Preferred city for incorporation of the company? | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Canberra | Perth | Adelaide | Darwin |
Business output market size? (in AU$ billions) | AU$507 | AU$356 | AU$300 | AU$35 | AU$276 | AU$99 | AU$22 |
Market size relative to the economy? | 31% | 22% | 19% | 2% | 17% | 6% | 1% |
Local purchasing power (GSP per capita) AU$? | 66,966 | 60,413 | 63,209 | 89,975 | 107,247 | 58,253 | 92,107 |
Total population? (in thousands) | 7,671 | 5,996 | 4,809 | 393 | 2,604 | 1,703 | 244 |
Most popular business sector? | Business services | Business services | Business services | Business services | Mining | Household services | Natural gas |
Specific attractive Government incentives available? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Hub for the headquarters of multi-national firms? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
City airport with direct flight to Europe, Asia and America? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Total foreign investment in 2015? (in AU$ trillion) | 1.4 | 1 | 0.22 | 0.1 | 0.15 | 0.06 | 0.07 |
Logistical considerations | New South Wales | Victoria | Queensland | Australia Capital Territory | Western Australia | South Australia | Northern Territory |
Attractive State for a manufacturing business? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Attractive State for a e-business? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Attractive State for an export-oriented service business? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
CBD monthly office rental per sq m? | AU$108 | AU$67 | AU$73 | AU$100 | AU$65 | AU$63 | AU$56 |
Average monthly warehouse rental per sq m? | AU$60 | AU$33 | AU$36 | AU$55 | AU$33 | AU$30 | AU$28 |
Average monthly electricity prices? (cents per Kwh) | 31 | 31 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 36 | 30 |
Proximity of sea port to the main city? | 3km | 6km | 6km | 288km | 18km | 14km | 6km |
Proximity of airport in kilometres to the main city? | 12km | 23km | 15km | 7km | 11km | 6km | 11km |
Proximity of rail in kilometres to the main city? | 600m | 400m | 450m | 6km | 100m | 2km | 17km |
Number of international tourists? (in million) | 3.6 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
Average annual inflation rate? | 0.9% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.1% |
Average unemployment rate? | 5.2% | 5.8% | 6.4% | 3.8% | 5.7% | 6.9% | 4.1% |
Time zone? (ahead of GMT) | +10 hours | +10 hours | +10 hours | +10 hours | +8 hours | +9.30 hours | +9.30 hours |
Quality of internet broadband and Wi-Fi? | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Satisfactory | Satisfactory |
Corporate banking and finance considerations | New South Wales | Victoria | Queensland | Australia Capital Territory | Western Australia | South Australia | Northern Territory |
Is the main city a financial services hub? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
How many global banks are based in the state? | 33 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 1 |
How many Aussie banks with local branches? | 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 11 |
Recommended Bank for corporate banking? | Westpac Bank | ANZ Bank | Commonwealth Bank | HSBC | ANZ Bank | Commonwealth Bank | Westpac Bank |
Quality of bank customer services? | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Good | Satisfactory |
Quality of online banking services? | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Does the State have a reputable financial district? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Does the State have a local Stock Exchange? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Are there Private Equity Funds/VCs in the State? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Employment considerations | New South Wales | Victoria | Queensland | Australia Capital Territory | Western Australia | South Australia | Northern Territory |
Average monthly salary for local employees? | AU$6,678 | AU$6,300 | AU$6,322 | AU$7,482 | AU$7,371 | AU$6,134 | AU$6,807 |
Average skilled labour monthly salary? | AU$8,014 | AU$7,560 | AU$7,586 | AU$8,978 | AU$8,845 | AU$7,361 | AU$8,168 |
Average unskilled labour monthly salary? | AU$4,975 | AU$4,810 | AU$4,625 | AU$5,237 | AU$4,160 | AU$4,294 | AU$4,165 |
Labour productivity (Value Added per hour)? | AU$61 | AU$59 | AU$59 | AU$64 | AU$63 | AU$57 | AU$59 |
Is there a large expatriate community in the State? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
International schools for children of expatriate employees? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Golf courses near the main city of the State? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
General availability of bars and restaurants? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Will I find European F&B products in the supermarkets? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mercer Survey Ranking for global cities? | 10 | 15 | 36 | 28 | 21 | 27 | Not ranked |
Is the main city of the State safe for expatriates? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Literacy rate? (% of population) | 96% | 96% | 95% | 99% | 95% | 96% | 95% |
Computer literacy rate? (% of population) | 85% | 85% | 80% | 90% | 70% | 65% | 65% |
Working overtime is common? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Accounting and tax considerations | New South Wales | Victoria | Queensland | Australia Capital Territory | Western Australia | South Australia | Northern Territory |
Payroll tax rates? | 5% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 6% |
Stamp duty rate on asset transfers of AU$500,000? | 5% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
Land tax (over threshold) on property worth AU$500,000? | 1.6% | 0.2% | 1.7% | 4.6% | 0.25% | 0.5% | 0% |
Monthly state tax filing required? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Business grants offered by the state government? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Specific tax incentives available in this state? | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |