Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Courier-Mail’s big call on population boom hitting the wall

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Courier-Mail’s Patrick Lion went too far in his article on Queensland’s population growth this morning when he declared that: AUSTRALIA’S love affair with Queensland is over, with migration from interstate crashing to its lowest level in almost 30 years. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclones, Floods, Migration, Population | 1 Comment

Yasi damages bill at around $1.5 billion

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Weekend Australian Financial Review (Feb 5-6, p. 13) contains the following tabulation of the costs of Cyclone Yasi: Damage to sugar crop:                  $500m Damage to banana crop:         … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclones | Leave a comment

Grattan Institute appears afraid to champion labour market reform

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Gene Tunny

When Australians go to work, on average, they only produce around 85% of what workers in the US produce. Academics and policy wonks have spent a lot of time debating whether this is due to our remoteness from the world … Continue reading →

Posted in IR | Leave a comment

Full credit to Bligh and Emergency Management team for Cyclone preparations

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Despite the devastation wrought by Cyclone Yasi, particularly in Mission Beach, Cardwell and Tully, there are no reported lives lost so far – an incredible achievement and a testament to the preparations of our authorities. The Telegraph newspaper from the UK … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclones | Leave a comment

We’re living the worst case scenario

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Cyclone Yasi is truly frightening and is certain to claim lives and inflict several more billions of dollars of damage to the already battered Queensland economy. Clearly it will disrupt the tourism sector, which is so vital to North Queensland’s economy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Cairns, Townsville | Leave a comment

Cairns only just starting to recover from economic slump

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Queensland’s cruel Summer continues with news that Cairns is at threat from the 500 km-wide monster Cyclone Yasi: Thousands to be evacuated as Cairns is warned of flooding from powerful Cyclone Yasi The Courier-Mail has produced a useful and frightening … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Floods | Leave a comment

Has paid parental leave affected birth numbers in Cairns?

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In December last year, Commonwealth Families Minister Jenny Macklin warned obstetricians not to help women delay births so they are eligible for the new Paid Parental Leave scheme, which came into effect on 1 January. Judging by new statistics from … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Population | Leave a comment

Are there too many prosecutions in Queensland?

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Gene Tunny

There were over 184,000 defendants whose cases were finalised in Queensland courts last financial year, compared with around 169,000 in NSW, as reported in the Australian Bureau of Statistics’s Criminal Courts publication released on Thursday. Given NSW’s population is much … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime | Leave a comment

Levy may help Government avoid debt limit increase

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Gillard Government must have known its flood levy would be hugely unpopular. The only plausible explanation for the levy is that the Government wants to avoid another debate about its debt limit, currently at $200 billion, as per the … Continue reading →

Posted in Floods | Leave a comment

Flood relief arrangements are inequitable

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Centrelink offices across Queensland have been busy lately, accepting applications for $1,000 payments for disaster relief following the floods. While most applications for relief will be genuine, it’s hard not to conclude there will be a significant number of rorters or … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Floods, Ipswich | 2 Comments