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After Western Australia, Queensland is the next largest of the Australian states, and is bordered by the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia to the south-west and New South Wales to the south. The state's coastline is to the east is bounded by both the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and the northern peninsular is also to its west is bordered by the Gulf of Carpentaria. In the Coral Sea area is the Great Barrier Reef, a coral formation so large it is visible from space. Brisbane, the state capital, is located close to the eastern shoreline around 60 miles north of the border with New South Wales. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, as of June 2007 Queensland has a population of 4,182.100 and in 2005 Brisbane's population stood at an estimated 1,810,943. Economy: The economy of Queensland is quite diverse and covers a number of industries, farming (both crops and livestock), mining of coal and a variety of minerals and tourism. As the administrative capital of the state, Brisbane's economy also includes IT, financial and legal sectors, as well as industries such as metalworking, petroleum refining and trade through the Port of Brisbane. According to the Port of Brisbane, ?each year over 2,600 ships exchange about 26 million tons of cargo over the port's wharves. This activity currently generates a total annual contribution to the Queensland economy of $770 million?. The city is also host to many foreign companies covering several different types of business including the freight and courier company DHL, Red Hat (the developers of Red Hat Enterprise Linux) and the electronics giant Panasonic. Tourism is also part of the city's economic make up, with Brisbane being both a destination in its own right and the first step to the rest of Queensland. Figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that in 2003, $1,434,800 was generated from accommodation alone. The Queensland Government agency Invest Queensland stated, ?Queensland is Australia's lowest taxed state for business? and ?Average Queenslanders paid per capita tax of just $1708 in 2005-06, compared with the Australian average of $2135?..
Workforce: In December 2006 the Queensland Treasury issued a report showing that employment in the state was consistently increasing at a higher rate than the rest of Australia, since at least the turn of the millennium, and unemployment has been falling faster since mid-2003. The Australian Bureau of Statistics show that as of March 2005, the Queensland workforce stood at 1,981,200 with 77% being 49 years old or younger. There are a high number of top quality universities and colleges in the state; the best known internationally is the University of Queensland, based in Brisbane. Quality of Life:Regularly referred to as the Sunshine State, Queensland enjoys for the most part a subtropical climate. Being such a large state means Queensland has a huge range of activities, amusements and entertainments for both visitors and locals alike. For the more adventurous there is diving at the Great Barrier Reef, which has some of the most spectacular underwater views anywhere in the world, or guided treks into Queensland's interior. Before deciding to go walkabout in the bush, it would be wise to visit the Queensland Museum in Brisbane to learn about the snakes and spiders that inhabit the state. Around 80 species of snake are to be found of which a quarter, if you are bitten, are dangerous or fatal to humans - it is also a good idea to make a note of the museum's spider bite emergency line. |
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For those who are less adventurous Brisbane offers more of the creature comforts, such as high quality restaurants, bars and nightlife. Standing in the middle of the city, it is hard to imagine how a convict settlement of 1825 with a population of less 50 evolved into the modern bustling metropolis we now know as Brisbane. In Mercer's Quality of Living Survey 2006, Brisbane is ranked 31st out of 144 cities from around the world with a score of 102.8. This is behind the country's largest city, Sydney, which is in 9th place on 106.5 points and Melbourne, in 17th place on 105 points. Brisbane is also ranked as one of the least expensive cities in the world in Mercer's Cost of Living Survey 2006, which measures the comparative cost of over 200 items such as housing, food, clothing, and household goods, together with transportation and entertainment. The city was placed in 99th position, well below Sydney, which was placed 19th.
