Category Archives: Brisbane

Subsidiarity principle suggests Qld Government should let West Village proceed in current form

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Gene Tunny

In today’s Courier-Mail, commenting on the Deputy Premier’s call in for State Government review of an $800 Million West End development, Steve Wardill observes that “WITH the case of the West Village development call-in, Jackie Trad was damned if she … Continue reading →

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SEQ should note growing realisation the Olympics is a waste of money

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Forty years after the financially disastrous Montreal Olympics, cities around the world are finally realising that hosting the Olympics does not stack up. Brazilians, now experiencing a deep recession, have certainly lost much enthusiasm for the upcoming Rio Olympics (e.g. … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Cross River Rail equals mega-project equals mega-risk

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh is a very good economist, so I hope he is encouraging his colleagues to wait for and fully scrutinise the Cross River Rail business case being delivered in June, before the Federal Opposition commits to … Continue reading →

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Transparency essential in Building Qld cost-benefit studies of infrastructure projects

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Last Thursday morning I attended an excellent breakfast seminar on infrastructure organised by the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FACCI) and hosted by Holding Redlich Lawyers in their Queen St, Brisbane CBD offices. The seminar featured highly informative and … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Infrastructure, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

On-street parking charges a better solution than Harding plan

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Gene Tunny

One important lesson from economics is that problems are most efficiently solved by setting prices right rather than by regulations mandating particular actions. So it is with the problem identified by Brisbane residents of being parked out of suburban streets … Continue reading →

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

Challenging conditions outside SEQ

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Gene Tunny

In his recent commentary regarding strong growth in the retail sector, National Retail Association CEO Trevor Evans noted: “South East Queensland is performing strongly but performance in Queensland is being held back by issues in some areas…Some areas are living … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Infrastructure, Labour market, Mackay, Macroeconomy, Mining, North Queensland, Queensland Government, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Terminating KSD contract probably provides a better return for ratepayers than proceeding

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Jim Binney returns to the topic of the controversial $650 million Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade in a new guest post. From an economic point of view, avoiding costs is akin to a benefit. In fact this is the logic that … Continue reading →

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Guest post on KSD upgrade by Jim Binney

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Gene Tunny

I am very grateful to Jim Binney, Principal of Mainstream Economics and Policy, for preparing the guest post below on the economics of the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade.  I share Jim’s suspicion that the project is an “economic dud.” Brisbane … Continue reading →

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Courier-Mail opinion piece on daylight saving

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Gene Tunny

I have an opinion piece on daylight saving published in today’s Courier-Mail, arguing it is time for a new trial of summer time in Queensland, at least for South-East Queensland, as the economic costs (including the opportunity cost of lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, North Queensland, Queensland Government | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Impact Academy fostering local social enterprises – out to prove Milton Friedman wrong

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Normally associated with such pursuits as kayaking, paddle boarding and rock climbing,  Riverlife at Kangaroo Point was the location for a showcase event for Peter Ball’s Impact Academy, an incubator for emerging social enterprises, on Thursday evening. The basic idea … Continue reading →

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