South Australia’s competitive payroll tax system, its key role in the AUKUS deal, and investment in the State Prosperity Project makes it the best place to do business, according to the Business Council of Australia chief.

The Council’s chief executive officer Bran Black, in today’s The Advertiser, says a combination of a government focussed on attracting business investment and the big economic projects underway provided a “sense of momentum”.

He describes the AUKUS deal as a “whole-of-economy transformation”, saying it would generate jobs and energy and it “attracts people to want to be (in SA)”.

“I think that South Australia with the right regulatory settings, with a government that is clearly ambitious for business investment, policy initiatives such as a State Prosperity Project, focusing on AUKUS – those things really count,” Mr Black says.

“They give a sense of momentum, and that’s what I think South Australians can really lean into and make the most of.”

This comes only weeks after South Australia’s economy was ranked number one in the nation by CommSec’s State of the States report for the third consecutive quarter.

Only last week the Institute of Public Affairs Ease of Doing Business Report revealed South Australia has the lowest payroll tax and stamp duty burden of all states and the least regulatory restrictions to do business.

South Australia’s economic success has been supported through strategic government investment and solid budget management.

Quotes

Attributable to Stephen Mullighan

Mr Black is merely echoing what South Australians already know - this is the best place to do business.

This Government is working to support the economy through building more houses, getting on with big infrastructure projects, and investing in green steel and hydrogen.

Through projects like the AUKUS submarines and the State Prosperity Project, there is increased confidence to set up shop and invest in South Australia.