Just as Australia is the only developed economy to record growth during the global financial crisis, Queensland’s retail turnover has also continued to outperform all others.

As the global trend to shorten supply chains continues, Queensland offers fast access to national and international markets. With direct air and shipping links to all key Asian ports, major Asian destinations can be reached by air in seven to nine hours.

Labour costs and associated costs such as payroll tax are generally lower than in other Australian states. Labour agreements are the least restrictive in the country. Brisbane also boasts a strong labour market for experienced technicians and semi-skilled staff.

Quick Facts
• Queensland’s population 4.4 million (2009); concentrated in South East
  Queensland, which includes capital city Brisbane
• Australia's second largest state by land area (1,730,648 square km) and third
  most populous
• South-East Queensland Regional Plan for 2009 – 2031 forecasts the region’s
  population will increase by 1.6 million to 4.4 million by 2031
• Queensland’s exports doubled over the last 10 years to AUD$42 billion
• Queensland’s economy has recorded stronger average growth than Britain,
  Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the USA (which recorded combined
  growth of 2.4% in 2006-07)

Source for the above: Access Economics September 2009