Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Quiggin’s Economics in Two Lessons should be on ECON101 reading lists for decades to come

Posted on July 20, 2019 by Gene Tunny

John Quiggin, the UQ Vice Chancellor’s Senior Fellow in Economics, has a new book out, Economics in Two Lessons: Why Markets Work so Well, and Why They Can Fail so Badly, which I can highly recommend. I’ve enjoyed dipping in … Continue reading →

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No wonder TSBE is mad – Toowoomba businesses missing out on generous payroll tax discounts

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Toowoomba & Surat Basin Enterprise, a chamber of commerce, has been annoyed by the Queensland Government’s decision to exclude Toowoomba from its 1% regional payroll tax discount, announced in the 2019-20 state budget. A recent email from TSBE, directing its contacts … Continue reading →

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Meat disruption: it’s here and now – guest post by Stephen Thornton

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Billions of dollars have been invested in Australia’s beef value chain in recent years, inspired partly by a rapidly growing Asian middle class with an increasing demand for protein. But, as in other industries, there is the potential for disruption … Continue reading →

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Qld Budget & Beyond event with Tony Makin, Judith Sloan & me on 18 July

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Gene Tunny

I’m looking forward to participating in the Australian Institute for Progress’s upcoming Queensland Budget and Beyond event at Jones Lang LaSalle in Central Plaza One in Brisbane CBD on Thursday 18 July: Come to this analysis and networking event and … Continue reading →

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Brisbane Club presentation on Qld economy & latest Value of the Census post at the Mandarin

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Last Friday, I presented my thoughts on the economic outlook and the recent Queensland state budget at the Brisbane Club. I highlighted the positives (e.g. resource exports, international education) and negatives (e.g. low business confidence and subdued business investment across … Continue reading →

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Qld Gov’t CAPEX – Brisbane’s inner city the big winner

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Brisbane inner city workers and residents should start expecting some heavy construction activity around them soon as Cross River Rail capital expenditures are expected to amount to around $1.48 billion in 2019-20, according to the Capital Statement in the Queensland … Continue reading →

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Valuing the Australian Census – cross-posted at Club Troppo

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Gene Tunny

One of the exciting projects I’m working on is a valuation of the Australian Census for the ABS with my Lateral Economics’ colleagues Nicholas Gruen and Matt Balmford. Our first project-related post is below. Here’s an introductory message from Nicholas: … Continue reading →

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Qld Budget interviews with ABC’s Steve Austin & 4BC’s Ross Greenwood

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Gene Tunny

While chatting with 612 ABC Brisbane’s Steve Austin and fellow interviewee Nick Behrens this afternoon, I almost chuckled when Steve asked me whether this Queensland state budget, in which total debt is projected to head toward $90 billion by 2022-23, … Continue reading →

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Qld’s exports to China doubled in less than 2½ years

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Gene Tunny

There was some excellent commentary on the US’s and Australia’s relationships with China on ABC Radio National over the weekend which I can highly recommend: FT’s Martin Wolf interview: Is the US wrong on the trade war? on Saturday Extra … Continue reading →

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International education boom – new ABS estimates

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Gene Tunny

My office is in the Johnson Hotel, in the middle of the international education precinct around Boundary St, Spring Hill, so I’m very conscious of the international education boom we are experiencing. Even so, I was stunned by newly released … Continue reading →

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