Monthly Archives: January 2016

Qld Renewable Energy Taskforce asked to achieve impossible 50% target

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Queensland’s Energy Minister Mark Bailey yesterday announced in a media release that “A formidable team of business, energy, and environmental experts will lead the public inquiry into establishing Queensland’s 50% renewable energy target by 2030.” Being led by a former … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Challenging conditions outside SEQ

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Gene Tunny

In his recent commentary regarding strong growth in the retail sector, National Retail Association CEO Trevor Evans noted: “South East Queensland is performing strongly but performance in Queensland is being held back by issues in some areas…Some areas are living … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Infrastructure, Labour market, Mackay, Macroeconomy, Mining, North Queensland, Queensland Government, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Mackay asks why is Townsville getting special treatment?

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Yesterday afternoon I spoke with Elly Bradfield on ABC Radio’s Statewide Drive program about Queensland Nickel entering administration and the likely economic fallout. I reiterated the points I made in this blog yesterday that this could be a big economic … Continue reading →

Posted in Mackay, Queensland Government, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Economic pain continues for Townsville

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Gene Tunny

With the nickel refinery at Yabulu outside Townsville now in administration, following the sacking of hundreds of workers last week, Townsville residents are right to be very concerned about the economic impact of a possible refinery shutdown, and the loss … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Penalty rates reform should be considered as way to reduce youth unemployment

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Gene Tunny

New labour force data from the ABS yesterday showed that Queensland ended 2015 with solid employment growth, and with the unemployment rate falling slightly further to 5.8 per cent, as the Queensland economy remains resilient at the end of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Top 10 Australian economists of all time

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Recently, while reading Stuart Macintyre’s Australia’s Boldest Experiment and Frank Moorhouse’s Edith trilogy, it repeatedly occurred to me that Australia has been home to some extraordinary economists who have made major contributions to economic thought and policy making. Here is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Unit approvals plummet in rest of Aus. with Qld likely to follow

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The Brisbane Times reported the other day that Brisbane renters were being offered inducements such as iPads, suggesting that supply growth has got ahead of demand growth in Brisbane recently. This should reduce the enthusiasm of investors for the Brisbane … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

BOQ’s Peter Deans to give ESA Qld seminar on risk management in financial services

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Banks play an important role in modern economies: looking after people’s money, facilitating transactions, and providing credit that gives economies momentum but which can also impart volatility—e.g. when too rapid credit growth inflates housing or commercial property bubbles. Banks are … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment