Monthly Archives: February 2017

Qld Government & Treasury disagree over jobs created by capital works projects – Treasury right, of course

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Gene Tunny

A recent media release from the Deputy Premier Jackie Trad (Jobs bonanza for regional Queensland) appears to have contained a huge typo. The media release from Tuesday last week states: “$200 million will kick off 723 projects and support almost … Continue reading →

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

Zombie electricity utilities – upcoming presentation by Professor Manuel Pinho to ESA Qld

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Gene Tunny

The latest issue of The Economist features an excellent article (Wind and solar power are disrupting electricity systems) describing the challenges of integrating renewable energy into electricity systems. It is a timely article, given there is an extensive debate in … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Strong growth in plant & equipment capex is good news for Qld economy

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Last Friday, in his opening statement to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, RBA Governor Phil Lowe observed: “Nationally, measures of business conditions have picked up noticeably recently. For some time we have been waiting for a lift … Continue reading →

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

Health care business numbers up 17%, while retail, mining & farm business counts fall 8-9% over 2012 to 2016

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Gene Tunny

The structural change the Australian economy has experienced in recent years, including the decline in manufacturing and the decline of small retailers, at the same time as health care and other service sectors are booming, reveals itself in the latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Health, Mining, Retail trade, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Qld sugar dispute highlights constraints on minority government

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Gene Tunny

The current commercial dispute between Wilmar and Queensland Sugar Limited has highlighted the constraints on the Queensland Government’s ability to prosecute sound economic policy from its position as a minority government. Wilmar is the Singaporean-based company that bought CSR Sugar … Continue reading →

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

Comments in Courier-Mail on Qld regional economies and structural change

Posted on February 13, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Today, the Courier-Mail is re-launching its GoQld campaign, this time with a focus on regional economies. It has rightly identified the large divergence in employment growth between SEQ and the rest of Queensland, and it is reporting a loss of … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Mining, North Queensland, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

HSBC’s Paul Bloxham on the economic outlook and President Trump

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Last Thursday, Paul Bloxham, HSBC Chief Economist for Australia and NZ, gave an excellent briefing on the economic outlook at a lunchtime event organised by the French Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FACCI), and hosted by Clayton Utz at … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Mining, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Coal and LNG push Qld commodity exports up to $1 billion per week

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Gene Tunny

The surge in coal prices in the second half of 2016 and increased exports of LNG from Gladstone’s Curtis Island have pushed Queensland’s commodity exports to over $52 billion in 2016, or $1 billion per week, up from around $49 … Continue reading →

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

Property market shows parents are willing to pay for high-performing State Schools

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Gene Tunny

There is a report from Domain today about the impact of school catchment areas on house prices (House prices in some Queensland state school zones rise by up to 40 per cent): “With the new school year just underway, the … Continue reading →

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

Brisbane unit values fell nearly 3% on average over 12 months to end of January

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Gene Tunny

The huge supply increase in Brisbane apartments has resulted in a fall in unit values of 2.7% in the 12 months to 31 January, according to new CoreLogic estimates published yesterday (see Chart 1, based on data available in the … Continue reading →

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