A campaign to entice companies to set up corporate headquarters and shared services centres in Queensland, bringing high-value jobs and investment, is being launched by the Palaszczuk Government today.
Minister for State Development Cameron Dick will travel to Sydney to kick off the campaign.
“By attracting national and international businesses to set up their headquarters in Queensland, we can create hundreds of local jobs,” Mr Dick said.
“Right across the state, we have a strong and diverse economy, competitive business costs, an enviable lifestyle, world-class universities and with our close proximity to the Asia-Pacific, Queensland is an ideal location for businesses to set up base.
“Global law firm Ashurst recently chose Brisbane over competing locations across Australia and Asia to set up a new shared services centre, which will create 150 high-value jobs in Queensland over the next five years.
“We know Queensland’s liveability, access to world-class universities, highly skilled workforce, and proximity to Asia all played a key role in Ashurst’s decision to select Queensland,” he said.
Ashurst’s Head of HR Australia and Head of the new office, Richard Knox, said the capabilities within the Global Delivery Centre focus on efficient legal service delivery through increased use of legal technology such as artificial intelligence and automation.
“This project has built on Ashurst’s successful establishment of a similar innovative business and legal services office in Glasgow, which since 2013 has seen over 300 new roles created,” Mr Knox said.
“Together, Brisbane and Glasgow will support our global offices across Australia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“Our new office will provide a great location to develop our innovative legal services offering to keep pace with client demands.
“We have already expanded our teams of legal technologists, legal analysts and AI capabilities and expect further growth, as well as the addition of new Ashurst Advance roles enabled by our Brisbane Global Delivery Centre,” he said.
Mr Dick said the Palaszczuk Government will now commence the campaign to lure more corporate headquarters and shared service centres north, commencing with a series of meetings with senior company representatives.
“From Cairns to Toowoomba, Rocky to Townsville, Mackay, the Gold Coast and all stops in between, our cities and towns can provide the lifestyle, facilities and resources businesses need to establish a strong, successful base.
“I’m looking forward to talking one-on-one with some of Australia’s leading business people and promoting the virtues of Queensland as an ideal location to set up or expand,” Mr Dick said.
“Now is the time to encourage national and international companies to make the move to Queensland to deliver more jobs and investment opportunities for Queenslanders.”
Mr Dick said an advertising campaign will also be run to further promote Queensland as an ideal location to establish or expand corporate headquarters and shared service facilities.
He said Ashurst had received support from the $150 million Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund (AQIAF), the Queensland Government’s financial incentive program.
“The Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund (AQIAF) has been a powerful tool to encourage businesses to relocate to or reinvest in Queensland, creating jobs and stimulating regional growth,” Mr Dick said.
“Since we established AQIAF, we have funded 14 projects, generating 1097 new jobs and more than $367 million in capital investment.
“Underpinning this fund is the support of a dedicated team within the Department of State Development who are focused exclusively on attracting businesses and investment to Queensland.”
Mr Dick said companies who had recognised the benefits of establishing themselves or expanding their operations in Queensland included the likes of finance giant YOUI Insurance and Alliance Airlines in Rockhampton.
“YOUI has invested in its national headquarters on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, taking advantage of the region’s world class amenities and proximity to Sunshine Coast university, while Alliance Airlines have expanded their operations to include a new base in Rockhampton,” he said.
