Lexi Webster
Australia is known for its high quality of life, but some of its states are healthier and more business-friendly than others. While Victoria has been named the healthiest state, it has also been ranked as the worst state for businesses due to its uncompetitive property tax settings, payroll taxes, and business licensing requirements. On the other hand, South Australia has been ranked as the best state for businesses, with lower payroll taxes, property charges, and fewer mandatory business licenses. Queensland has been deemed the unhealthiest state, with the highest percentage of daily smokers and the lowest percentage of people meeting fruit and vegetable intake recommendations. From a property investment perspective, Queensland is experiencing a mass exodus of investors, while New South Wales (NSW) remains a favored market, with nearly one in three respondents ranking it as their top choice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Worst state for business | Victoria |
| Worst state for property investment | Queensland |
| Least healthy state | Queensland |
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What You'll Learn
Unhealthy habits
While sources do not refer to a "worst state" in Australia, they do refer to the worst states in terms of health, business, and property investment.
Queensland has been named the unhealthiest state in Australia, with the highest percentage of daily smokers and the lowest percentage of people meeting their fruit and vegetable intake. The state also has the highest percentage of people who do not meet exercise guidelines. The research also showed that city dwellers are generally healthier than their regional counterparts, with lower smoking and alcohol consumption rates. However, regional areas have a higher vegetable consumption.
Victoria, on the other hand, has been named the healthiest state, with the lowest likelihood of exceeding alcohol guidelines and the highest likelihood of meeting exercise guidelines.
Business
Victoria has been ranked as the worst state for businesses by the Business Council of Australia due to its uncompetitive property tax settings, payroll taxes, and burdensome business licensing requirements. Tasmania was also not ranked first in any category in the Business Council's report. Queensland has been criticized for its restrictive trading hours, which negatively impact businesses.
In contrast, South Australia has been hailed as the best state for businesses due to its lower taxes, fewer licensing requirements, and more relaxed planning laws.
Property Investment
Queensland has experienced a "mass exodus" of property investors, with many citing the state government's restrictive and unfair legislative reforms as a key reason for their departure. As a result, investor sentiment towards the state has soured, with Queensland ranking low on investors' lists.
Western Australia, on the other hand, has emerged as a popular choice for property investment, with Perth being the top-ranked capital city. NSW also remains a favored market, with Sydney as the top choice among Australia's capital cities.
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Business environment
Victoria has been ranked as the worst state for business in Australia, with some describing it as an "economic basket case". The state has been criticised for its high property taxes, excessive red tape, and uncompetitive business licensing requirements. Victoria's poor performance has been attributed to a range of factors, including its high tax burden, state debt burden, and energy price increases. The state's economy has struggled to keep pace with other states, such as South Australia and New South Wales, and businesses face challenges due to restrictive planning laws and limited trading hours.
In contrast, South Australia has consistently been ranked as the best state for doing business in Australia. South Australia offers a favourable business environment with lower payroll taxes, lower property charges, and fewer mandatory business licenses. The state has also been praised for its efficient urban planning system and competitive tax rates, making it an attractive destination for business investment.
Tasmania is another well-performing state, securing second place in overall rankings. Tasmania stands out for its low rental costs and strong retail trade growth. Additionally, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is recognised for its business-friendly policies, including the absence of land tax on commercial property and relatively low stamp duty charges.
Queensland is also worth mentioning, as it offers a standardised rate on premiums for workers' compensation schemes, making it easier for businesses to navigate. However, Western Australia has faced criticism for having the worst retail trading hours in the country, with the fewest trading hour exemptions and the shortest trading hours.
Overall, the business environment in Australia varies significantly from state to state. While South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT offer favourable conditions for businesses, Victoria has been struggling with economic challenges and a decline in business performance. These rankings and reviews provide valuable insights for businesses looking to establish or expand their operations in Australia, as well as for governments aiming to improve their states' business attractiveness.
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Property investment
Australia's property market is diverse, with each state offering unique characteristics that cater to specific investor needs and preferences. However, it is challenging to identify the state that offers the highest chances of growth and profit due to the competing options available.
When considering property investment in Australia, some states stand out for their growth potential, rental yields, and lifestyle offerings. Here is an overview of the top states for property investment:
New South Wales (NSW):
NSW, home to the vibrant city of Sydney, is a leading state for promising property growth. Sydney, being the most expensive city in Australia, has maintained relatively firm dwelling values despite higher interest rates. The high demand for rentals, attributed to job opportunities, educational facilities, and lifestyle, makes it an attractive location for investors. Outside of Sydney, areas like Albury-Wodonga on the NSW-Victoria border, Canterbury-Bankstown, and Shoalhaven are also becoming hotspots for investors and homebuyers.
Victoria (VIC):
Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, is one of the most diverse cities globally and offers a range of lifestyle options. While Melbourne property values have seen a recent decline, the state's legislative reforms, such as the new Housing Statement, contribute to its investment potential.
Queensland (QLD):
Queensland's perfect climate and focus on outdoor living make it an attractive destination for investors. Brisbane, in particular, offers unbeatable investment opportunities, with affordable property options compared to other populous states.
Western Australia (WA):
Perth, the capital of Western Australia, has shown resilience in the housing market. WA is appealing due to its natural resources, tourism, and agricultural sectors, as well as its lower cost of living.
South Australia (SA):
Adelaide in South Australia is known for its festivals, food, and wine. It offers a cost-effective gateway to the Australian property market, providing an affordable option for those looking to enter the market.
While these states offer promising investment opportunities, it is important to remember that the property market is constantly evolving, and local economic and market factors can influence each state's performance over time.
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Alcohol consumption
In 2022, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released new guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol. These guidelines recommend that, to reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury, healthy men and women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. Despite these guidelines, more than one in four (26.8% or 5.2 million) adults aged 18 years and over exceeded the guideline in 2022. This includes those who consumed more than 10 drinks in the last week and/or consumed 5 or more drinks on any day at least monthly in the last 12 months.
Males were more likely to exceed the guideline than females (35.8% compared to 18.1%), and young adults aged 18-24 years were more likely than any other age group to exceed the guideline, with over one in three (36.1%) doing so. Overall, almost one in five (18.5%) adults consumed more than 10 drinks in the last week. Consumption peaked in later years, with one in four (24.6%) people aged 55-64 years and one in five (21.6%) people aged 65-74 years consuming more than 10 standard drinks in the last week.
When looking at alcohol consumption by state, Victoria has been found to have the lowest consumption levels, with Victorians consuming an average of 9.79 alcoholic drinks per week. At the other end of the scale, Queensland has the highest consumption levels, with an average of 11.14 alcoholic drinks consumed per week. Tasmanians were found to favour wine, both red and white, more than any other state, while those in Western Australia consumed more champagne or sparkling wine on average each week than any other state. Queenslanders are also the biggest beer drinkers, with South Australians drinking the least beer.
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Exercise levels
A 2018 World Health Organisation study found that almost a third of Australian adults did not reach the recommended level of physical activity for staying healthy in 2016. Australia ranked 97th out of 168 countries for the number of people being sufficiently active. This figure is supported by another source, which states that nearly 70% of Australians are sedentary or have low levels of physical activity.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that in 2022, 22.4% of adults aged 18-64 met the physical activity guidelines, an increase from 17% in 2017-18. Over half (56.4%) completed 30 minutes of activity on five or more days, and a quarter (26.6%) undertook strength or toning exercises on two or more days in the previous week. Men were more likely to meet the guidelines than women (24.9% compared to 19.9%).
For children and young people, the picture is slightly different. The 2022 Australian Physical Activity Report Card, which assessed 10 indicators, gave Overall Physical Activity Levels a grade of D-, the worst-performing indicator. The same report found that Australian children and young people rank in the 41st percentile for aerobic fitness and 28th for muscular fitness, placing them below average relative to international norms. Only 5.6% of young people met the physical activity guidelines in 2022, although this has more than doubled since 2017-18 (1.9%). Young males were more likely to meet the guidelines than young females (9.9% compared to 3.7%).
On a state-by-state basis, one source mentions that Victoria excels when it comes to exercise levels, with the state's residents being the most likely to meet exercise guidelines. The ACT and New South Wales also scored well in this regard, while Queensland was deemed the state with the unhealthiest habits, with the lowest percentage of people meeting their fruit and vegetable intake.
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Frequently asked questions
Queensland is the state with the unhealthiest habits, with the highest percentage of daily smokers and the lowest percentage of people meeting fruit and vegetable intake.
Victoria has been ranked as the worst state for doing business, with uncompetitive property tax settings, payroll taxes, and business licensing requirements.
Queensland has been experiencing a "mass exodus" of investors, with many citing the state government's restrictive legislative reforms as a reason for the downturn.
Western Australia has been ranked as having the worst business environment, with the report targeting its retail trading hours as being particularly unfavourable.
