Monthly Archives: September 2014

QCA finds nearly 150 ways Qld Govt assists industry – good hit list for Treasury

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The QCA has released a Draft Catalogue of Industry Assistance Measures (available at this link), and it shows nearly 150 ways the Queensland Government assists industry, many of which I’ve no doubt have zero public policy rationale and are a … Continue reading →

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Qld less attractive to Southerners due to weak jobs market & growing pains

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Yesterday’s new population data from the ABS were important because they showed Queensland’s population growth falling below the national average (see chart below). Partly this is due to a very low level of interstate migration (second chart below), which I’ve … Continue reading →

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Coal contraction continues

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The big economic news for Queensland today was the announcement from BHP Billiton of a reduction in coal mining jobs of 700 in its Central Queensland operations, as the viability of some operations have been challenged by lower coal prices … Continue reading →

Posted in Mining | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

HIA wants debate on stamp duty, not negative gearing

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has released an excellent report from the consulting firm of top Australian economist Chris Murphy on The Economic Impacts of Negative Gearing of Residential Property (see the news report Don’t slash negative gearing, says HIA). … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Private sector involvement should restrain growth in electricity prices

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Gene Tunny

There was an excellent article in Saturday’s Courier-Mail, quoting me towards the end of it, by State Political Reporter, Steven Wardill, on the likely impacts of the proposed leasing out of Queensland’s electricity network assets: Energy prices have risen rapidly … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Energy | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

New ABS figures show two of the four pillars are crumbling – agriculture & mining

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Gene Tunny

New quarterly employment by industry data confirm falling employment levels in two of the so-called four pillars of the Queensland economy: agriculture and mining (see chart below). Regarding the other two pillars, construction employment appears flat and the ABS does … Continue reading →

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ABC radio interview on asset leases

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Gene Tunny

At a BDO economic outlook breakfast I attended at the Brisbane Convention Centre this morning, Treasurer Tim Nicholls announced that the Government would consider asset leases as an alternative to the previously announced sale of the power generators and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Energy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Vehicle sales affected by weak consumer confidence & Gen Y habits

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Gene Tunny

New motor vehicle sales in Queensland in August were almost 9% lower than in August 2013, according to ABS data released yesterday. There are at least three contributing factors: persistently weak consumer confidence (see Consumer sentiment slumps as budget worries … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Housing, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

If you want to understand the East Coast gas market, come to this presentation

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Gene Tunny

With the first LNG exports from Curtis Island off Gladstone expected later this year, it is timely to consider what the linkage of our domestic gas market to the international market will mean for gas prices in Australia. A Grattan … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Gladstone, Mining | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

ABC radio interview on unemployment, the 4% target and the four pillars plan

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I was interviewed this morning by Steve Austin on 612 ABC Brisbane regarding yesterday’s unemployment figures, particularly what they mean for the Government’s four pillars plan and its 4% unemployment rate target: Jump in employment questioned I reiterated the point … Continue reading →

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