Monthly Archives: October 2012

Building industry recovery looking more likely – more evidence last RBA rate cut unnecessary

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Today’s new ABS building approvals data have generated much excitement at the prospect of a building industry recovery, although Queensland’s increase in September was much lower than NSW’s. The Housing Industry Association notes in a media release today that: “Today’s … Continue reading →

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Queensland leads Australia on obesity

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Given the high costs of obesity on the health system, today’s new Australian Health Survey data for 2011-12 from the ABS should be concerning to the Queensland Government, with Queensland leading Australia in obesity (a Body Mass Index of 30 … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Was Maxine McKew asleep during the Rudd Government?

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Maxine McKew was a great journalist, but her time in politics has been marked by naivety and hero worship for Kevin Rudd, against all the objective facts. As a Treasury official during the first eighteen months of the Government I … Continue reading →

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Interesting links this week

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Pete Faulkner warns against over-analysing the recent CPI data that surprised on the up-side: An attempt to dismiss Q3 CPI James Falk cites a previous post of mine in his piece on Analysis serving ideology Seth Godin has a brilliant … Continue reading →

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Pre-mixed concrete production remains well below pre-GFC high

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA) industry body has a nice summary of the importance of concrete in our lives on its website: The heavy construction materials industry produces concrete and its constituent parts – sand, aggregate and cement … Continue reading →

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Company tax timing trick is costly for business

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Sinclair Davidson has a great article at the Conversation explaining the implications of requiring companies to pay company tax monthly rather than quarterly (Timing is everything), a measure announced in yesterday’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO). Highlights include: The … Continue reading →

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MYEFO mystery – weird negative contingency reserve continues

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Gene Tunny

I share the skepticism of many commentators about the budget forecasts in today’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO). Certainly the revenue grab from increasing the frequency of company tax payments seems tricky, and I wonder if it really will … Continue reading →

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Govt Actuary finds insurers struggling to understand catastrophe risk

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Gene Tunny

North Queensland apartment owners will have to put up with the massive insurance premium increases (e.g. more than 300%) they have experienced in recent years after an Australian Government Actuary report concluded the premium increases most likely reflected the market … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Climate change, Cyclones, North Queensland | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Stop Not Till the Goal is Reached

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The developer of Springfield, Maha Sinnathamby, thinks like a winner. No matter what difficulties life throws at him – the collapse of his first property empire or the near collapse of his second, Springfield – he faces each challenge with … Continue reading →

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Skilling Queenslanders for Work probably less effective than claimed

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Gene Tunny

After reading the Deloitte Access Economics report on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) program, I have significant doubts about whether the program generated the large benefits claimed. Earlier today, the Brisbane Times reported (Jobseeker program axed, then praised): Queensland’s … Continue reading →

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