Investing in Tasmania. All you need to know.

Tasmania’s size, natural resources and our safe location delivers a business opportunity and lifestyle that other locations aspire to.

The facts add up in Tasmania’s favour:

• close distances
• an enviable lifestyle without the stress experienced in bigger cities
• abundant natural resources and quality raw materials
• clean renewable energy supply
• a focused research and development community
• access to government at all levels
• global reputation for premium high value goods
• an agile, flexible and innovative workforce
• a well supported creative arts environment.

Fact: Close distances

North to south is only 296 kilometres providing short transportation times.

Tasmania has short distances between our population areas. The island is 364 kilometres (226m) long from our northernmost to southernmost points and 306 kilometres (190m) from west to east.

In most instances, your business operations will be located less than 100 kilometres from plant to port, providing fast access to distribution channels. See the driving times between population areas.

With airports in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, you are provided with quick and easy access to mainland Australia and there are international freight services from our major industrial sites.

• Air travel to Melbourne from Hobart is 1:15 hours and to Sydney is 1:55 hours, ensuring easy and close access to major metropolitan areas of over 8 million residents
• Travel by sea to Melbourne is 11 hours
• International shipping access to Asia is via Singapore

Tasmania offers a strategic Asian Pacific location where your business can benefit from time zone advantages between international markets. Shift seamlessly from New York to Los Angeles and then to Asia and Australia, allowing you to build a ‘follow-the-sun’ operation.

Fact: An enviable lifestyle

Tasmania offers natural beauty, security and an enviable way of life.

With beautiful and unspoilt environment that allows you to follow any outdoor pursuit, a high quality but affordable education system and a world-class health care system, Tasmania offers you a quality of life not matched by many other regions.

We offer a relaxed pace of life but one where there is always something new to see and do. 

Tasmania offers a quality of life where you can be more productive because you don’t have to contend with big city stress. We believe we have perfected the work and life balance. 

As Australia’s only island state, we have:

• small cities and vibrant urban centres with all the opportunities available in larger cities
• short commute times with no gridlock in getting to and from work.  Average commute time is 18 minutes
• a natural environment to enjoy first hand. Almost 40 per cent of Tasmania is conserved as a national park or World Heritage site
• four distinct seasons and the most daylight hours of any Australian capital city in summer - it is usually light until 9:30 pm
• a low cost of living and the most affordable housing in Australia.

Find out more about living in Tasmania

Fact: Abundant natural resources

Tasmania offers security of water resources and quality raw materials.

The Tasmanian Government is managing our natural resources for the long term, achieving a balance between economic and social development, and protection of the environment.

Our focus is on securing value-adding investment for our extensive and high-quality natural resources. 

• Minerals
  We have remarkable geological diversity and an abundance of rich and high-grade mineral deposits, with many untapped opportunities for exploration, extraction and downstream processing of mineral resources.
  
  Minerals exported are copper, gold, silver, iron ore, tin, lead and zinc. 
  Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Ecka Granules and Sterlite are some of the international companies that have invested in Tasmania. Find out more about investment opportunities.
  
  
• Forestry
  Forestry is one of the four main industries in Tasmania.
  
  All forestry operations in Tasmania are independently certified under the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS), which sets stringent environmental, social and economic criteria for forest management and production tracking.  Find out more about forestry opportunities.
  
  
• Fertile soil, disease-free status and GM-free
  Tasmania’s counter-seasonality to the northern hemisphere offers significant strategic advantage in food production and agriculture and allows local producers to supply out-of-season fresh produce to northern hemisphere markets. 
  
  Tasmania is among the world’s most favoured producers of high-quality, safe food and agricultural products. The state’s status of being free from a variety of major pests and diseases gives Tasmanian companies an access advantage to a variety of international markets. Fonterra, Kirin Holdings, Cadburys, Kreglinger Wines and Simplot all have significant investments in Tasmania. Explore the investment opportunities.
  
  
• Water
  Tasmania’s most significant natural resource advantage is water. The state has nearly 14 per cent of Australia’s total water resource and our average annual water run-off is almost twice that of the Murray Darling Basin. We don’t have the supply issues experienced in mainland Australia and much of the world.
  
  The Tasmanian and Australian Governments are establishing a number of large-scale irrigation development projects over the next five years. $220 million has been committed to deliver water with a reliability of at least 95 per cent to farming communities.   
  
  We are working to ensure the ongoing profitability and competiveness of the agricultural and high water-demand industries within Tasmania. Find out more.

Fact: Clean renewable energy supply

90 per cent of Tasmania’s energy is from renewable sources including hydro and wind.

Tasmania has the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. Our sustainable energy network complements our natural environment. 

Around 90 per cent of Tasmania’s energy is derived on-island from clean, renewable sources such as hydro and wind energy and our economy is driven by the principles of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

We also offer a secure energy supply with the Basslink connection to Australian energy markets.

Tasmania’s sustainable energy base and the strong commitment by the Tasmanian Government are gearing the state to become a global leader in the development of renewable energy.  Hydro Tasmania is one of Australia’s leading renewable energy businesses.

Your business can benefit from the international recognition of operating in an environmentally conscious economy.

Tasmania has diverse and rich renewable energy assets that are still largely untapped. The potential is enormous and we are striving to become an exporter with a focus on innovation. These assets include wind power, bio-energy, solar, geothermal energy and marine energy. The investment opportunities are significant.  

Fact: Research and development focused community

Benefit from strategic partnerships and the meeting of innovative minds.

Tasmanian companies invest heavily into research and development and our innovators regularly receive national and international acclaim.

The Learning Edge International’s digital repositories were developed through a partnership with the Tasmanian Department of Education. Today its product Equella can be found in learning institutions around the world. 

We are an island of innovation, demonstrated by our ideas, energy, resourcefulness and tenacity.  Tasmanian businesses collaborate extensively both globally and locally with knowledge institutions, industry leaders and policy makers.

Tasmania is home to a range of leading-edge research and learning organisations. The University of Tasmania is one of Australia’s top 10 research universities. Tasmania’s research bodies make a significant contribution to the local economy and the industries that they support, through research, development and scientific advice.

Tasmania offers extensive research capabilities for your business with industry, government and the university having formed many different partnerships and innovation clusters including:

• the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation - CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, delivers research solutions for various industries including agribusiness, energy and transport, health and manufacturing
  
• Australian Antarctic Division – AAD leads Australia’s Antarctic program in ensuring the country’s Antarctic interests are advanced
• Menzies Research Institute which conducts world-class medical research
• The Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research - TIAR has brought together the human and physical resources of Tasmania’s two major agricultural research and development providers – University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, to create a centre of excellence in cool climate agriculture research
• Australian Maritime College – AMC is Australia’s institute for maritime education, training and research
• Australian Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre – ACE CRC, a partnership among universities, Commonwealth and State research agencies and policy and industry sectors, focuses on Antarctic and Southern Ocean research
• Human Interface Technology Lab Australia - HITLab AU is a research and teaching facility within the School of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Tasmania
• Australian Innovation Research Centre - AIRC researches key issues in innovation performance and economic development.

Many innovations have developed into whole industries, including essential oil refinement, aquaculture, lightning protection and life raft systems.

Further supporting our research and development focus is the fact that Tasmania’s geographic, demographic and economic diversity along with our size means we are an ideal test bed location.  Providing a robust, representative and easily accessible sample population, Tasmania is often sought out to test and adapt products for a western market.

Fact: Access to government decision makers at the highest levels

Committed government support, stable political, legal and regulatory systems.

As part of the Federation of Australia, Tasmania offers limited sovereign risk.

Being a compact state with a smaller population base, Tasmania provides easy networking opportunities and the ability to consult with the highest decision makers including our politicians, government agency heads or industry leaders.

The Tasmanian Government is committed to open lines of communication, transparency and to being consultative by nature on issues of state importance. The opportunities that Tasmania offers to its business community, specifically ease of access to all levels of government, is something that is not available in most parts of the world.

Tasmania is committed to offering a favourable climate and support for businesses. Our business priorities include opportunities in: 

• agriculture, aquaculture and food
• renewable energy
• digital industries
• precision manufacturing
• tourism infrastructure
• resources.

A designated team is available to provide you with tailored and comprehensive assistance, information and advice as you need it.

Fact: An adaptive, flexible and innovative workforce

The Tasmanian workforce is characterised by high quality skills and know how.

Australia’s workforce is one of the most highly skilled in the world, with competitive remuneration levels that are lower than in the USA, Netherlands, Germany, France and Japan.

The total cost of employing workers in Tasmania is less than all other Australian states and territories.

Our workforce is proven in being able to adapt to meet demand and we offer your business a stable workforce, with an excellent industrial relations record and a rich culture of creativity and innovation.

The Tasmanian training providers work with local industry to ensure that industry training needs are met. They actively design national and international training programs for accreditation and ensure transferable and needed skills are created within the state.

Fact: Global reputation for excellence

Tasmania has a very clear and focused global outlook.

Tasmania is well known for its breathtaking scenery, historical architecture, organic produce, boutique wineries and premium food suppliers. We have become a true global destination.

We are strategically located for business opportunities in Asia with strong trade links into south-east Asia and close proximity to China and India. This means that your business in Tasmania can capitalise on growth within the region.

Tasmania’s natural environment delivers a mild, seasonal climate with reliable rainfall and some of the cleanest air in the world. Together with rich, fertile soils, our location enables the production of premium food and beverages and we have earned a global reputation as a tourism destination with lots of soft adventure opportunities.

Our growing economy is driven by the principles of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Australia’s emissions trading scheme has not been introduced but Tasmania has already laid the ground work for our emissions trading system. We are globally recognised for our environmentally sustainable status, and climate change focus.  

Fact: A well supported creative arts industry

Tasmania has a creative and culturally distinctive arts environment.

Tasmania has an energetic and thriving arts scene. We have inspired and attracted many different creative artists, writers and musicians from around the world. 

Our vibrant arts scene has strong participation rates and offers an appreciative audience. We attract national and international festivals, exhibitions and events.

Tasmania has:

• Australia’s oldest working theatre the Theatre Royal in Hobart
• the internationally renowned Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
• significant public museum and art galleries with the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart and the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston
• the Museum of Old and New Art – MONA - Australia’s largest private museum and art gallery
• national and international festivals including the biennial cultural festival – 10 Days on the Island
• an amazing range of landscapes for production and location filming. The Goodwood Studio in Hobart is rated in the top five per cent of film studios in Australia.

Development of the industry is actively assisted by the Tasmanian Government through production investment, project development, and industry and cultural development.

Screen Tasmania is the Tasmanian Government agency providing support and development opportunities within the state's film, television and multimedia industries.

Arts Tasmania is the agency responsible for policy and planning for arts and culture.