Least Risky Industries in Australia in 2021

1. Airport Operations in Australia

2021 Overall Risk Score: 2.85

The Airport Operations industry features several dominant players, with most aircraft movements going through Australia's major airports, such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Airport operators generate revenue by charging landing and terminal fees to domestic and international airlines. Airports also receive rental income from airlines and retail stores for space leased on their premises. Airservices Australia, the industry authority which controls Australian airspace, earns revenue mostly on a per-aircraft basis. As a result, the volume of aircraft movements and passengers carried strongly correlates with industry growth.

Over the four years through 2018-19, a rising number of visitors from Asia and strong... Learn More

2. Intellectual Property Leasing in Australia

2021 Overall Risk Score: 2.93

The Intellectual Property Leasing industry plays a vital role in the Australian economy. Operators lease their intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks, spectrum and other intangible property, to businesses in exchange for royalties or licensing fees. Businesses then use the intellectual property to create a range of products and services. The industry's largest market is manufacturing firms, such as chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, which lease patents and other intellectual property on new medicines and other chemical products to avoid the costs associated with research and development (R&D). Telecommunications firms are also a notable market, as these firms lease spectrum to... Learn More

3. Industry Associations in Australia

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.03

Representative groups for individual professions are a well-established feature of the Australian business landscape. Many operators in the Industry Associations industry have improved their services over the past decade, which has helped sustain membership numbers. Improvements in communications technology have encouraged many smaller associations to enter the industry. The performance of industry associations is largely linked to the performance of the industry they service. While larger associations have become stronger, some associations with ties to declining industries have faced serious difficulties over the past five years. The rise of the digital age has added to the operating challenges faced by... Learn More

4. Travel Agency and Tour Arrangement Services in Australia

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.09

The Travel Agency and Tour Arrangement Services industry has undergone significant structural changes over the past five years. The traditional bricks-and-mortar travel agency revenue model, with high commission rates and service fees, has been challenged by the rapid uptake of online booking platforms. Online-only booking facilities such as Webjet, Expedia and Booking.com have become more popular over the past five years, placing downward pressure on commission rates and service fees. Major players, such as Flight Centre and Helloworld Travel, have responded by introducing their own online platforms or acquiring existing online firms. Other online platforms, such as metasearch websites, have... Learn More

5. Pipeline Transport in Australia

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.14

The Pipeline Transport industry operates large pipelines, particularly high-pressure gas transmission pipelines. Gas transmission accounts for the vast majority of industry activity. The industry provides a vital connection between gas producers and gas retailers, which distribute gas via low-pressure distribution pipelines. Industry operators also supply gas to major industrial firms. Demand for industry services is driven by final demand for energy in the Australian economy, and demand from export markets served by Australian oil and gas fields. Industry operators have benefited from increasing domestic gas consumption over the past five years, and Australia's proximity to Asian markets, as these countries... Learn More

6. International Airlines in Australia

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.14

Airlines from different countries operate in the International Airlines industry. While many airlines, such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines, have a significant market presence in Australia, few foreign airlines have local incorporated subsidiaries. As a result, any airline that flies passengers or freight to or from Australia is included in the industry. The number of people travelling to and from Australia grew strongly over the four years through 2018-19, mostly due to increased tourism from countries in the Asia-Pacific region and from the United States. The growing popularity of Australia as a tourist destination has benefited international airlines and given... Learn More

7. Hotels and Resorts in Australia

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.18

The fortunes of the Hotels and Resorts industry have been mixed over the past five years. Over the three years through 2018-19, the depreciating Australian dollar supported the industry by increasing the number of international arrivals, particularly from Asian countries, by making it cheaper to travel in Australia. The weak dollar also made it more expensive for Australians to travel overseas. This trend boosted the number of international and domestic tourist visitor nights over the period, increasing demand for the industry's services. In addition, increased domestic business travel activity, which is a major revenue stream for larger hotels, further supported... Learn More

8. Amusement Parks and Centres Operation in Australia

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.18

The Amusement Parks and Centres Operation industry has performed poorly over the past five years. In October 2016, an accident at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, QLD, resulted in the death of four people and caused visitor numbers to decline due to safety concerns. As a result, industry revenue decreased by 8.2% in 2016-17. Following a recovery in 2017-18 due to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April 2018, industry revenue fell in consecutive years through 2020-21 due to a weak operating environment and the outbreak of COVID-19.

The industry is sensitive to changes in tourism volumes and spending on domestic... Learn More

9. Retail Property Operators in Australia

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.19

Weak retail trade conditions have caused the Retail Property Operators industry to decline over the past five years. Consumer goods retailers have faced mounting competitive pressures from online retailers over the period, constraining demand for floorspace. This trend has decreased rental yields and increased vacancy rates over the period. However, demand from supermarket and grocery stores has grown over the period, providing a steady source of rental income for some retail property operators. Furthermore, the cash rate has continued to decline over the period, reducing the cost of capital, and therefore allowing for greater investment into faciality expansions and developments.... Learn More

10. Nature Reserves and Conservation Parks in Australia

2021 Overall Risk Score: 3.22

The role of the Nature Reserves and Conservation Parks industry is to protect Australia's flora, fauna and natural ecosystems. Industry operators, such as government agencies, Indigenous groups and private landholders, manage Australia's network of protected land areas, known as the National Reserve System. State government agencies manage most national and state parks, while the Federal Government manages only six national parks. Alongside terrestrial protected areas, the industry also manages marine parks and reserves.

Industry operators generate most of their revenue through funding from federal, state and local governments. Consequently, the industry is highly sensitive to changes in government funding. Funding from... Learn More