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Brighter Super will back Queensland with additional $500 million in new investments

Cooper's Gap Wind Farm 

30 May 2024

Brighter Super is proud to announce our Queensland Investment Strategy to support our members where they live and work with new investments to underpin jobs and drive growth in our home state, while delivering strong returns for members.

Brighter Super will invest an additional $500 million in Queensland on top of the $1 billion we already hold in assets in the state as part of our commitment to be right by our members’ sides.

Driving economic growth
Brighter Super Chief Executive Officer Kate Farrar said the Queensland Investment Strategy would help support creation of jobs and add to economic growth at an exciting time when Queensland was gearing up to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

“We will be investing for impact to support Queensland industries in co-operation with investment partners,’’ Ms Farrar said. “We have the capacity to engage on a large range of real assets in Queensland, and help grow the regions,’ Ms Farrar said.

More than 70% of Brighter Super’s 230,000* members live in Queensland which has a population growth above the national average and significant economic opportunities in the leadup to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games and beyond. 

Brighter Super is the fourth largest non-government financial institution^ in Queensland, with $32 billion in funds under management and 85% held by Queenslanders*. Which is why we are committed to investing in Queensland to drive sustainable growth and create lasting positive impacts for our members and our communities.
‘Our ambition is to build on our almost 60-years of heritage supporting Queenslanders in their journey to retirement, particularly in the local government, energy and finance sectors,’ Ms Farrar said.

Brighter Super CEO, Kate Farrar visits a major regional investment - the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange

Brighter Super CEO, Kate Farrar visits a major regional investment - the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange

Rigorous investment process
Brighter Super is selecting fund managers for the Queensland Investment Strategy which will acquire assets ranging from listed equities through to infrastructure, including energy and renewables, housing, property, and agriculture.

The investments will be subject to a rigorous process. Investments will need to satisfy a test that they are in members’ best financial interests, diversify the Brighter Super portfolio and drive the economies in south-east and regional Queensland.

Major investments
Brighter Super’s existing $1 billion in assets in Queensland already underpin regional economies through investments such as the Sunshine Coast Airport and the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange.

“We know firsthand the difference these investments make,’’ Ms Farrar said. “Our investment in the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange is a terrific example of how thoughtful investment can help create real legacy.

“The $100 million economic injection from Beef Week in Rockhampton is possible because of the enormous work of the team, many who are our members, who turn up every day at the Gracemere Saleyards to provide a service that is the heart of the livestock supply chain,’’ Ms Farrar said.


Our stake in the Cooper’s Gap Wind Farm in the Western Downs and South Burnett is helping drive the energy transition.

In Brisbane, through our investment in the Dexus Wholesale Property Fund, Brighter Super is backing the giant $2.5 billion Waterfront Brisbane project in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD. 

Preparations for the 2032 Olympics could create opportunities for Brighter Super to invest in infrastructure assets which will be crucial to Queensland’s future.

‘We are focused on growing Queensland as we deliver great returns year on year to our members,’ Ms Farrar said.

Dynamic portfolio management
Ms Farrar said at the same time as Brighter Super planned to grow its investment in the state, its portfolio would remain dynamic, to provide the strongest returns to members.

Our Queensland Assets

More about Brighter Super’s Queensland Assets can be found on our interactive map which showcases the Fund’s current investments at brightersuper.com.au/queensland.

*as at 31 March 2024
^based on assets under management non-government financial institutions in Queensland

Frequently asked questions

  • What are Brighter Super's plans in relation to investing in Queensland?

    Brighter Super plans to invest a further $500 million in Queensland, adding to the $1 billion it has already invested in Queensland assets. Our planning for this investment is already underway. 

    We are working with our investment managers, like QIC, to target the best possible assets. 

    Our Queensland Investment Strategy would help support the creation of jobs and add to economic growth in Queensland whilst also adding to our members’ portfolios at an exciting time when the state is gearing up to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

    We will do this in a way that resonates with our members, enhances their communities, and creates economic impact and jobs. 

    We will partner and collaborate with investment partners and government to maximise the impact of our investments.

  • Why is Brighter Super focusing on Queensland?

    Brighter Super is ambitious for Queensland because Queenslanders make up the majority of our membership.  We believe Queensland has exciting economic prospects and we will support them in meaningful and active ways.

    Around 70% of our 230,000* members live and work in Queensland which has a population growth above the national average, and we are committed to supporting our members where they live and work.

    Brighter Super has been supporting its members on their journeys to retirement for 60 years, particularly in the local government, energy and finance sectors through our foundation funds LGIAsuper, Energy Super and Suncorp Super.

    We are incredibly excited about Queensland’s economic prospects.

  • What sectors will Brighter Super target with $500 million investment?

    We are currently undertaking a fund manager selection process to execute the Queensland Investment Strategy. 

    We will target the best possible assets. 

    Whether it is infrastructure, including energy or renewables, housing, property, or agriculture, we are as focused on growing Queensland as we aim to deliver great returns for our members year on year. 

  • How will Brighter Super execute its Queensland Investment Strategy?

    We will work with our investment managers to select the best possible Queensland real assets for investments. In doing so, we will partner with new and existing investment managers through a selection process with defined principles supported by the Fund’s internal Governance process.

    We are already experienced in working with our Fund Managers to grow Queensland assets. For example, we own half of the Sunshine Coast Airport through our manager Palisade, and this has been a wonderful asset for our members to hold, as well as being a real key to unlocking the regional development of the Sunshine Coast.

  • What impact will the new investments have on the returns for its members?

    All investments are rigorously examined by Brighter Super’s investment committee and must be found to be in members’ best financial interests. 

    With population growth above the national average, preparations for the 2032 Olympics adding to an already world class tourism industry, and an enormous abundance of natural and mineral resources, Queensland is a fantastic place to invest.

    Through our Queensland Investment Strategy, we intend to help support jobs and economic growth in Queensland and new assets into our members’ portfolios.

  • What criteria will be used to select the new investments?

    Any investments must be in the best financial interest of members. We aim to deliver strong returns and diversify the portfolio. 

    We aim to select investments that have the potential to drive growth and transformation in both South-East Queensland and the regions and support state industries.  

    We will partner with selected investment managers to maximise the impact of our investments.

    We already have assets that play a significant role in the regions, like the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange, Sunshine Coast Airport and the Coopers Gap Wind Farm which is helping with the energy transition.

  • Does Brighter Super rule out selling Queensland assets?
    On the contrary. Our portfolio will be dynamic. We will progressively turn over our existing $1 billion portfolio in Queensland where we see the opportunities to realise great returns for our members.

*as at 31 March 2024
^based on assets under management non-government financial institutions in Queensland

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