Monthly Archives: March 2016

Why is budget repair so difficult?

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Gene Tunny

One of my favourite movie scenes is from Jaws, when Roy Scheider’s character Martin Brody, after seeing the shark for the first time, tells the captain “You’re going to need a bigger boat.” That scene came into my mind in … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Qld private independent schools saving taxpayers $1 billion per annum

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Independent Schools Queensland yesterday released a report it commissioned from AEC Group on the economic contribution of its 190 member schools (i.e. non-Catholic private schools) to Queensland, revealing a direct contribution of over 14,000 jobs and $1.8 billion in gross … Continue reading →

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

NFPs recognise need to innovate as government funding is now much less reliable

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Over the first part of this week I was in Melbourne and Sydney attending and presenting at the CPA Australia Not-For-Profit Conference, which will be also held in Brisbane next Wednesday and Thursday. If you are involved in an NFP … Continue reading →

Posted in nfps, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Regional rescue packages have a poor record

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The Sunday Mail reported this morning that Queensland Federal Government MPs are “at odds over federal relief funding for Queensland” in response to the economic downturn in much of the State outside SEQ (e.g. note the large job losses in … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Mackay, Macroeconomy, Queensland Government, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

What economic indicators should board directors monitor?

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Gene Tunny

I have recently published an article on the website of the corporate governance consultancy firm Effective Governance, at which I am a specialist adviser, regarding: What Economic Indicators Should Board Directors Monitor? The article was inspired by a recent Harvard … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

International visitors take advantage of lower Aussie dollar

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Expenditure by international visitors to Queensland increased to over $4.9 billion in 2015 from $4.2 billion in 2014, a 19% increase, according to new International Visitor Survey data released by Tourism Research Australia (see chart below). This was less than … Continue reading →

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

Qld economy supported by State & local Gov’t CAPEX in December quarter

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The latest National Accounts released by the ABS were better than expected, with the national economy growing at 0.6% in December quarter 2015 and 3% through-the-year. Regarding Queensland, state final demand barely moved with a 0.1% increase, but that does … Continue reading →

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

Beattie right to recommend asset leases, but his advice has come too late

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie is right to recommend the leasing out of State-owned assets, as reported in the Australian today (see Beattie sees the light on leases, which is behind the paywall). But unfortunately he is over a year … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments