Well done to the Courier-Mail for reviving its “Go Queensland” campaign, this time with a focus on Brisbane, which today’s front page is labeling as the “City of Dreams.” Today’s paper features excellent articles (which are pay-walled, sorry) by demographer extraordinaire Bernard Salt, Future Brisbane, and the Courier-Mail’s own Paul Syvret, Greater Brisbane economy to become as big as NZ. I had a nice wide-ranging chat with Paul last Thursday and I’m very happy that many of my comments have been included in his article today. For example:

According to independent economist Gene Tunny “the one unavoidable trend is demographic change … what we will see is a continuing expansion of aged and health care, combined with NDIS investment, being a huge driver of employment into the future”.

The other significant ingredient for growth in Brisbane over the next 15 years will be the pace of technological change, and our ability to embrace the advances being made in the tech sphere.

For the rest of my comments, please read the article online.*

Finally, I should also note the growing importance of international education to Brisbane’s economy, which I am constantly reminded of while walking to and from my new office at the Johnson at Spring Hill, a suburb home to two campuses of a major English language training college. Incidentally, the Brisbane City Council appears to be indirectly subsidising this English language training, as the college’s students are heavy users of the free Spring Hill Loop bus operated by BCC. I trust BCC is benefiting from hefty rates bills on the properties utilised by the college.

* Update: It appears I am not directly quoted in the print edition, only in the online version.