Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Good news from the OECD on Australia’s economic outlook

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Gene Tunny

There is good news from the OECD via Acting PM Wayne Swan tonight (OECD Economic Outlook 91): The OECD Economic Outlook released tonight confirms that the Australian economy will significantly outperform OECD economies as a whole over this year and … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Boom and bust in international student numbers in Qld

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Gene Tunny

I suspect the large drop in international students in Queensland (and across Australia) due partly to the high Australian dollar is a concern to universities, TAFEs and private providers, such as the Sarina Russo Group, which have made a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Migration | Leave a comment

Potential savings for Newman Govt through cutting ineffective VET funding (e.g. for hairdressing)

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Gene Tunny

In a recent conference paper published today by NCVER, Australia’s leading expert on vocational education and training (VET) Tom Karmel summarises recent research on the wage premium due to completing an apprenticeship or traineeship as follows (p. 11): This research … Continue reading →

Posted in VET | Leave a comment

New OESR data confirm huge increase in FIFO & DIDO workers in Bowen Basin

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Gene Tunny

New OESR survey data confirm the huge increase in fly in-fly out (FIFO) and drive in-drive out (DIDO) work arrangements in the Queensland resources sector. Here’s a chart based on the excellent new report from OESR Bowen and Galilee Basins … Continue reading →

Posted in Mining, Population | Leave a comment

Commonwealth support for Cross River Rail a legacy of Rudd’s nation building agenda

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Gene Tunny

This comment from Infrastructure Australia official Michael Deegan on the proposed Cross River Rail project is a concern (reported in the Brisbane Times today): “We think it will be a transformational project for Brisbane and that’s a very important part … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Infrastructure, Transport | 2 Comments

Could our go cards be set up to pay for quiet carriages?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Economist has a great article in its latest issue on how we might get quiet carriages on trains that are truly quiet (Shhhh!). Unfortunately, as with experiments with quiet carriages elsewhere in the world, QR’s experiment has failed, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | 1 Comment

CCIQ hoping for relief from high Aussie dollar

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland was quick to welcome the temporary decline in the Australian dollar below parity with the US dollar today: Some Aussie Dollar respite for Queensland businesses Clearly many Queensland businesses, especially in tourism, are … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Tax reform roadmap politicises Commonwealth Treasury

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Gene Tunny

When I was at the Treasury, it was well understood that, while Treasury is not independent and works for the Government of the day, Budget documents should nonetheless be written in a non-partisan way, as it would be an inappropriate … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Tax | 1 Comment

Qld Treasury expects weak employment growth in short-term

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Yesterday’s new ABS labour force data were weird (see OESR information brief). While the Queensland unemployment rate came down to 5.1% seasonally adjusted from 5.5% the month before, employment barely grew. So while unemployment fell, it may have fallen because … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy | 1 Comment

Possible recovery in Far North tourism – record high for domestic flights to Cairns

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Far Northern economy has struggled in recent years due to the impact of the high Australian dollar on tourism and an over-supply of housing. But there appears to be good news coming out of Cairns airport, which suggests tourism … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Tourism | 2 Comments