Author Archives: Gene Tunny

What’s the next level up from biblical?

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Gene Tunny

It’s been around a week and a half since Treasurer Andrew Fraser described our flood crisis as “of biblical proportions.” The news unfortunately keeps getting worse, with flash floods in Brisbane and Toowoomba adding to the ongoing troubles in St … Continue reading →

Posted in Floods | Leave a comment

Mackay club almost runs out of beer, but there’s plenty further north

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In Mackay last week, the biblical Queensland floods almost brought to life Slim Dusty’s dystopian vision of a “pub with no beer”.  The Mackay Daily Mercury reported yesterday (Stocks run low in city): IT could have been “the pub with … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Floods, Mackay | Leave a comment

Smart retailers embrace fusion

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In response to Gerry Harvey’s push to have GST applied to online purchases from overseas, commentators have been quick to criticise Australian retailers for having tired stores and not adding any value to the goods they’re selling.  Hence it’s good … Continue reading →

Posted in Retail trade, Tax | Leave a comment

Coles Toowong gets big tick for trolley control

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Gene Tunny

On Nine News the other night, one Nundah resident blamed the localised flooding in their street on junk, including a shopping trolley, blocking the storm water drain. Shopping trolleys, while incredibly useful devices, are unfortunately environmental vandals, with many ending … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Retail trade | Leave a comment

Reaction against retailers’ call for GST on online sales is over the top

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Australian retailers, most prominently Gerry Harvey, have a legitimate point that they aren’t on a level playing with overseas online retailers for goods priced under $1,000, for which the Government doesn’t (and can’t) enforce the collection of GST.  This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Cost of floods over $5 billion

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Gene Tunny

This is sobering news from Premier Anna Bligh (Flood recovery kicks into gear): If you count everything from the cost to homes, the home rebuilding effort, public infrastructure rebuilding effort and economic loss, I think we’re well above $5 billion … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Floods, Infrastructure, Mining | 1 Comment

Battle brewing over infrastructure charges

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Developers and Councils are waiting anxiously on the State Government to announce its reforms of infrastructure charges, which Councils impose on developers of new housing estates.  These charges result in higher new home prices, as developers pass these charges on … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure | Leave a comment

Economic cost of the floods

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Mackay Daily Mercury’s Melissa Grant has written a very useful article on the economic cost of the floods: Economies lose billions On the impact of the floods, with a particular reference to mining in central Queensland, Ms Grant notes: … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Floods, Mining | Leave a comment

Recovery from natural disasters

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Gene Tunny

With Queensland experiencing an unprecedented flood, “biblical” according to Treasurer Andrew Fraser, and with an estimated cost now in the billions of dollars, it’s timely to review what we know about the capacity of communities to recover from natural disasters. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Springfield data centre helps Ipswich attain smart city status

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Gene Tunny

IT-savvy Ipswich has impressed the New York-based Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), which has short-listed Ipswich for its smart city award, along with 20 other cities including Birmingham (UK), Shanghai and Quebec City: Smart city list whittled down soon A contributor … Continue reading →

Posted in Ipswich | Leave a comment