Category Archives: Budget

Long-term education target unlikely to be met – haven’t we learned from previous unachievable targets?

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The National Plan for School Improvement released with the 2013-14 Commonwealth Budget has the potential to signficantly lift educational outcomes across Australia and is therefore one of the positives of this Budget. But I’m skeptical of the Government’s stated ambition … Continue reading →

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More signs of slowing growth in resources sector – bad news for Qld budget

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Queensland Treasury already made a big downward revision of $1.4 billion over four years in mining royalties in the 2012-13 Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review last December, and it may need to shave some more off given the bad news … Continue reading →

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Despite cost disease, Government can boost public sector productivity

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Gene Tunny

There are several fundamental differences between the public and private sectors, one of which was noted in Sir Peter Gershon’s review of Commonwealth Government ICT use in 2008. On Commonwealth agencies, and I assume the same would apply to State … Continue reading →

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Cost savings from contracting out public services

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Gene Tunny

One of the issues of debate inspired by the Queensland Commission of Audit is the potential cost savings from outsourcing or contracting out public services. While there are risks to service quality if contract terms are not well specified and … Continue reading →

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Link to my interview on Commission of Audit on ABC Brisbane radio this morning

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Steve Austin from 612 ABC Brisbane radio interviewed me this morning on the Commission of Audit report. I elaborated on my view that it’s a good report because: it offers a framework for the role of Government that can guide … Continue reading →

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Commission of Audit report an impressive guide to reform of Qld Government

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The three volumes of the Commission of Audit report released today form an impressive guide to the reform of the Queensland Government over the rest of the decade. With solid analysis of policy issues across the wide range of public … Continue reading →

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Forward estimates budgeting needs rethinking in more volatile economic times

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Today’s speech by Prime Minister Gillard is a good attempt at explaining the Government’s budgetary challenges, but I was unconvinced by this line in the speech: The Budget will outline the fiscal path for the coming four years, one designed … Continue reading →

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Qld Government should sell assets – further spending cuts would weaken economy further

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Given the weakness in the Queensland economy in recent months, it’s unsurprising Government revenues have fallen short of forecast levels, and the Government is considering  asset sales recommended by Peter Costello’s Commission of Audit, as reported by the Courier-Mail this … Continue reading →

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Cap on Government size desirable, but probably unachievable

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The great British-Australian economist Colin Clark, who Keynes regarded as “first class” and who served in top Queensland public service roles in the 1940s, famously speculated that Governments couldn’t grow beyond 25% of GDP without causing major economic problems. Given … Continue reading →

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Govt should embrace Costello Commission of Audit privatisation recommendations

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Unsurprisingly, the Peter Costello-led Queensland Commission of Audit has recommended privatisation of a large number of Queensland Government assets, as reported in the Courier-Mail this morning: SELL assets or spend the next half a century paying off debt. That is … Continue reading →

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