Author Archives: Gene Tunny

More signs of slowing growth in resources sector – bad news for Qld budget

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Queensland Treasury already made a big downward revision of $1.4 billion over four years in mining royalties in the 2012-13 Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review last December, and it may need to shave some more off given the bad news … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Housing, Macroeconomy, Mining | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Despite cost disease, Government can boost public sector productivity

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Gene Tunny

There are several fundamental differences between the public and private sectors, one of which was noted in Sir Peter Gershon’s review of Commonwealth Government ICT use in 2008. On Commonwealth agencies, and I assume the same would apply to State … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Regional Qld made impressive contribution to national economic growth over 2000s

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I’m very impressed by the just released Sustainable Australia Report 2013: Conversations with the Future, which was produced by the National Sustainability Council for Sustainability and Environment Minister Tony Burke. The report covers a wide range of environmental sustainability issues … Continue reading →

Posted in Gold Coast, Macroeconomy, Townsville | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Qld and WA were on similar growth paths, but Qld got knocked off by GFC

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Gene Tunny

This month’s RBA chart pack contains a nice, informative chart depicting State shares of Australia’s GDP (see below). It shows that, up until the financial crisis in 2008, Queensland, like WA, was increasing its share of national GDP, but stalled … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Barcaldine set to boom with big increase in FIFO workers

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Queensland Treasury’s non-resident population projections for the Bowen and Galilee Basins show Barcaldine in Central Queensland is the next regional town that will boom due to an influx of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) workers (see chart below … Continue reading →

Posted in Mining, Population | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Retail sector adapting to new frugality – big box shopping & affordable luxuries

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Australia’s retail sector has had to adapt to the new frugality as a result of the financial crisis, and it appears that, among bricks-and-mortar retailers, only big box stores such as Bunnings have thrived. Yesterday saw the site launch of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Retail trade | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cost savings from contracting out public services

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Gene Tunny

One of the issues of debate inspired by the Queensland Commission of Audit is the potential cost savings from outsourcing or contracting out public services. While there are risks to service quality if contract terms are not well specified and … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How much cheaper is it to fly from Cairns to Brisbane today than in the mid-Thirties?

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Gene Tunny

While in Cairns yesterday for a meeting, I found a little bit of time to pop into the Cairns Museum, in the grand old School of Arts Building in the centre of town, where I found this very interesting poster … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Link to my interview on Commission of Audit on ABC Brisbane radio this morning

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Steve Austin from 612 ABC Brisbane radio interviewed me this morning on the Commission of Audit report. I elaborated on my view that it’s a good report because: it offers a framework for the role of Government that can guide … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uni not essential for success, but on average uni graduates do better

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I’m disappointed news.com.au tonight features the really silly headline “Four reasons you should bypass uni”, under photos of Mark Zuckerberg, Steven Spielberg, Ellen DeGeneres and Richard Branson. Sure, you can be hugely successful without going to university, if you work incredibly … Continue reading →

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