Monthly Archives: March 2012

Training reform package is a winner

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Gillard Government deserves credit for its new training reform package, Skills for All Australians, released today. If adopted by the States it will made vocational education and training (VET) a demand-driven system and extend HECS-HELP loans to all VET … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 1 Comment

Treasury needs to read Govt minimum wage submissions more closely

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Gene Tunny

If I remember correctly Australian Government submissions to the national minimum wage review are drafted by the Department of Employment, etc but get cleared by central agencies, including the Treasury, so there is no excuse for an economically illiterate statement … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Far North unemployment spike may just be sampling error

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Today’s ABS regional unemployment data contain bad news for the sluggish Far North economy. Loose Change observes (Ugly unemployment): The unemployment rate in the Far North for February is back above 10% with the latest ABS regional numbers released today. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Labour market | Leave a comment

Citytrain reliability should be an election issue

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Gene Tunny

This may be a case of kicking a dead dog, but the Queensland Government needs to explain why Citytrain has become so unreliable, as evidenced by this statement on the Translink website this morning: Train services have resumed after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Rail, Transport | 1 Comment

Development review panel would be a platform for NIMBYism

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Gene Tunny

If the Bligh Government is re-elected, I hope it reassesses its commitment to an independent panel to review major development applications in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, as reported in the Gold Coast Bulletin today: AN INDEPENDENT panel will advise … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast | Leave a comment

Resources sector investment driving State demand

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The resources states of Queensland and WA were the heroes of the ABS National Accounts released on Wednesday, with very strong growth in State Final Demand recorded over 2011: But nationally economic growth was lacklustre, and the two-speed economy continues, … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Macroeconomy, Mining | Leave a comment

Government misses 100,000 jobs target

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Gene Tunny

It’s undeniable the Queensland economy has been weak in recent years, and as a consequence the Government has been unable to hit its unambitious jobs target of 100,000 new jobs, which it announced during the 2009 election campaign: I’m looking … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market | Leave a comment

Risk of dubious expenditures under Royalties for the Regions

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Gene Tunny

I’ve found it odd that both the Government and Opposition have made election commitments to regional pork-barreling funds that have names based on Western Australia’s Royalties for Regions program. Today’s Australian reports: ANNA Bligh has denied that her $300 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | 2 Comments

Huge surge in mining capital expenditure means healthy Qld economy

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Yesterday’s new private sector capital expenditure data from the ABS shows the Queensland economy is in excellent health and will easily reach Queensland Treasury’s forecasts of economic growth of 4.25% and a 35% pick up in business investment in 2011-12. … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining, Tourism | Leave a comment