Monthly Archives: July 2020

Yes to a North Qld State podcast

Bill Bates and David Young from the Boot Brisbane group have started a new live-streamed podcast on creating a new state of North Queensland. Guests so far have included former Queensland Speaker John Mickel and federal MP Ewen Jones, and … Continue reading

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Challenges of Economic Forecasting in the COVID-19 Pandemic with Prof. Rodney Strachan from UQ

The Brisbane south side COVID-cases and the Queensland Government’s declaration of greater Sydney as a COVID-hot spot are bad news for Queensland’s economy. Around the world, public health measures and public anxiety related to COVID-19 are causing huge swings in … Continue reading

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GST & Vertical Fiscal Imbalance video

The Update on Queensland’s fiscal position media release from state Treasurer Cameron Dick last Thursday noted “over the 2019-20 and 2020-21 financial years, GST receipts to Queensland will be cut by up to $2.5 billion compared to our MYFER [Mid … Continue reading

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ABC radio interview on Qld state debt & deficits update

At the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Queensland Government’s economic response to COVID-19 on Monday last week, I called for the Government to publish its internal-use estimates of the state budget position and debt, so we don’t have to wait until … Continue reading

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Valuing the Environment podcast chat with Boyd Blackwell

In 2017, Deloitte Access Economics estimated the value of the Great Barrier Reef at $56 billion. You may ask, how could you even attempt to place a dollar value on the Reef? What techniques are used? Aren’t some of our … Continue reading

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Qld’s regional economies & COVID-19 – video chat with Pete Faulkner

Earlier today I chatted with Pete Faulkner from Far-North-Queensland-based Conus Business Consultancy Services regarding how Queensland’s regional economies have been impacted by COVID-19. Check out the recording of our Zoom conversation below. You can download the slides we chatted about … Continue reading

Posted in Brisbane, Cairns, Labour market, Mackay, Macroeconomy, Migration, Mining, North Queensland, Population, Tourism, Townsville, Uncategorized, Wide Bay-Burnett | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s upcoming mini-Budget

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will hand down a mini-Budget this Thursday, and it’s coming just in time, given the growing concern over the spread of COVID-19 in Victoria and NSW. I recorded a video earlier today with some thoughts on … Continue reading

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Hollywood grabbing excessive film industry support

The Brisbane Times, in its article Film industry calls for more local support after Hollywood incentive,  is reporting there is some dissatisfaction with the newly announced $400 million of federal government incentives to attract international film and TV productions: Australian … Continue reading

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Suppression preferred over more costly elimination strategy say Ergas & Branigan

Henry Ergas and Joe Branigan have just had a new paper published by the Menzies Research Centre, COVID19: Getting Australia Safely Back to Work. Yesterday I interviewed Joe about the paper and you can hear our conversation using the player … Continue reading

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

State gov’t economic responses to COVID-19 podcast episode

In my latest podcast episode, I elaborate on my opening remarks to the Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry on the state government’s economic response to COVID-19 on Monday. Among other things, I mention Joe Branigan and Henry Ergas’s new Menzies Research Centre … Continue reading

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