Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Good & bad news on Qld economy – avoids worst effects of property bust, but remains reliant on gov’t spending

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Queensland state and local general government capital expenditures increased 13% in March quarter, rising to $2.79 billion, helping Queensland to record 0.5% growth in State Final Demand, the second highest growth rate in Australia (second to Tasmania with 0.7%). Part … Continue reading →

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Pro Bono Econos UQ reading list

Posted on June 4, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Last Friday, I was a panelist at a Pro Bono Econos UQ event on consulting. In my remarks, I mentioned a bunch of resources I thought would be helpful for students, and subsequently several of the students who attended have … Continue reading →

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City of Brisbane Investment Corporation should be shut down

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Gene Tunny

In a victory for transparency, Brisbane ABC reporter Tim Swanston has finally got hold of PwC’s scathing review of Brisbane City Council’s City of Brisbane Investment Corporation, its so-called future fund. I recall discussing the rumoured existence of a damning … Continue reading →

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Trad’s Cross River Rail & state budget plans wrecked by Coalition victory

Posted on May 19, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Queensland Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad and her senior Treasury officials will be vexed by the implications of the shock federal Coalition victory yesterday for Cross River Rail funding and the state budget. I expect Trad and state Treasury … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Qld Premier’s Export Awards launch at the Tower of Power

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Gene Tunny

I had a great time helping launch the Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards 2019 at 1 William St, a.k.a. the “Tower of Power”, in Brisbane earlier this week. Paul Cooper, Chairman of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, and I spoke … Continue reading →

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Suncorp-CCIQ Pulse Report reveals “trepidation of a change in the Federal Government” felt by many Qld businesses

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Gene Tunny

In the lead up to the federal election, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) has included some bold commentary in its latest Suncorp CCIQ Pulse Survey report (on p. 16): The key factor influencing sentiment within the Queensland … Continue reading →

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ABC Brisbane radio interview on Qld Councils

Posted on May 4, 2019 by Gene Tunny

I had a nice chat with 612 ABC Brisbane’s Steve Austin on his Drive program yesterday afternoon regarding my most recent post New round of council amalgamations should be considered following Logan & Ipswich sackings. I began by telling Steve … Continue reading →

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New round of council amalgamations should be considered following Logan & Ipswich council sackings

Posted on May 2, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Queensland now has two councils, Logan and Ipswich, with state government-appointed interim administrators. The stench of corruption coming out of both council chambers was overwhelming, and Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has acted appropriately in both cases, appointing Logan’s interim … Continue reading →

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Forty years after Thatcher’s election – CIS event in Brisbane on Thursday 2 May

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Gene Tunny

This Friday, the 3rd of May, is the 40th anniversary of the 1979 UK election which saw Margaret Thatcher become Prime Minister. It is doubtful that any UK Prime Minister since Thatcher will loom as large in our collective memory … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My comments in Saturday’s Courier-Mail on payroll tax concessions—e.g. for BrewDog & Disney

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Gene Tunny

With the possible exception of President Trump, the most interesting American politician at the moment is the millennial, freshman member of the House from New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). She is one of the main players is what The Economist … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments