Author Archives: Gene Tunny

Qld returns to fourth place in population growth as WA falls back

The new population data released by the ABS last week reveal Queensland is still growing slower than the national average, and much slower than Victoria (see first chart below), a State to which we are still losing interstate migrants in … Continue reading

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Stark difference in unemployment rates between resources regions and rest of Qld

The Queensland branch of the Economic Society of Australia, of which I am the Secretary, was fortunate last Tuesday to host a presentation by Queensland Treasury official Greg Uptin on the economic forecasts underpinning the 2016-17 Queensland Budget. Greg gave … Continue reading

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Mining, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brexit impact depends on terms of divorce with EU

At the Tattersall’s race meeting at Eagle Farm today, I was fortunate to run into Morgans Chief Economist Michael Knox, and we had a good chat about, unsurprisingly, what everyone else is talking about, Brexit. Michael reminded me that he … Continue reading

Posted in Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

Upcoming Qld Treasury briefing on Budget economic forecasts to ESA Qld

As the Secretary of the Queensland Branch of the Economic Society of Australia, I am very pleased that Greg Uptin, a senior Queensland Treasury official, will once again brief us on the Treasury’s economic forecasts underpinning the 2016-17 State Budget. … Continue reading

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Workforce participation drops as Qld economy under-performs

Far North Queensland-based economist Pete Faulkner published a great analysis of the ABS labour force estimates for May on his blog yesterday (Jobs data in Qld is poor again): Unfortunately the picture in Queensland continues to be a weaker one. … Continue reading

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Qld Budget includes unbelievably low expenditure growth forecasts

As the Queensland Budget bad news (revenue write-downs, super raids, etc) had already been released by the Government, there was not much to get excited about yesterday afternoon, or so I thought. Then I had a look at the Government’s … Continue reading

Posted in Budget, Health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Qld Government needs to avoid costly inter-state bidding wars

In the 2016-17 Queensland Budget being handed down today, among other measures, the State Government will allocate $40 million to “aggressively” attract businesses to the State, no doubt through a combination of payroll tax concessions, grants and similar financial incentives … Continue reading

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

Cost of bad regulation increased by excessive enforcement against Uber drivers & riders

When the Queensland Government announced its personalised transport review, I hoped that Transport and Main Roads (TMR) would turn a blind eye to Uber. It seemed obvious the Government would eventually legalise Uber, so why continue to deny consumers and … Continue reading

Posted in Transport, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Guest post: Why are NSW mining regions enduring the mining downturn better than Qld regions?

Today I am delighted to publish a guest post from my NSW-based friend and fellow economist Alistair Robson.  Why are NSW mining regions enduring the mining downturn better than Qld regions? by Dr Alistair Robson Despite the Sydney-centric focus on … Continue reading

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

My comments in today’s Courier-Mail on $3bn Qld revenue write-down

Yesterday’s announcement that the Queensland Budget will suffer a further $3 billion in revenue write-downs confirmed what I have been saying for a while now about Queensland’s under-performing economy. I am quoted in today’s Courier-Mail (pay-walled, sorry) noting that the … Continue reading

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