Category Archives: Budget

We should cut stamp duty, not increase it

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Gene Tunny

While today’s Queensland Budget was broadly ok and economically responsible, I was surprised by the removal of the stamp duty concession for existing home owners who buy a new place of residence. The Brisbane Times reports (Property market tipped to … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Housing, Queensland Government | 1 Comment

Jobs boom ahead?

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser today referred to a “jobs boom coming”: Jobs boom ahead, Treasurer promises It’s good the Treasurer is upbeat about our economy – that’s part of his job description – but the employment growth that Queensland … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Mining boom is truly huge – $380 billion of planned investment

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Deputy PM and Treasurer Wayne Swan gave another informative budget roadshow speech today (The story behind the Budget: An inclusive Budget). Highlights include: For the first time in our history we are situated in the right part of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Mining | Leave a comment

Australian soccer on government life support

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In its first Budget presented in May 2008, the Rudd Government wisely cancelled Commonwealth funding promised by the Howard Government for a Rugby League Hall of Fame and a National Rugby Academy. They were luxuries and hardly essentials for a … Continue reading →

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Budget losers

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Despite the federal Government committing $365 million last year for the Gold Coast’s new light rail system, Ken Robinson of the Gold Coast Bulletin is asking the Government “what have you done for us lately?” Gold Coast invisible in Federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Budget, Gold Coast, Mackay | Leave a comment

Government tells Logan and Rocky “You’re poor and we’re here to help”

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In the Budget papers released last night, the Gillard Government identified Logan and Rockhampton as among 10 disadvantaged locations across Australia eligible for intensive assistance: In the usual unclear bureaucratic language of Government documents, here is how the Government’s plans … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Rockhampton | Leave a comment

Mining sector dominates investment spending

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Gene Tunny

At the RBA briefing on its monetary policy statement in Melbourne yesterday, the RBA’s head of economic analysis, Dr Tony Richards, stunned some audience members when he mentioned that mining sector investment would increase to around 6% of GDP in … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Macroeconomy, Mining | Leave a comment

Budget shows $6bn loss of coal production

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Gene Tunny

One chart in the 2011-12 federal Budget papers that caught my eye shows the big hit to coal production caused by our Summer of natural disasters: The Treasury explains: The direct negative impact of the recent natural disasters is expected … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Mining | Leave a comment

Dr Doom forecasts China crash

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Nouriel Roubini, the New York economics professor who predicted the financial crisis –  and who is also known as Dr Doom – is forecasting a sharp slowdown in China in a few years’ time, because it is currently over-investing in … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Industry policy, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Government can’t sell Medibank Private because it may not actually own it

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Independent MP Rob Oakeshott has called for the Commonwealth Government to sell Medibank Private, which was last proposed by the Howard Government in 2006, and which could raise around $4 billion: Oakeshott calls for Medibank Private sale Unfortunately it isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Health | Leave a comment