Monthly Archives: August 2015

A longer-term perspective on the CAPEX plunge

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Gene Tunny

In a comment on my post from last Friday, regular Queensland Economy Watch reader Jim pointed out that the plunge in capital expenditure (CAPEX) is simply returning Queensland to more normal rates of investment, as was completely expected. Jim suggested … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Health, aged care & tourism will generate jobs in Qld at the end of the mining boom

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Gene Tunny

At the end of the mining boom, as capital expenditure plummets (chart above) from an elevated level, and ten thousand new jobs expected in the Galilee basin now appear unlikely, it is probably not surprising that some commentators are getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Mining | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Unsurprising Townsville running out of water when Council is charging so little for it

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Townsville City Council desperately needs some hard-headed economic advice, not just on the unwise Super Stadium project, but on water pricing, too. It is reported in today’s Townsville Bulletin that “TOWNSVILLE residents must dramatically reduce their water use if the … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Townsville | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Upcoming ESA Qld event on family-based taxation featuring Senator Matt Canavan & Alex Robson

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Equity is important for the design of tax systems. Equity involves treating similar people the same (i.e. horizontal equity), but also adjusting taxes to allow for differences in the ability to pay taxes and in the benefits that people receive … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

More than half of Australian large businesses receiving government financial assistance of some type

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Australian large businesses have proven themselves much better than smaller businesses at securing government financial assistance such as grants and tax concessions. Around 57 per cent of large businesses (i.e. 200+ employees) received some type of government financial assistance in … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Independent schools right to be worried about GST broadening – parents already fee sensitive

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ), which represents non-Catholic private schools, released an excellent discussion paper earlier this week prepared by Mikayla Novak on the impacts of broadening the GST to include education. The paper notes that, if GST were applied to … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is the Queensland economy at a standstill?

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Gene Tunny

I’m unsure if the Queensland economy is at a standstill, as suggested by the federal Treasurer Joe Hockey (see today’s Courier-Mail report), but, at best, it is moving slowly and sluggishly. This has meant the Queensland unemployment rate has remained … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Very high youth unemployment in North Qld and Wide Bay region

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Young people, many of who may be trying to enter the workforce for the first time, are usually disproportionately affected when the economy slows down. Relatively weak conditions in regional Queensland, which I discussed in my last post, have contributed … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Big divide between SEQ and rest of Qld in jobs growth

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Looking at the data in Queensland Treasury’s latest briefing on regional employment, it appears that the bulk of jobs growth that is occurring in Queensland is occurring in the South-East, particularly on the Gold Coast, and many parts of regional … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Great RBA speech highlighting new labour market flexibility and links with NZ labour market

Posted on August 15, 2015 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Branch of the Economic Society of Australia, of which I’m the Secretary, was delighted yesterday to host a speech by the Assistant Governor (Economic) of the Reserve Bank of Australia Christopher Kent on Adjustments in the Labour Market. … Continue reading →

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