Competitive Business Conditions
  • Last updated:
  • 15 Nov 2017

The Sunshine Coast's low business costs make the region a highly cost-effective place to operate. The region boasts:

  • Australia's lowest payroll tax rates
  • Lower operating costs, compared to the state averages in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Payroll tax

Queensland has the lowest payroll tax rate of any state or territory in Australia. Taxation in Queensland in 2016-17 was estimated to be A$866 per person less than the average of other Australian states and territories (Queensland Government, Low Business Costs in Queensland, July 2015). Furthermore, Queensland companies are not required to pay any payroll tax until total wages and salaries exceed A$1.1 million.

State or Territory  Basic Flat Tax Rate (%) Exemption Threshold
Queensland
(including Sunshine Coast)		 4.75 A$1,100,000
Victoria 4.85  A$550,000
South Australia 4.95 A$600,000
New South Wales 5.45 A$750,000
Western Australia 5.5 A$800,000
Northern Territory 5.5 A$1,500,000
Tasmania 6.1 A$1,250,000
Australian Capital Territory 6.85 A$1,185,000
National average 5.49  
Difference to Sunshine Coast 0.74  

Source: Qld Office of State Revenue (2013); NSW Office of State Revenue (2013); VIC State Revenue Office (2013); Revenue SA (2013); WA Office of State Revenue (2013); Tasmania State Revenue Office (2013); NT Revenue Office (2013); ACT Revenue Office (2013)

Indicative Industrial Land Values (3,000 - 5,000m2)

Industrial land costs per square metre on the Sunshine Coast are, on average, 51% lower than Brisbane, 71% lower than Sydney and 61% lower than Melbourne.

Sunshine Coast  A$150/m2 
Brisbane A$300/m2
Melbourne* A$386/m2
Sydney* A$444/m2

Source: Savills, September 2015
* Median price for CBD and outer suburbs

Commercial Office Rental

Office rent costs on the Sunshine Coast on average, are almost 41% lower than Brisbane CBD costs, 61% lower than Sydney and 55% lower than Melbourne.

Locality  Mid-point (A$/sm2)
Sunshine Coast A$295
Gold Coast A$318
Brisbane CBD A$503
Melbourne CBD* A$657
Sydney CBD A$750

Source: Savills, 2015
* Savills, 2016

Operating Costs

The Sunshine Coast has on average, lower workforce costs in terms of weekly wages and employee insurance rates than the other major states of New South Wales and Victoria. This means lower operating costs for employers on the Sunshine Coast.

Location  Median Weekly
Household Income		 Workcover Premium Cost
Per $100 in Wages
Sunshine Coast  A$1,010 A$1.20
QLD A$1,235 A$1.20
NSW* A$1,081 A$1.40
VIC A$1,216 A$1.27

Source: 2011 ABS Census Quickstats; Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2016
* NSW Office of State Revenue (2016)