Brisbane – Digital Strategy

Fast-tracking Brisbane into the multi-trillion dollar global digital economy.

brisbane buildings from waterfront
brisbane buildings from waterfront

Launched in 2012,  The Digital Brisbane Strategy aims to fast-track Brisbane into the multi-trillion dollar global digital economy.

The Strategy was developed after a 2012 audit involving 500 companies indicated that whilst 80% of Brisbane firms regarded themselves as being engaged in the digital economy, only 30% were actually selling goods and services on-line. L

The Digital Brisbane strategy is designed to:

• Ensure the digital economy is a high priority for Brisbane businesses
• Initiate high-value digital support activities through a targeted investment by the City
• Position Brisbane as a significant digital city

Digital Brisbane sets clear five-year targets for the city, including:

  • doubling the number of Brisbane firms selling products and services on-line.
  • a 35 per cent improvement in productivity growth achieved through digital technology.
  • support for 250 promising local digital start-up companies.

Quick Facts about Brisbane City Council

  • Australia’s digital economy is forecast to grow at twice the rate of Gross Domestic Product between 2012 and 2016, from $50 billion to $70 billion (Deloitte – Digital Disruption, Short Fuse, Big Bang, 2012 )
  • Brisbane is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia, averaging 4.7 per cent growth between 2001 and 2011 (Queensland Treasury and Trade, 2012).
  • Brisbane claims to be the second city in the world to appoint a Chief Digital Officer
  • Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia and one of the largest city councils in the Asia-Pacific region
  • Most of Brisbane and Queensland’s population growth is driven by overseas and interstate migration, which accounted for about two-thirds of the state’s new residents in 2012
  • A quarter of Brisbane’s population born overseas and more than 17 per cent of households speaking a language other than English at home
  • Brisbane City Council has an annual budget of  nearly $3 billion and an asset base of approximately $20 billion (Brisbane City Council Annual Plan and Budget 2013-2014)
  • Brisbane City Council is recognised as one of the top 150 corporations in Australia in terms of size of turnover and asset base (Brisbane City Council Annual Plan and Budget 2013-2014)

More information is available on the Digital Brisbane website.