
MILTON CORRIDOR BUSINESS/IT
SOUTH BANK
UQ EDUCATION BIOSCIENCES RESEARCH
BRISBANE EXPORT PARK
AIRPORT
PORT OF BRISBANE
FORTITUDE VALLEY IT ENTERTAINMNET
ENTERTAINMENT SPORT
CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT
AUSTRALIA TRADECOAST
CBD
THE GEOGR APHICAL REL ATIONSHIPS BET WEEN PRECINCTS IN INNER BRISBANE
QUT IT
Source: Smart Cities: rethinking the city centre, a Smart State Council working group report (May 2007) from information provided by the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry.
MATER HILL HEALTH RESEARCH
BOGGO ROAD BIOSCIENCES ECOSCIENCES
PAH
WOOLLOONGABBA
HEALTH RESEARCH
SPORT URBAN RENEWAL
BRISBANE INNOVATION PARK
QCAT/ PINJARRA HILLS RESEARCH + DEVELOPMENT
TENNYSON SPORT URBAN RENEWAL
BRISBANE TECHNOLOGY PARK
GRIFFITH UNI
P R OP E R T Y A N D P R E CINC T S
BIOTECH MICRO-ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY IT
EDUCATION RESEARCH
COOPERS PLAIN FOOD SCIENCES
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
Brisbane’s population boom, employment growth and business investment has ensured that the Brisbane CBD and CBD-fringe commercial property is in high demand. Leasing costs in general are lower in Brisbane than in many alternative locations.
Brisbane offers investors a broad range of unique opportunities to access world-class industrial property. Australia TradeCoast (ATC) is the fastest growing industry and trade precinct in Australia, and is particularly suited to international traders allowing direct access to the port and airport. 1892 hectares of prime industrial land is earmarked for development at ATC in coming years, with approximately 150 hectares of zoned, vacant, industrial land available immediately.
Brisbane’s phenomenal business growth over the past decade means that the city is currently experiencing tight vacancy rates, however this is expected to be temporary. Over the next five years, Brisbane will benefit from some 600,000m² of new office space to be introduced into the marketplace. As a result, Brisbane is predicted to have the smallest increase in net rents in Australia in the next five years at just 1.8 per cent effective after incentives. This is compared with 12 per cent in Sydney and 6.3 per cent in Melbourne.
To the north of Brisbane, Brendale and Northlakes industrial estates will release a combined 275 hectares of land by 2012. To the west of the city, five new industrial complexes – Swanbank Enterprise Park, Redbank River Park, Ebenezer Industrial Park, Citiswich and Metroplex on Westgate – offer a combined total of 2185 hectares of industrial land which will be available to investors at staged release. Investors choosing to locate south of the CBD enjoy some of the best road logistics in Australia. With up to 265 hectares of industrial supply coming on line in the next four years, there is no shortage of outstanding property solutions.
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IN F R A S T R UC T U R E The South-East Queensland Infrastructure Plan will manage the extreme growth of the Brisbane region with a total investment of $32.3 billion. This is the largest public infrastructure spending program in Australia’s history. Much of Brisbane’s major public infrastructure to support import and export activities lies within the Australia TradeCoast Precinct. AUSTRALIA TRADECOAST Australia TradeCoast is an internationally unique trade and industry hub in a prime location offering unparalleled transport links, world-class infrastructure and strategic government-industry partnerships. It is one of the world’s largest integrated industrial precincts covering more than 8,000 hectares and incorporating Brisbane’s airport and seaport. As an organisation, Australia TradeCoast acts as a network and business facilitator, and also provides an investment attraction service to sustain future growth for the region. It is backed by four of the state’s most powerful industry leaders – Queensland Government, Invest Brisbane, Brisbane Airport Corporation and Port of Brisbane Corporation. PORTS The Port of Brisbane, Australia’s third largest port in size and the fastest growing container port in the country; is a purpose-built, intermodal world-class facility. The port is adjacent to Brisbane’s international airport and is positioned as the lead location for freight and distribution within the Asia-Pacific region. Patrick Technology & Systems developed groundbreaking IT and communications systems to support the extensive network of freight logistics – a world first fully automated container handling system. The port offers a wide range of services for the efficient movement of cargo from the wharf to its ultimate destination, coordinated through the world-class Brisbane Multimodal Terminal (BMT).
AIR
ROADS
In 2005 the Brisbane Airport was awarded the prestigious, peer-assessed, IATA Eagle Award for the Best Privatised Airport in the world. Brisbane Airport is a major expanding commercial and industrial centre of the future. It consists of seven integrated precincts that together provide a 970 hectare, 24-hour global trade and commerce centre.
Brisbane is strategically placed at the junction of major national and regional road networks, allowing industry to quickly and efficiently move product out of Brisbane’s sea and air ports to market. Once on the major arterial road out of the Port of Brisbane, a truck will not encounter a traffic light for 150 kilometres when travelling north, south or west.
Brisbane Airport is also the country’s fastest growing airport, and has the second largest international arrivals behind Sydney, and with annual passenger numbers expected to exceed 25.6 million by 2015 and around 50 million by 2035, Brisbane Airport Corporation has committed more than $2.2 billion to fund new public infrastructure projects over the next 10 years. Included in these new infrastructure projects is the new parallel runway, planned for completion between 2012 and 2015.
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
RAIL Queensland’s rail network is one of Australia’s largest and most modern with a total 9,400 kilometres of narrow gauge (1067mm) track. Approximately 20 per cent of the rail network is electrified and there is a 1435mm standard gauge line directly linking the Port of Brisbane to other Australian states. The vast majority of Queensland’s rail network is owned, operated and managed by the various departments of Queensland Rail. However, the Queensland rail market has been deregulated and logistics providers such as the Toll Group and Pacific National have made significant investments into rolling stock and standard gauge track to service Brisbane’s freight needs in a competitive environment.
The Australian and Queensland Governments, along with the Brisbane City Council will be investing in excess $80 billion over the next 20 years on roads, rail and major port upgrades. Current projects include: • Brisbane’s Transapex, the biggest urban road project in Australia, has commenced. It consists of five major tunnel and bridge projects over the next ten years. The first project, the North-South Bypass Tunnel, is underway with a $3 billion budget. This is being conducted as a Public Private Partnership (PPP). • $2 billion six-lane Gateway toll Bridge • $360 million Gold Coast Bypass • 230 hectare sea reclamation for Port of Brisbane • $1.3 billion desalination plant • $130 million Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) redevelopment • $180 million Cruise Terminal Expansion • $300 million Translational Therapies Institute • $1.3 billion New Parallel Runway at Brisbane International Airport
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M A N U FA C T U R IN G Invest Brisbane is the city’s business champion – an experienced and world class inward investment agency, we play a strategic role in Brisbane business. Invest Brisbane is responsible for securing investment that will maximise long term economic growth for Brisbane, whose vibrant economy is taking its place on the global stage. We work with potential investors in their search for suitable business opportunities in Brisbane and provide guidance during transition and implementation. Invest Brisbane works to address gaps in Brisbane’s economic infrastructure by driving strategic initiatives. These innovative projects evolve from ongoing consultation with the business community and are critical to positioning Brisbane as the preferred destination of choice and focus on investment attraction, tourism infrastructure and brand awareness.
business goals. The Invest Brisbane Corporate Partnership is committed to the development of Brisbane as a strong, commercially competitive location for business. This unique combination of private sector specialists and inward investment experts provides investors with broad business advice and operational assistance, as well as detailed industry-specific information.
Critical Introductions With strong links to private enterprise and all levels of government, Invest Brisbane has all the right contacts to help you succeed. Our unrivalled access to key corporate and political contacts – including senior State Government representatives and the Lord Mayor of Brisbane – will facilitate the process of turning your plans into reality.
SERVICES
Talent With a comprehensive education system in place, Brisbane prides itself on its well-educated and highly skilled workforce. Invest Brisbane can help you identify and tap into this talented labour pool by conducting a labour analysis. Compiled specifically for your business, this analysis considers all the factors relevant to you, including staff type and levels required. Invest Brisbane is also able to assist with the establishment of collaborative partnerships between businesses and universities.
Business Case In order to determine and demonstrate Brisbane’s suitability for your business, Invest Brisbane will work with you to develop a full Business Case. Our team of specialists will consult closely with you to fully understand your business, and then provide a summation of opportunities and key criteria solutions. Tailored specifically to your needs, the Business Case includes a business needs analysis, market research and statistics.
Property Solutions The dynamic Brisbane property sector is constantly evolving, so expert advice and impartial information is crucial. With our comprehensive view of the property market, Invest Brisbane is in the perfect position to help you develop successful property solutions. Our established relationships with major property players and government bodies – plus our broad market exposure – mean we are always up to date with the very latest in pricing, project developments and city planning. Grants and Incentives The pro-business Queensland State Government and Brisbane City Council are committed to bringing business to Brisbane, and offer grants and incentives in some cases. Invest Brisbane can assist with further information and applications.
Invest Brisbane connects investors with our extensive networks to maximise opportunities for business success. We have established and productive political, business and media relationships to help investors achieve their
INVEST BRISBANE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE ACCOLADE OF WORLD-CLASS INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCY FOR 2005/06 AND 2007/08 P L AT IN U M PA R T N E R S
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G O L D PA R T N E R S
CORPORATE PARTNERS The Invest Brisbane Partnership scheme was established in 2000 to further strengthen our offering to potential investors. This network of industry professionals provides investors with broad business advice and operational assistance, as well as detailed information specific to their field of expertise. The Invest Brisbane Partnership is unique to the investment attraction industry, it: • Heightens corporate partners affiliation and personal relationships with local, interstate and international industry and government; • Achieves greater penetration of key investment target markets; • Offers knowledge to ensure target industries and markets, together with marketing programs, are ‘steered’ towards relevant trends to maximise attraction/investment opportunities; and • Provides a coordinated investment front creating a point of difference over competitor locations.
INVEST BRISBANE S I LV E R PA R T N E R S
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INVEST BRISBANE LIFE SCIENCES CREATIVE INDUSTRIES LOGISTICS AVIATION INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURING ICT TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE FOOD & BEVERAGE
www.investbrisbane.com.au Level 12, 15 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Queensland Australia 4000 PO Box 12260, George Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 4003 Phone: +61 7 3006 6200 Fax: +61 7 3006 6250 Website: www.investbrisbane.com.au
Copyright: This document and its attachments may be privileged or subject to copyright. Any use of this document or any of its contents should have the prior and express authorisation in writing from INVEST BRISBANE. Disclaimer: INVEST BRISBANE believes that the information contained in this document is accurate at the date of this document. Neither INVEST BRISBANE nor any member, employee or other representative thereof undertakes responsibility in any way whatsoever to any person or body (whether a purchaser or reader of this document or not) for any errors or omissions in this document however they may have been caused.