Martin Haese MBA, a former Lord Mayor of Adelaide and now Special Envoy to
Singapore and Southeast Asia for Trade and Investment for the Government of South
Australia, was in Kuala Lumpur recently and met with MABC Chairman, Loong
Caesar. At their meeting they discussed promoting investment between Malaysia and
South Australia. Here are excerpts from their conversation as to why South Australia
is one of the world’s most compelling investment destinations.
Caesar: Martin, it’s always so nice to see you and thank you for making the effort to
meet. Let me start with the obvious question: Why South Australia, and why now?
Martin: Thanks, Caesar. The simplest answer is that this is a moment of
extraordinary opportunity. South Australia has been consistently voted the best
place to do business in Australia for several years running based on growing demand,
construction growth, low unemployment, land-use planning certainty, transparency
and regulatory stability. We’re also ranked Australia’s number one jurisdiction for
economic growth. Alongside the historic AUKUS agreement and advanced
manufacturing work that will be done in SA, and our lead in the green energy
transition, we’re seeing a genuine transformation of the economy. For an investor,
that combination of stability and momentum is rare.
Caesar: You mentioned the green transition. Tell me about South Australia’s
renewable energy story.
Martin: That is a remarkable story, and I don’t say that lightly. South Australia is
Australia’s renewable energy superpower. Close to 80 per cent of our net electricity
generation already comes from wind and solar. Coal exited our grid entirely back in
2016, and natural gas plays and important firming role. We’re targeting 100 per cent
net renewable generation with the next two years and could generate several
hundred per cent of current local grid demand by 2050. Our clean energy project
pipeline sits at up to AUD$30 billion. For investors, that means real opportunities in
large-scale generation, battery storage, low-carbon fuels, green iron, minerals, rare
earths and more. We have 19 billion tonnes of magnetite iron ore and the renewable
power to process it into decarbonised steel.
Caesar: Let’s talk about defence, because AUKUS has put South Australia on the
global map.
Martin: South Australia is the defence state. We’re home to over 500 defence and
space organisations, and we’re building Australia’s first fleet of nuclear-powered 2
submarines, the SSN-AUKUS vessels at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, which is
becoming one of the world’s most advanced naval construction facilities. Over the
next four years we anticipate around A$2 billion in investment, employing up to
4,000 workers at peak just on the infrastructure. When the submarine program
reaches full stride, we’re looking at 4,000 to 5,500 additional jobs. There is also the
Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance enterprise and other opportunities aligned
to AUKUS.
Caesar: Space is another area where South Australia punches above its weight.
Martin: It does. The Australian Space Agency is headquartered here in Adelaide, at
our Lot Fourteen innovation precinct. We’re home to the world’s first commercial
spaceport, the Koonibba Test Range which in 2025 hosted the world’s first-ever
successful re-entry of a commercial spacecraft to a commercial spaceport. We also
launched Kanyini, our first state-funded satellite, built entirely in Adelaide. It’s a full
service ecosystem, from satellite manufacturing and launch through to ground
services and space domain awareness.
Caesar: Technology and AI seem to underpin almost everything you’ve described.
Martin: Critical technologies are the connective tissue across every sector. We host
the Australian Institute for Machine Learning which is the largest machine learning
group in the nation plus the Responsible AI Research Centre and world-class
quantum and photonics capability. The results speak for themselves: Amazon Web
Services, Deloitte, CommBank and Qantas have all established significant operations
here. Qantas alone is building a Product Innovation Centre with more than 420 high
value technology roles. Our tech sector employs around 40,800 people today and is
projected to nearly double to 89,400 by 2035.
Caesar: And health care and medical?
Martin: Adelaide’s BioMed City is a A$3.8 billion medical innovation district is one of
the world’s most connected life sciences precincts, with more than 2,000
researchers. What makes us distinctive is speed. Thanks to Australia’s regulatory
framework, you can start clinical trials here in as little as six weeks, working to FDA,
EMA and TGA standards. We offer end-to-end capability clinical trials, GMP
manufacturing, drug development, and precision health powered by AI and a single
electronic medical record covering 1.8 million people.
Caesar: My favourite topic of course and certainly not the least important to
Malaysians, is food and wine. Tell me more about this.3
Martin: Absolutely! Primary industries and agribusiness contribute A$17.1 billion in
revenue, and nearly half our overseas exports come from primary industries and
processing. We’re the largest exporter of premium wine in Australia, producing 55
per cent of the national crush, worth A$2.5 billion a year across 18 iconic wine
regions. Add to that, grains, meat, dairy, horticulture, and some of the world’s most
sought-after seafood. All clean, green, safe and traceable. For a partner like Malaysia,
with growing demand for premium food, that’s a natural fit.
Caesar: How about tourism?
Martin: Record-breaking, in fact. Visitor expenditure reached A$9.9 billion, and the
State Tourism Plan targets A$12.8 billion by 2030. Adelaide Airport passed 9 million
passengers for the first time in 2025, with international numbers up more than 20
per cent. We have an exciting state-backed major events calendar embracing
motorsport, the arts, sport, food and wine and so much more. The Adelaide
Motorsport Festival, bp Adelaide Grand Final, and MotoGP will next year see
motorcycles racing on a city-centre street circuit in the heart of Adelaide. There’s a
strong investment pipeline in new hotels and premium regional accommodation,
with A$1.6 billion in metropolitan hotel projects already underway.
Caesar: Let’s get concrete about incentives. What does South Australia actually offer
an investor financially?
Martin: This is where South Australia is genuinely less expensive and less
complicated. A few headline incentives:
•
No stamp duty on commercial property transactions — that’s a straight saving
on entry.
•
Zero payroll tax on wages under A$1.5 million, and a higher threshold with a
lower rate than Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane.
•
We’re the lowest-taxing state on mainland Australia — around A$2,970 per
person in state taxes versus A$5,073 in Victoria.
•
Average wages roughly 6 per cent below the national average, and lower
office, industrial and construction costs than the eastern capitals.
There are targeted rebates and incentives for creative industries covering games,
post-production and visual effects (PDV), R&D, and film and television.4
Caesar: What about workforce and migration? These are often barriers for foreign
investors.
Martin: We’ve made that easier too. For international businesses, our Skilled and
Business Migration pathways, including the Designated Area Migration Agreement
help you bring in specialised talent, and there’s priority state nomination under the
National Innovation Visa. So, you can staff up quickly and confidently.
Caesar: What’s your best advice for a Malaysian investor?
Martin: Through Invest SA, our dedicated investment attraction unit within the
Department of State Development, we offer hands-on, end-to-end case management
and project facilitation help. This includes site selection, guidance on regulations and
incentives, and direct connections to senior decision-makers in government, research
institutions and our innovation precincts. Importantly for this region, we have expert
personnel on the ground in Kuala Lumpur. Investors don’t have to find their own way
through. We walk the journey with them.
Caesar: And why is Malaysia specifically such a valued partner?
Martin: Malaysia is one of our major trading partners and a gateway to Southeast
Asia. There’s growing demand in Malaysia for premium food, education, health
services, minerals, renewable energy and technology. Exactly what South Australia
can offer. We see real opportunity in aerospace, agritech, the digital economy, clean
energy, defence industries, education and tourism, and scope for genuine two-way
investment and joint ventures across ASEAN. More importantly, we also enjoy deep
cultural ties. Malaysia Airlines operates daily direct flights between Adelaide and
Kuala Lumpur, so we’re genuinely close. I am a regular visitor to Malaysia myself.
Caesar: Before I let you go, can you say something about the historic ties between SA
and Malaysia.
Martin: Ah yes. All the more reason why South Australia and Malaysia have a special
connection. Adelaide was planned by Colonel William Light in 1837 who was the son
of Captain Francis Light, the founder of Penang. So, we have two colonial cities,
roughly 50 years and an ocean apart, founded by a father and son. It’s a genuine
Sister City relationship and a rather remarkable piece of shared heritage between
George Town and Adelaide.
Caesar: Martin, you’ve done a fabulous job promoting South Australia. Thank you for
reaching out and sharing this information. Enjoy the rest of your stay in KL.5
Martin: My pleasure, Caesar. Terima kasih.
[For investment enquiries, contact Invest SA, Department of State Development —
invest.sa.gov.au or the MABC secretariat at mabc@mabc.org.my]