If a company was heading somewhere today, it was heading to Queensland, Premier Peter Beattie said at the launch of a major Government investment campaign.
Mr Beattie said the Invest Queensland campaign was critical for Queensland, with the aim of encouraging the creation of new jobs, business opportunities and greater community wealth. This is part of the Government’s Smart State Strategy to establish Queensland as one of the world’s leading economies.
The Invest Queensland campaign aims to attract Australian and overseas investors by creating greater awareness of the State’s economic advantages.
Television and print media advertisements, as well as other marketing initiatives, will run nationally in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games.
“We are currently experiencing the most sustained period of growth and prosperity ever recorded in our State’s history,” Mr Beattie said.
“Our economic growth rate this financial year is forecast to be 4.25 percent – easily eclipsing the national figure of three percent. And consumer and business confidence is sky high.”
Mr Beattie said the latest Ernst & Young annual Transaction Trends which surveyed 200 leading private Australian companies found Queensland businesses were more optimistic than their southern counterparts, due to the strength of the economy.
“People generally see Queensland as a good place to be and do business,” he said.
“The message for investors is clear: investing in Queensland is smart business.
“We are a low tax State, our business costs are extremely competitive, our infrastructure is state-of-the-art and continuing to grow in line with our growing population.
“We also have a low cost and high standard of living which is critical for attracting and retaining skilled staff, and you have a pro-business State Government who is committed to helping you succeed.”
Queensland Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for State Development, Trade and Innovation Anna Bligh said companies were also drawn to Queensland because of the State’s highly qualified and skilled people and their ‘get on with it’ attitude.
‘This is a major reason often given by business either coming to Queensland or expanding their operations in the State,” Ms Bligh said.
“Companies, such as aviation and aerospace giant Boeing and world-renowned game developer THQ, identify the quality and motivation of employees in Queensland as major reasons why they set up or expand their operations here.”
She said there were obvious advantages in encouraging southern and overseas investors to head to Queensland, most clearly seen in job creation.
“Take Virgin Blue, for example. In 2000, Virgin established its headquarters in Brisbane, citing the advice, assistance and enthusiasm of the Queensland Government in helping it decide to move here,” Ms Bligh said.
“The company has been a huge shot in the arm to the Queensland economy. Virgin Blue employs about 2340 Queenslanders. That’s 2340 jobs that wouldn’t be here unless Virgin Blue had set up shop in Queensland.”
She said what was also evident from companies setting up in Queensland was the multiplier effect they had on local businesses.
“For example, Boeing spends more than 60 percent of its total costs in Queensland and has a deliberate policy to spread their business around small-to-medium sized Queensland companies.”
Media Contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500, Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
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