Author Archives: Gene Tunny

No sign of global economic turmoil in Gladstone

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Visiting Gladstone today I was struck by the magnitude of the impacts of the resources boom on the city, including rows and rows of dongas lined up at the port ready for transport to Curtis Island and the unavailability of … Continue reading →

Posted in Gladstone, Mining | Leave a comment

Why is Qld’s live music industry larger than Victoria’s?

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Queensland’s live music industry is the second largest in Australia, as reported in the Brisbane Times today (Queensland’s music economy rocking): Victoria may enjoy a reputation as a mecca for gigging musicians, but a new national industry report indicates live, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts | 2 Comments

Dr Doom’s depression remedy

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Gene Tunny

NYU Professor Nouriel Roubini’s latest article in Slate (How to prevent a Depression) is worth a read. While I think the so-called Dr Doom is much too pessimistic about the global economy, he’s absolutely right about this: …we must accept … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Treasurer’s “secret mine deal” shows real leadership

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Treasurer Andrew Fraser has done the right thing in working around the Government’s proposed strategic cropping land (SCL) policy. As reported in today’s Rockhampton Morning Bulletin’s lead story, Treasurer’s secret mine deal: QUEENSLAND Treasurer Andrew Fraser has struck a secret … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Mining | Leave a comment

Move Labour Day, not Queen’s Birthday

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Gene Tunny

I’m pleased to read the Government is reviewing Queensland’s productivity-sapping cluster of public holidays in the first half of the year: Queen’s Birthday public holiday could be moved to later in year under controversial review of Qld public holiday system … Continue reading →

Posted in IR | 1 Comment

Where do containers landing at Port of Brisbane go?

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The answer is in a great new data set from the ABS, Experimental Statistics on International Shipping Container Movements:

Posted in Brisbane, Transport | Leave a comment

ULDA is a financial risk for government

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Previously I’ve asked “Does Queensland need an Urban Land Development Authority?” and it appears my concerns were well placed. Yesterday’s Townsville Bulletin reports Flood risk puts housing sales on hold: A STATE Government housing project at Oonoonba has been taken … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Townsville | 2 Comments

$660 million of mineral exploration expenditure in Qld in 2010-11

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Gene Tunny

These charts are based on data from the latest ABS Mineral and Petroleum Exploration publication:

Posted in Mining | Leave a comment

Qld still set to boom

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Gene Tunny

BIS Shrapnel has come to the same obvious conclusion as everyone else who has looked at the planned resources sector investment in Queensland (Growth years tipped for Queensland): QUEENSLAND can look forward to booming growth in the next four or … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining | Leave a comment

Time to cut our losses on industry assistance

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Michael Stutchbury has a great article in today’s Australian calling for some hard headed thinking on IR and government support for manufacturing (Old talk on tax and jobs). He notes: The October 6 jobs forum announced by Julia Gillard and … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, IR | 4 Comments