State named ‘best for business’ for third straight year
South Australia has scored a hat-trick of top marks for regulatory costs and planning approvals in the annual ranking of the best states to do business in Australia.
The state has set the benchmark for the third consecutive year with competitive payroll tax settings, planning system and licensing requirements, according to the Business Council of Australia’s latest report released on Tuesday.
The report found that as governments across Australia look to make it easier to build new homes to increase housing supply and affordability, South Australia is showing greater consistency and certainty for applicants.
It also had the lowest payroll tax rate, the least burdensome secondary licensing system, and a relatively low land tax and stamp duty burden.
“South Australia is leading the country and showing us that cutting unnecessary bureaucracy and designing effective regulations is not just good for business, but good for workers and communities,” council chief executive Bran Black said.
This is another feather in the cap for the SA government as it heads to the polls ahead of the 2026 state elections.
“We are a pro-business Labor government with a desire to mobilize our state,” Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
“The approach delivers real results in a way our state is not accustomed to.”
Surprisingly, Tasmania was ranked the second best place to do business, with the Northern Territory ranked third and the ACT fourth.
Victoria once again came in last due to burdensome business licensing requirements and high property and payroll taxes.
“Victoria’s success is significant and practical reforms to payroll tax, property taxes and business licenses will provide a major boost to the state’s ability to win investment,” Mr Black said.
With a year to go until the next Victorian election, published polls show Labor is on course to seek a fourth term, despite the aging Allan government facing criticism over rising debt and rising crime.
NSW ranked fifth overall but Mr Black applauded the country’s most populous state for recent reforms to building approvals that would speed up the delivery of new homes but were passed too late to be considered in the report.
The report also highlighted that ACT and NT have the least restrictive trading hours.
“Christmas is coming and states like Queensland and South Australia could make more money from their retail sectors if they allow businesses to open for longer and at a time that suits them,” Mr Black said.
Australia’s Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national news channel and has been providing accurate, reliable and fast-paced news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We inform Australia.
