Author Archives: Gene Tunny

A mobile phone tower in the palm of your hand – what could it mean for the NBN?

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Gene Tunny

If it’s not too late to abandon the $30 billion+ National Broadband Network (NBN), it may be worth doing so, given the rapid technological advances in ICT we’re seeing, such as lightRadio, which must significantly increase the risk that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure | Leave a comment

Was spending on the pokies boosted by flood and cyclone relief payments?

Posted on March 19, 2011 by Gene Tunny

A significant number of people who claimed flood and cyclone relief assistance from Centrelink may not have really needed the $1,000 they received, and it’s likely that a good chunk of any undeserved assistance was spent on leisure activities, including … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclones, Floods, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Cross River Rail or a Brisbane Metro?

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman may have a good idea in recommending that the Government scrap the Cross River Rail project and consider a new Brisbane subway system instead: Brisbane’s stalled $8 billion cross river rail project should be scrapped … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Transport | 2 Comments

9.1 million Queenslanders in 2056 – over 1 million more than expected

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Government yesterday released revised population projections which project a Queensland population of 9.14 million in 2056, compared with a previous projection (from 2008) of 7.98 million in 2056. If fertility, migration, or longevity turn out to be at … Continue reading →

Posted in Migration, Population | Leave a comment

Talking about GoMA

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Brisbane’s impressive Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) was built at a cost of around $290M – i.e. over $60 for every Queenslander – so it is important to consider its role in our community and who it is targeted at. Given … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts | Leave a comment

Risks to Queensland economy from tragedy in Japan

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Gene Tunny

With the terrible disaster in Japan still unfolding, it is too early to forecast the impacts on the Queensland and broader Australian economies (See e.g. Impact is ‘unknowable’). The Queensland economy is clearly vulnerable, however, as Japan is our largest trading … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining | Leave a comment

Don’t be surprised if your removalist chats about Proust

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In another sign there is a large over-supply of university graduates in Australia, the commuters’ afternoon newspaper, mX, reports today: University graduates struggling to find jobs in their field are knocking down the doors at blue-collar workplaces. The February jobs … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Mineral exploration growing nicely, but carbon tax may have spooked consumers

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Gene Tunny

There’s little doubt the mining sector will underpin Australia’s economic growth and prosperity over the coming years, and hence it’s good to see mineral exploration rose 2.5% in December quarter 2010, and is getting back up near pre-GFC levels (as … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate change, Environment, Mining | Leave a comment

Just what are the aliens supposed to be looking for in Maryborough?

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Maryborough residents concerned about UFOs should ask what possible motive would aliens have for visiting the town – is the Fraser Coast attracting intergalactic retirees? Perhaps due to a dearth of real local news, the Fraser Coast Chronicle is obsessed … Continue reading →

Posted in Wide Bay-Burnett | 1 Comment

My School identifies heavily subsidised regional schools

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Gene Tunny

My School identifies the poorly attended and, hence, high cost per student schools that, arguably, are being over-subsidised by taxpayers, such as the Irvinebank State School on the Tablelands in Far North Queensland, which received over $70,000 for each of … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Leave a comment