Business Council of Australia report crowns SA as best place to do business

An influential Business Council report has crowned South Australia as the nation’s best state to do business.

South Australia has been named the best state to do business for the second consecutive year in an influential report by the industry group representing the nation’s biggest employers.

The top ranking in the Business Council of Australia report was spurred by SA’s lower payroll taxes and property charges, along with less licensing red tape for firms.

Tasmania, the ACT, Northern Territory, NSW, Queensland and WA followed SA, with Victoria ranked last.

The influential Regulation Rumble report examines planning systems, payroll taxes, property taxes and charges, retail trading hours, workers’ compensation premiums and business licensing.

Premier Peter Malinauskas declared he led “unashamedly a pro-business Labor government”, saying this was delivering results.

The Business Council of Australia has named SA the best state to do business for the second consecutive year. Picture: Britta Campion / The Australian

Business Council chief executive Bran Black said other states would need to follow SA’s lead if they wanted to attract investment.

“South Australians have made it clear that they want their state to be destination number one for business, and other jurisdictions need to take note if they want to remain competitive in attracting business investment,” Mr Black said.

“We know that lower taxes, and more efficient regulatory settings, increase business growth and productivity — South Australia is leading that charge and will see the benefit of increased investment.”

SA ranked top in a payroll tax assessment, which examined components including charges and thresholds, and consistently across other measures – except for cost of workers’ compensation schemes in which it ranked second-last.

Mr Black, whose group represents the chief executives of the nation’s biggest companies, said the report was designed to help businesses navigate opportunities around the country.

It also ranked planning systems, with SA being deemed the most efficient, which Mr Black said helped boost housing supply.

“Efficient, consistent and certain planning systems reduce risk for developers, helping them to press go and complete, new projects,” Mr Black said.

Premier Peter Malinauskas declared he led “unashamedly a pro-business Labor government”, saying this was delivering results. Picture: Matt Loxton

Mr Malinauskas said: “While other jurisdictions have been raising taxes, we have been busy doing the opposite – delivering a stable environment for business to operate and cutting property taxes to stimulate further development.

“This approach is delivering results. The Business Council of Australia’s comprehensive report adds to a compelling body of evidence showing South Australia is the best place in the nation to do business.”

In an interview with The Advertiser in August, Mr Black urged businesses to move to SA, also saying the AUKUS security pact represented a “whole-of-economy transformation opportunity” extending far beyond the $368bn Adelaide-based construction of nuclear-powered submarines.

Originally published as Business Council of Australia report crowns SA as best place to do business