Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Making do with less – speech notes and slides

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Tonight I spoke at the Pro Bono Econos Third Sector Talks at QUT’s Gardens Theatre on the challenges facing not-for-profit organisations in these fiscally lean times and how economists can help. My slides are available to download (Making do with … Continue reading →

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Qld retail trade grows strongly in March quarter – good sign economy is re-balancing post-mining boom

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Gene Tunny

The latest retail turnover data released by the ABS today confirm my view that growing consumption spending will help offset the negative impacts of the end of the mining boom (see my speech on the end of the mining boom). … Continue reading →

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End of the mining boom – speech notes and slides

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Gene Tunny

In Brisbane today, in the theatre of Morgans Financial Limited, along with Griffith’s Tony Makin and Morgans’ Michael Knox, I spoke on “The end of the mining boom”, at an event organised by Griffith’s APEC Study Centre. My slides are … Continue reading →

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Residential building will help economy adjust to end of mining boom

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Gene Tunny

March quarter building approvals figures released by the ABS today show that the residential building industry, no doubt encouraged by very low interest rates,  will help the economy adjust to the end of the mining boom (see the Queensland data … Continue reading →

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Privatised electricity businesses would better achieve necessary efficiencies

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Gene Tunny

It’s been clear for some time that the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) would make large cuts to future allowable revenues for Energex and Ergon, and that this would potentially impact Queensland Government dividend income. The preliminary determinations from the AER … Continue reading →

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

RBA will almost certainly cut cash rate, but economy may be stronger than it thinks

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Peter Martin, arguably the top economics journalist in Australia, appears to have been briefed by an RBA insider that the Bank will cut the cash rate next week to 2 per cent, a record low, and I’ve little doubt this … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Retail trade | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Bad day for developers in Queensland – risk to future investment and jobs

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Gene Tunny

At a time when the Queensland economy is experiencing a huge negative shock from the downturn in the resources sector, and at a time when the health of our recovering building industry is very important, it is discouraging that some … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

On the End of Cheap China

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Gene Tunny

At the Venetian Macao earlier this week One of the best guides to the huge economic transformation that has taken place in China in recent decades is Shaun Rein’s The End of Cheap China. I’d agree with commentators who say … Continue reading →

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Health & aged care will drive jobs growth in coming years

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Gene Tunny

The March labour force data released yesterday by the ABS show the Queensland unemployment rate has stabilised at around 6.5%, which, while relatively high (see chart above), is not too bad from a historical perspective, as I’ve noted before (Don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Population | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Risk to Qld Budget of lower dividends from Govt-owned businesses

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Gene Tunny

In addition to royalties revenue being lower than previously forecast, a major risk to the Queensland State Budget in coming years is lower than expected dividends from government-owned businesses. Currently government-owned businesses contribute over $2 billion to the Budget or … Continue reading →

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