Brisbane is a thriving city with lots of potential for business and Council is dedicated to providing you with opportunities to grow. With events, opportunities to work with Council, investment areas, economic data and international business connections, Council’s resources can give your business just the boost it needs.
For International business
Brisbane City Council is committed to advancing Brisbane’s place in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.
Council’s international business programs aim to improve the economic benefits and opportunities for Brisbane-based businesses by:
- strengthening Sister City relationships throughout the Asia Pacific and the Middle East
- facilitating business and trade connections with international markets
- supporting local businesses to achieve successful outcomes through our Sister city relationships
- co-ordinating inbound international delegations and business outbound missions to overseas markets.
Why choose Brisbane for business
Brisbane is a city of choice for doing business. Find out the population growth, development activity, infrastructure projects and talented people driving opportunity in Brisbane. Read about businesses who have already taken the opportunity to locate in Brisbane.
Central and accessible
- Closest capital city on eastern seaboard to Australia’s three largest export markets -China, Japan and South Korea
- Brisbane Airport less than 20 minutes and 12 kilometres from the city centre
- Port of Brisbane is one of Australia’s largest-growing container ports and Queensland’s largest general cargo port
Trends
- Vibrant
- Growing
- Subtropical
- Innovative
- Friendly
Population growth
Generating additional demand for goods and services
Expected to grow at more than 1% per year
Almost 47% of working age population under the age of 35
Development activity
Bringing more people to live and work in the area:
- 7603 dwellings approved in the 12 months ending December 2019
- Queen’s Wharf $3 billion Integrated Resort Development including five hotels, three residential towers, a new department store, 40 new restaurants, cafes and bars
- Howard Smith Wharves Revitalisation Project has provided a new riverside parkland and commercial development
Infrastructure projects
New roads, transit, schools, hospitals and other major infrastructure projects create opportunities for business
- Victoria Park will provide more greenspace with new places to relax and enjoy Brisbane’s beautiful climate
- Brisbane Metro will reduce CBD bus congestion and improve services to the suburbs
- Cross River Rail project will allow more trains to run more often and enable a turn-up-and-go transport system
- $158 millionBrisbane International Cruise Terminalat Luggage Point on the north side of the Brisbane River
- Proposed ‘Brisbane Live’ $2 billion Stadium and Entertainment Precinct, Roma Street
- Five newgreen bridgesto be built across Brisbane. The new bridges will link Kangaroo Point to the Brisbane Central Business District (CBD), Toowong to West End, St Lucia to West End, as well as new crossings at Breakfast Creek and Bellbowrie
Talented people
Access to a skilled workforce
32% with bachelor degree level of education
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa
Only onshore applicants working in Queensland will be considered.
The Subclass 491 visa is open to COVID critical skill or sectors as previously outlined:
- Air Ambulance, Critical Medical, Medical Technology,
- Engineering, Critical Infrastructure, Supply Chain
- Telecommunications, Film & Television Production,
- Maritime Industry, Agricultural Technology Food Technology,
- Mining, Emerging Technology, Financial Technology, and
- Large Scale Manufacturing.
Following selected hospitality occupations can be nominated, however, all the work experience requirements and caveats detailed in the below table are met.
Hospitality Skilled Occupations for the 491 visa Round 19 April – 25 April 2020–21
| Occupation | ANZSCO Code | Occupation Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Hospitality Managers | 141999 | Requires minimum post qualification work experience of 3 years, including 3 months in Queensland. |
| Café and Restaurant Managers | 141111 | Requires minimum post qualification work experience of 3 years, including 3 months in Queensland.
Excludes positions in a limited-service restaurant. A limited-service restaurant includes, but is not limited to, the following: fast food or takeaway food services, fast casual restaurants, drinking establishments that offer only limited food service, limited-service cafes including but not limited to coffee shops, limited-service pizza restaurants. |
| Chef | 351311 | Requires minimum post qualification work experience of 3 years, including 3 months in Queensland.
Specialisations: Chef de Partie, Commis Chef, Demi Chef, Second Chef, Sous Chef.Excludes positions involving mass production in a factory or a limited-service restaurant. A limited-service restaurant includes, but is not limited to, the following: fast food or takeaway food services, fast casual restaurants, drinking establishments that offer only limited food service, limited-service cafes including but not limited to coffee shops, limited-service pizza restaurants. |
| Cook | 351411 | Requires minimum post qualification work experience of 3 years, including 3 months in Queensland.
Chefs, Fast Food Cooks and Kitchenhands are excluded from this group. Excludes positions involving mass production in a factory or a limited-service restaurant. A limited-service restaurant includes, but is not limited to, the following: fast food or takeaway food services, fast casual restaurants, drinking establishments that offer only limited food service, limited-service cafes including but not limited to coffee shops, limited-service pizza restaurants. |
Please note: Alumni (Queensland Masters and PhD graduates) must meet the working in Queensland criteria as detailed above.
Material adapted from
© Brisbane City Council 2016.