Monthly Archives: December 2015

How the Qld economy performed over 2015

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Gene Tunny

In 2015, the Queensland economy proved itself resilient to the end of the mining boom, and recovered from the apparent downturn, a so-called technical recession, at the end of 2014. Even though the economy is proving resilient, growth is at … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Holiday reading

Posted on December 26, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Recently I have been reading a variety of interesting books, including Digital Gold: The Untold Story of Bitcoin by New York Times reporter Nathaniel Popper, and the Edith trilogy by eminent Australian author Frank Moorhouse. Digital Gold tells the story … Continue reading →

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Qld currency was model for Australian currency

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Last month, former UQ Economics lecturer Dr Jon Stanford published a very interesting paper in the Queensland History Journal titled Queensland’s Own Money, 1893-1910: Model for the Australian Note Issue (paywalled unfortunately). Jon discusses the financial crisis of the early … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Merger savings good if they occur, but debt shuffle dubious

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Gene Tunny

I am very flattered the Courier-Mail has a story about me this morning with the title on its website of The man who could clear Qld’s deficit: THE forecast deficit of $1.5 billion could be overcome by courageous decisions made … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

QCA and Premier’s Department have shown where Government can find budget savings

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Gene Tunny

The need for difficult decisions to repair Queensland’s Budget is reinforced by news that, due to the drop in coal prices and a slower economy, revenue will be further written down by $1.5 billion over the next four years. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Transport, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Surprisingly good jobs data shows economy’s resilience

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Gene Tunny

I am quoted in today’s Courier-Mail regarding yesterday’s surprisingly good jobs data published by the ABS (e.g. see chart above): In a sign the state is working through the mining downturn, there have been 50,800 jobs added since the Palaszczuk … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Tourism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Terminating KSD contract probably provides a better return for ratepayers than proceeding

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Jim Binney returns to the topic of the controversial $650 million Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade in a new guest post. From an economic point of view, avoiding costs is akin to a benefit. In fact this is the logic that … Continue reading →

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Australia’s Christmas Gifts – Innovation and our Global Financial Standing

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Thanks to Michael Willis from Effective Governance for today’s guest post. The Prime Minister’s “Innovation Statement” may or may not prove to be gold, frankincense and myrrh, a Christmas gift for our nation. But like the shepherds arriving with a … Continue reading →

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Guest post on KSD upgrade features in Council debate

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Last week’s excellent guest post from Jim Binney of Mainstream Economics on the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade attracted a lot of attention, and now it has featured in the council debate on the merits of the upgrade. A Brisbane Times … Continue reading →

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Doubts about capabilities of public servants in contract management worldwide

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Gene Tunny

The Economist last week reported on British Chancellor George Osborne’s ambitious plan to remake the British Government, and it observed (in U-turns and new turns): “By 2020 departments will be too cash-strapped to run things; public administration will be far … Continue reading →

Posted in Productivity, Queensland Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments