Author Archives: Gene Tunny

ABC Regional Drive interview – dubious jobs data another sign ABS is struggling under a tight budget

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Gene Tunny

In its September labour force report, which reported the Australian unemployment rate fell to 5.6% from 5.7% while employment fell by 9,800 (and full-time employment fell 53,000!), contrary to the jobs growth the market was expecting, the ABS more or … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

SUV sales over-taking passenger vehicle sales in Qld

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Gene Tunny

As SUVs have become the new family car, and many millennials are living in inner cities and relying on public transport, walking or cycling, SUVs have steadily increased their share of new motor vehicle sales, and now SUV sales exceed … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The future of the professions

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Speaking with accountants at CPA Australia conferences earlier in the year, I was struck by the widely-shared anxiety that accountants have about the future of their profession. Australian accountants are concerned about a variety of trends that threaten them with … Continue reading →

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

Corporate whistleblowers need better protection

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Gene Tunny

At the QUT Business Leaders’ Forum lunch at the Sofitel in Brisbane on Monday, NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn was subjected to a tough line of questioning from the forum moderator, veteran ABC journalist Kerry O’Brien. Thorburn generally performed well, although … Continue reading →

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St Lucia property owners capturing value from Ironside State School

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Gene Tunny

A story in the Courier-Mail this morning regarding Ironside State School in St Lucia, Brisbane reinforces Independent Schools Queensland head David Robertson’s argument for reforming school funding arrangements (see QEW post), as it appears parents are very willing to pay … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Education, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Excellent proposal for school funding reform from ISQ head David Robertson

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Gene Tunny

In today’s Courier-Mail, the head of Independent Schools Queensland has come out in support of reforming school funding arrangements, either through a levy on wealthy parents whose children attend state schools or a means-tested voucher scheme. ISQ head David Robertson … Continue reading →

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

Recommended reading: Empire of Things

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Gene Tunny

In 2015-16, Australian households consumed $929 billion of goods and services. Consumption is central to our economy. In the Great Depression, John Maynard Keynes exhorted Britain’s “patriotic housewives” to spend money at the sales, lest they put a man out … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Qld should benefit from strong economic performance in NSW and Victoria

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The August job vacancies data released by the ABS yesterday confirm the strong economic performance we are seeing in NSW and Victoria, and they also show encouraging signs for Queensland (see charts below). Given national markets and the linkages between … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, North Queensland, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Qld Audit Office gives scathing assessment of Government procurement

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Audit Office’s first report for the 2016-17 financial year is a scathing assessment of Government procurement practices, an assessment which should spur the State Treasury into action. After all, it is proverbial that, if you look after the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Edward St redevelopment: Exciting opportunities for Brisbane’s future

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Gene Tunny

This post is co-authored by my friend Dr Parisa Mahyari, who is a Brisbane-based expert on luxury branding and a property market analyst. For some time now, Edward St has been associated with luxury brands such as Hugo Boss and … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments