Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Property industry confident Qld will out-perform other States

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The latest Property Council of Australia-ANZ Property Industry Confidence Survey found the industry is confident Queensland’s economy will out-perform other States and the property market will improve over 2012 (ANZ analysis: Confidence survey): As the latest PCA-ANZ survey results indicate, … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy, Mining | Leave a comment

Government right to consider scrapping ULDA

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Gene Tunny

I’m pleased to see the Government is following through with its election commitment to review the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA), as reported in the Townsville Bulletin this morning (Development authority in Newman’s sights): Mr Newman has committed to scrapping … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Leave a comment

UQ study confirms carbon tax will hit Qld the hardest

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Gene Tunny

A new study from the University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute confirms previous modelling from the federal Treasury that Queensland will be hardest hit by the carbon tax and will experience the largest increase in electricity prices (Study sheds light … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate change | 1 Comment

Qld budget surplus timetable remains the same – how about something more ambitious?

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Although the report that the Queensland Government is borrowing to meet recurrent expenses, including to meet public servants’ wages, was presented as something new and surprising, this has been set out clearly in recent budget papers, including the mid-year fiscal … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | Leave a comment

COAG too slow in delivering reforms – national OHS system long overdue

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Gene Tunny

It’s a pity we have to wait for politicians to become disgruntled before they tell us what they really think, but nonetheless it’s great to see former Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon speaking out about our dysfunctional federation, as reported by … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market | Leave a comment

Increased train frequency unviable

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Gene Tunny

With an already heavily subsidised public transport system, as reported on by the Courier-Mail this morning (Taxpayers in front line of fight to cut fares hike), it is clear Queensland cannot afford to either defer fare increases or to increase … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | 2 Comments

Temporary setback for Qld resources sector

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Reports today (Mine shutdown a ‘kick in the guts’) about the closure of BMA’s Norwich Park coal mine in Dysart, Central Queensland clearly refute recent claims the mining sector is undergoing an out-of-control expansion. As reported on ABC News (Coal … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Mining, North Queensland | 1 Comment

Laptops for school students may not be cost effective

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Gene Tunny

A report today confirms the Federal Government’s laptops in schools program is a large burden on schools across Australia, which are struggling to find technical staff to maintain the laptops (Shortfall of information and communications technology technicians hits schools). As … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Labour market | Leave a comment

Qld Literary Awards going ahead anyway, meaning Govt’s decision is justified

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Gene Tunny

With predictions that Queensland would become a cultural wasteland following the Government’s decision to cut funding for the Queensland Literary Awards, I’m relieved that organisers are confident they will go ahead regardless, as reported by the ABC yesterday (Qld Literary … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts | Tagged | 3 Comments

How exposed is Qld to a downturn in southern States?

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Gene Tunny

After reading Alan Kohler’s brilliant column at the Drum yesterday (Business panic at Government calm) I started thinking about how exposed the Queensland economy is to a downturn in the southern States. Typically Australian States go into recession together, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining | 2 Comments