Author Archives: Gene Tunny

COP26 chat with Grattan’s Tony Wood – climate change, renewables, nuclear, and coal

Posted on October 9, 2021 by Gene Tunny

In Economics Explored Episode 108, leading Australian energy and climate change policy expert Tony Wood from the Grattan Institute explains what COP26, the 2021 climate change conference in Glasgow, is all about and why it’s important. Tony discusses what “Net Zero … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate change, Energy, Mining | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hospital funding fight the latest illustration of the big problem with vertical fiscal imbalance in our federation

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Gene Tunny

There is a deep structural problem underlying the current hospital funding fight between the Queensland Premier and the PM, the vertical fiscal imbalance (VFI) between the state’s spending responsibilities and the Commonwealth’s revenue raising powers. The states receive around half … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Pre and post-COVID population projections

Posted on September 30, 2021 by Gene Tunny

I’ve had some readers query the point made in Capricorn Enterprise’s blurb for the upcoming Major Projects Forum regarding the 600k reduction in Australia’s population (relative to the pre-pandemic trajectory) by 2024 (see my post Upcoming Major Projects Forum in … Continue reading →

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Lockdowns reduce retail trade 14-17% in NSW and ACT compared with pre-lockdown levels

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Thankfully, and better late than never, the upcoming NRL Grand Final has forced the Queensland Government to recognise the large economic costs associated with lockdowns, and it has decided not to panic this time, and surprisingly it has not yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Retail trade | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Upcoming Major Projects Forum in Rockhampton on 28 October 2021

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Gene Tunny

I’m thrilled that I’ve been invited to return to present at Capricorn Enterprise’s Major Projects Forum in Rockhampton on Thursday 28 October. Here’s the blurb: The Capricorn Enterprise Major Projects Forum is the premier project forum in the region, covering … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Super high coal prices will boost royalties and slow the increase in Qld state debt

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Back in early August I observed that higher coal prices were helping the Qld economy and state budget in this time of rolling lockdowns. Amazingly, the all important metallurgical or coking coal price has surged even higher since then. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Mining | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Qld population growth and interstate migration gains in perspective

Posted on September 18, 2021 by Gene Tunny

There is much excitement about Queensland having the highest population growth in Australia at the moment (e.g. see the Courier-Mail report ‘Once in a generation boom’ SEQ investment hits $60 billion), although, of course, population growth rates in Queensland and … Continue reading →

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Lockdowns cause hours worked to fall below pre-pandemic levels

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Gene Tunny

In August, according to the latest ABS Labour Force data, total hours worked were well below March 2020 levels in NSW (-11.1%), and they were 2.9% below nationally and 0.9% below in Queensland (see the chart below). Victoria was slightly … Continue reading →

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Young Economists to debate housing affordability measures

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Gene Tunny

There is an interesting upcoming online debate on measures designed to improve housing affordability among young economists on Thursday 16 September 2021, to be hosted by the Young Economists Network of the Economic Society of Australia (ESA). Here’s the blurb:  … Continue reading →

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Not quite the Smart State

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Gene Tunny

The business R&D estimates published by the ABS last Friday reminded me of the limited economic impact of successive Queensland Government initiatives such as the Smart State and Advance Queensland, although there have been some successes such as the Biosciences … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments