For the second year in a row, the Business Council of Australia's Regulation Rumble 2025, which ranks every State and Territory on a range of tax and regulatory metrics, has placed Victoria as the overall worst jurisdiction for business.
The report found Victoria is the least competitive jurisdiction for overall cost and regulation, with the worst ranking for property taxes and charges, licensing and requirements to do business and the second worst for payroll tax.
Following a decade of financial mismanagement, Victoria has the highest unemployment rate of any state in the nation as net debt continues to grow by more than $2 million an hour.
Shadow Treasurer Jess Wilson said: "This report confirms what every small, medium and large business already knows - under Labor, Victoria is the worst place in the nation to do business.
"The Allan Labor Government's dependence on new and higher taxes to pay for their reckless and wasteful spending continues to drive business and economic opportunity interstate.
"With the highest taxes and charges, burdensome regulation and a government that is outright hostile to free enterprise, why would any business or young entrepreneur choose Victoria? At the same time the Premiers of South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland are rolling out the red carpet to attract business investment.
"Only a Liberal and Nationals Government will restore Victoria's reputation as an attractive investment destination by reducing taxes, driving productivity gains and putting an end to Labor's era of financial mismanagement and waste."
