Our lifestyle is still ranked as top shelf.

However, it is south-east Queensland’s high population growth (50 per cent by 2040) that makes it a potentially high-performing region.

An October 2017 report commissioned by Queensland Treasury measures the comparative advantages and weaknesses of 10 comparative regions throughout the world.

Urbanist and chairman of Jones Lang Lasalle’s Cities Research Centre, Professor Greg Clark, was asked by Queensland Treasury to assess south-east Queensland’s strengths and weaknesses against 10 peer regions from throughout the world.

Its capital city Brisbane is regarded as performing fourth of these 10 peer regions overall and south-east-Queensland ranks fifth for having “cultural activities/attractions”.

While south-east Queensland ranked highest in luring international students to Queensland universities, it ranked eighth in the higher education standards of people over 15 years of age.

It is ranked eighth (of the 10 peer regions) in internet speed and eighth in companies lodging patents.

However, south-east Queensland ranks third for low air pollution, its three-bedroom units are relatively affordable (ranking third) and it has done well at getting extra five star hotels in the past three four years (second on the list).

It is slow travelling by train outside Brisbane (compared with Europe and Japan), the region's port cargo level ranks eight of 10, while its airport cargo ranks ninth.

That is a quick summary of south-east Queensland’s strengths and weaknesses as it approaches the federal government with a bid for a 20-year City Deal funding program.

Professor Clark chose south-east Queensland’s “peer” regions and measured the performance of our capital city.

Here they are ranked in performance:

These are some of Professor Clark’s key points using figures from 2017:

“South-east Queensland has also acquired highly diversified population over the past 30 years and in 2017 it is the 3rd most demographically diverse of the 10 regions,” the report states.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said she believed getting the “extra freight connectivity” from Acacia Ridge rail yards, where the federal government’s planned Inland Rail project would finish, and the Port of Brisbane would be “a critical issue” for a south-east Queensland City Deal.

“I think there is plenty of opportunity for the mayors, the state government as well as the Commonwealth to recognise a whole list of important projects,” Ms Trad said.

“While there may not be a signature transformative project, like the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project, there is a number of projects which can have a transformative impact on the south-east Queensland economy.”

Port of Brisbane chief executive Roy Cummins said work was under way to improve export efficiency at the Port of Brisbane.

This includes a study to identify and preserve a corridor for the link between Acacia Ridge and the Port of Brisbane.

“If we can get the supply chain right, Queensland’s export potential is unlimited, which is why establishing dedicated freight rail access to the Port of Brisbane must be on the agenda with all levels of government,” Mr Cummins said.

“We welcome the state and federal government’s initiative to embark on $1.5 million study into ‘rail freight links’ to the Port of Brisbane.

“It is crucial that this study leads to corridor preservation, which then lays the platform for a port connection to be built.”

Federal Cities Minister Paul Fletcher said he welcomed debate on the proposed south-east Queensland City Deal, although he declined to answer specific questions.

“The Turnbull government is pleased to see a high degree of interest in its City Deal agenda,” he said.

“City Deals have been agreed for Townsville, Launceston and Western Sydney and negotiations are currently underway for City Deals in Darwin, Hobart, Geelong and Perth.

“We will continue to work with our state counterparts to sequence the location of future City Deals.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly placed Busan in China.