Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Pascoe spot on – we don’t yet fully comprehend the extent of the resources boom

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Michael Pascoe had a great article published today (What Campbell can’t do) that begins with a fascinating story and contains an observation about the resources boom that I fully agree with: In suburban Brisbane last week the world’s largest industrial … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining | 2 Comments

Domestic electricity price freeze will mean higher costs for businesses

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Newman Government has a clear mandate to implement its policies, but it will find implementation very difficult in a number of cases. The most obvious case is the promise that within its first 30 days the Government will: Freeze … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy | Leave a comment

If Holden is so good for the economy, why does it need $275M more from taxpayers?

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Gene Tunny

I’m disappointed but not surprised by today’s announcement that the Commonwealth, Victorian and SA Governments will dole out an additional $275 million to Holden. It continues our ridiculous effort to buy ourselves a car industry – at a cost of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Australia Institute’s mining boom analysis ignores benefits to consumers

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Canberra-based think tank the Australia Institute has an interesting (though tendentious) paper out today: Job creator or job destroyer? An analysis of the mining boom in Queensland The paper notes: The mining boom is causing large structural changes to both … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining, Tourism | 2 Comments

Cutting debt the big challenge for the incoming Government

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Gene Tunny

QUT’s Mark McGovern had a great article published at the Conversation yesterday titled Standing in the shadow of debt in the Sunshine State, in which he argues the challenge of cutting Queensland Government debt has been ignored by both sides … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | Leave a comment

Training reform package is a winner

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Gillard Government deserves credit for its new training reform package, Skills for All Australians, released today. If adopted by the States it will made vocational education and training (VET) a demand-driven system and extend HECS-HELP loans to all VET … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 1 Comment

Treasury needs to read Govt minimum wage submissions more closely

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Gene Tunny

If I remember correctly Australian Government submissions to the national minimum wage review are drafted by the Department of Employment, etc but get cleared by central agencies, including the Treasury, so there is no excuse for an economically illiterate statement … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Far North unemployment spike may just be sampling error

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Today’s ABS regional unemployment data contain bad news for the sluggish Far North economy. Loose Change observes (Ugly unemployment): The unemployment rate in the Far North for February is back above 10% with the latest ABS regional numbers released today. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Labour market | Leave a comment

Citytrain reliability should be an election issue

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Gene Tunny

This may be a case of kicking a dead dog, but the Queensland Government needs to explain why Citytrain has become so unreliable, as evidenced by this statement on the Translink website this morning: Train services have resumed after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Rail, Transport | 1 Comment

Development review panel would be a platform for NIMBYism

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Gene Tunny

If the Bligh Government is re-elected, I hope it reassesses its commitment to an independent panel to review major development applications in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, as reported in the Gold Coast Bulletin today: AN INDEPENDENT panel will advise … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast | Leave a comment