Business Costs:
According to a report published by the commercial real estate services firm, CB Richard Ellis, in 2005, the total avarage occupation cost for offices in Brisbane is $26.22 USD per square foot per annum - this is well below the average cost in Sydney of $40.45 USD, but higher than other Australian cities such as Adelaide, Canberra and Melbourne. Aquaculture industry The aquaculture industry contributed $67.9million (26 per cent) of the total gross annual fisheries value in Queensland in 2004-2005. The prawn farming sector is substantially larger than any other sector and accounts for over 70 per cent of Queensland aquaculture production. Other major farmed species include barramundi, redclaw crayfish and silver and jade perch. Niche market and emerging high value sectors include edible oyster and pearl oyster farming, eel aquaculture, intensive crab aquaculture, sea cucumber and sea scallop hatchery and ranching, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products from algae and sponges, and aquarium species. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=14264
Aviation & Aerospace industry The industry in Queensland comprises of close to 1,000 firms ranging in size from global aerospace corporations to small to medium size enterprises. Their activities include all facets of the industry including commercial airlines, general aviation, and defence activities. Also represented are organisations specialising in civil aircraft and component design, manufacture, modification and repair, aviation services, R&D, and all levels of technical and services training and education. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=146
Biotechnology Biotechnology industry currently comprises around 88 companies and 68 biotechnology-related research institutes. Combined, these organisations employed over 5,200 people and generated an estimated $690 million in revenues in 2004/05. The Queensland Government is committed to establishing the State as the centre of excellence in biotechnology in the Asia Pacific and will employ over 16,000 people and generate $4 billion in revenues to an industry worth $20 billion by 2025. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=129
Clean coal, mining services and nanotechnology In 2005-2006 Queensland?s mining and mineral processing industries contributed $20.3 billion to the state?s economy and an estimated $5 billion was contributed by the mining services sector. Royalties alone account for a large share of state revenue, with the $1.45 billion collected by the Government in 2005-06 providing funding for public facilities such as hospitals, schools and roads. This industry is also leading the way in the application of innovative technologies such as robotics, satellite imaging, and 3D visualisation. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=132
Creative Industries The creative industries sector, although relatively new, already adds $1.96 billion to the value of Queensland's services and manufacturing sectors each year. The sector employs more than 67 000 Queenslanders, and adds $1.1 billion in exports to the Queensland economy. In total creative industries are worth $3.4 billion a year to the Queensland economy. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=131
Electronics Industry Queensland firms develop and manufacture a wide range of electronics products including computer circuits, telecommunications, broadcast equipment, scientific equipment, alarm systems and household electrical goods. Queensland is well suited to prototyping and developing specialised products for niches in global markets.http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=1455
Environment industry
Queensland?s environment industry has enormous growth and investment potential. A diverse industry, it consists mainly of small to medium sized businesses that deliver goods and services in water/wastewater management, air quality, energy, mining, recycling, waste solids and urban development. Businesses range from air pollution monitoring and control specialists, green energy providers, major consulting firms to experts in cleaning up contaminated sites and suppliers of water and waste water management technologies and solutions. Many companies are successfully exporting their know-how and technologies. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=5672
Alternative and renewable fuels BP Australia recently signed two contracts and a Memorandum of Understanding to provide to consumers over 200 million litres of biofuels per annum by 2008. The announcement signals the early delivery by a single company of over half of the federal government?s national target of 350 million litres. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=5946
Fibre Composites
The Queensland Government, as part of the Smart State Strategy, has already invested over $10 million in this emerging ?industry?, including $7.4 million in funding to establish the Centre of Excellence for Engineered Fibre Composites at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba. This facility will continue to be an important innovation and research facility for the development of new applications for fibre composite materials, especially in civil infrastructure. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=57343
Information and Communication Technology
The Queensland ICT industry generated estimated total sales of $23.6 billion in 2005-2006, an increase of $2.5 billion on the 2003-2004 figures. Of this, employing businesses contributed approximately 98%. Export markets continue to develop with 5.5% of total sales as exports ?$1.3 billion?compared with 4% in 2003-2004. The strong sales figure for the Queensland market ($17.1 billion) reflects the industry focus on domestic markets that is highlighted in reported business growth strategies. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=130
Marine industry
When it comes to boat building, Queensland sets the benchmark for the rest of Australia. A survey, commissioned by the Queensland Government and conducted by the Boating Association of Queensland, reported that Queensland?s marine industry employs an estimated 11,000 people and contributed $2.6 billon to the State?s economy. The survey also stated the industry is continuing to experience strong and consistent growth across the State. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=128
Therapeutic medicines and devices
? Contributed approximately $1.3 billion to Queensland?s economy in 2005-2006 ? More than 2,500 therapeutic medicines and devices industry establishments in Queensland ? 17.4 per cent growth in exports over 10 years ? 17.5 per cent growth in the complementary medicines sector from 2004 to 2005 http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=133
Food Industry Queensland's food industry is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the State, employing more than 43,000 Queenslanders and contributing more than $13 billion annually to the Queensland economy through both domestic and international sales. In 2005-2006 food and beverage was Queensland's and Australia's largest export manufacturing industry and represented one quarter of Queensland's total manufacturing exports http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=134
Tourism
? Tourism accounts for 5.6 per cent of Queensland?s Gross State Product ? Tourism generates $3.7 billion annually as an export earner, second only to coal (year ended September 2007) ? The tourism industry directly employs 5.6 per cent of Queenslanders, providing approximately 103,500 jobs, 80 per cent provided by small businesses. http://www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=61103 http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/ http://www.bcglocations.com/australia/queensland/queensland_intro.html |