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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 environment as well as numerous operating costs that are lower than 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 and provides a competitive advantage to investing in a business on the Sunshine Coast.  Additionally, Queensland has one of the highest payroll tax thresholds at A$1.1 million, which means that no payroll tax is due for wages and salaries below this level.

In 2016-17, it was estimated that an overall taxation in Queensland was A$766 per person less than the average of all other Australia states and territories. (Queensland Government, June 2016).

State or TerritoryBasic Flat Tax Rate (%)Exemption Threshold
Queensland
(including Sunshine Coast)
4.75A$1,100,000
Victoria4.85A$650,000
South Australia4.95A$1,500,000
New South Wales5.45A$850,000
Western Australia5.5A$850,000
Northern Territory5.5A$1,500,000
Tasmania6.1A$1,250,000
Australian Capital Territory6.85A$2,000,000
National average5.49
Difference to Sunshine Coast0.74

Notes: For annual payroll thresholds between A$1.5 million and A$1.7 million, South Australian payroll tax rates are variable between 0% and 4.95%. For annual payroll thresholds between A$1.25 million and A$2 million, Tasmanian payroll tax rates are 4.00%.

Source: Payroll Tax Australia (2019)

Lowest payroll tax3

4.75% payroll tax

Compared with national average 5.23% and 6.85% in ACT.

Indicative industrial land values (3,000 - 5,000m2)

Sunshine CoastA$142/m2
BrisbaneA$347/m2Average 59% lower
Melbourne*A$557/m2Average 75% lower
Sydney*A$896/m2Average 84% lower

Source: Savills, February 2019

* Median price for CBD and outer suburbs

Commercial office rental (A grade costs)

LocalityMid-pointAverage Comparison
Sunshine CoastA$330/m2
Gold CoastA$350/m26% lower
Brisbane CBDA$540/m240% lower
Melbourne CBDA$575/m243% lower
Sydney CBDA$1,090/m270% lower

Source: Savills, January 2019

Operating costs

LocationMedian Weekly Personal IncomeWorkcover Premium Cost Per $100 in Wages
Sunshine CoastA$615A$1.20
QueenslandA$660A$1.20
VictoriaA$644A$1.27
New South WalesA$664A$1.40

Source: Worksafe QLD (2018); Worksafe VIC (2018); Milne Alexander (2017)

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