Monthly Archives: May 2011

Mining boom is truly huge – $380 billion of planned investment

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Deputy PM and Treasurer Wayne Swan gave another informative budget roadshow speech today (The story behind the Budget: An inclusive Budget). Highlights include: For the first time in our history we are situated in the right part of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Mining | Leave a comment

Move public servants to regions only if cost-effective

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Gene Tunny

There is a major risk that Opposition Leader Campbell Newman’s decentralisation plan to move Queensland public servants out of Brisbane CBD and into the regions – particularly Cairns, Maryborough, and Gympie – would eventually result in an overweight and inefficient … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Cairns, Queensland Government | 4 Comments

$28 per week minimum wage increase would come at bad time

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Bundaberg business owners are rightly concerned about the $28 per week increase in the minimum wage sought by the ACTU. From the Bundaberg News Mail: BUNDABERG business owners fear a proposed minimum wage rise of $28 a week could be … Continue reading →

Posted in IR, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Australian soccer on government life support

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In its first Budget presented in May 2008, the Rudd Government wisely cancelled Commonwealth funding promised by the Howard Government for a Rugby League Hall of Fame and a National Rugby Academy. They were luxuries and hardly essentials for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | Leave a comment

Sustainable population growth put in too hard basket

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Gene Tunny

While I disagree with his anti-migration stance, Monash University’s Bob Birrell makes some good points in his commentary on Australia’s sustainable population strategy, which rejected Kevin Rudd’s vision of a big Australia by electing not to nominate a population target. … Continue reading →

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Wayne Swan on Queensland’s recovery from cruel Summer

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Deputy PM-Treasurer Wayne Swan gave a good speech in Brisbane today on The Story of Budget, in which he included some useful info detailing Queensland’s recovery from the floods and Cyclone Yasi: The rebuilding process will also be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclones, Floods | Leave a comment

Gold Coast development rules unfair on pole dancing studios

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Last month Gold Coast-based MP Steve Ciobo argued that the Gold Coast needed to put on the razzle dazzle so it could compete with Las Vegas and Macau (read about it here). If Mr Ciobo is serious about his vision … Continue reading →

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Best economics book of the year so far – Tim Harford’s Adapt

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Undercover Economist Tim Harford’s latest book Adapt lucidly explains the virtues of a free market economy, which allows a wide range of businesses to try their luck, with only the fittest surviving, meaning the economy adapts in a similar … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Budget losers

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Despite the federal Government committing $365 million last year for the Gold Coast’s new light rail system, Ken Robinson of the Gold Coast Bulletin is asking the Government “what have you done for us lately?” Gold Coast invisible in Federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Budget, Gold Coast, Mackay | Leave a comment

Government tells Logan and Rocky “You’re poor and we’re here to help”

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In the Budget papers released last night, the Gillard Government identified Logan and Rockhampton as among 10 disadvantaged locations across Australia eligible for intensive assistance: In the usual unclear bureaucratic language of Government documents, here is how the Government’s plans … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Rockhampton | Leave a comment