Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Jobs boom ahead?

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser today referred to a “jobs boom coming”: Jobs boom ahead, Treasurer promises It’s good the Treasurer is upbeat about our economy – that’s part of his job description – but the employment growth that Queensland … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Mall activation – T minus 10 and counting

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The economic development chapter of the latest Brisbane City Council budget has left me wondering whether there is someone sitting in the Council building, with one hand hovering over a red button, counting down to “mall activation”: Service 7.4.2.2 Queen Street … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Retail trade | 1 Comment

Live exports suspension could mean cheaper steaks

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Gillard Government did the right thing today in suspending live cattle exports to Indonesia. The reaction from the beef industry is over the top, particularly given the Government and the PM personally have stressed this is a temporary ban … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture | Leave a comment

Queensland most at risk from sea level rise

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Gene Tunny

While the Gold Coast Bulletin is doing its best to generate alarm (Coast to go under in climate crisis), it’s surprising there hasn’t been more coverage of the latest Department of Climate Change report: Climate Change Risks to Coastal Buildings … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate change, Gold Coast | Leave a comment

Tourism regions responsible for Queensland’s higher than national average unemployment rate

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The downturn in Queensland’s tourism sector is largely responsible for Queensland’s higher than national average unemployment rate. This is reasonably clear from the following chart I prepared based on the ABS Labour Force data released last month. According to my … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Macroeconomy | 1 Comment

Swan says relax about GDP fall, check out this pipeline

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Deputy PM-Treasurer Wayne Swan gave an informative press conference on the National Accounts today, noting that the flood-related GDP decline will only be temporary, and there’s a massive pipeline of mining investment on its way. Check out this great chart: … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining | 1 Comment

Carbon tax will be even harder to sell after electricity price hike

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Competition Authority’s decision today that power prices can increase by 6.6% certainly makes PM Julia Gillard’s job of selling the carbon tax even tougher in Queensland (Power price hike set to cost $118 a year): Queensland power prices … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate change, Energy | Leave a comment

New population projections confirm strong expected growth in Ipswich and Gold Coast

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Gene Tunny

From the new local government population projections which Treasurer Andrew Fraser released yesterday: Ipswich to have fastest growth but Gold Coast to have most growth In the decade to 2021, Ipswich (C) is projected to grow rapidly at a very high … Continue reading →

Posted in Floods, Macroeconomy, Population | Leave a comment

Great charts from OESR showing surges in online retail & mining investment

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Office of Economic and Statistical Research (OESR) in Queensland Treasury released its latest Queensland Economic Review on Friday, and it contains some excellent charts showing surges in domestic online retailing (which is part of ‘other retailing’ in the first … Continue reading →

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

Manufacturing continues its long steady decline

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The loss of 160 jobs at Golden Circle’s Northgate plant is obviously terrible news for the workers and their families. Anyone working in the manufacturing sector needs to be aware that the long-run economic trend of de-industrialisation (and a shift … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy | Leave a comment