Category Archives: Cyclones

Qld much more costly to run than other States

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Commonwealth Grants Commission announced yesterday that Queensland’s share of GST revenue will increase from around 19% in 2011-12 to 20% in 2012-13, largely reflecting increased costs due to natural disasters (see 2012 Update Report). In addition to its update … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Cyclones, Floods, Tax | Leave a comment

Wayne Swan on Queensland’s recovery from cruel Summer

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Deputy PM-Treasurer Wayne Swan gave a good speech in Brisbane today on The Story of Budget, in which he included some useful info detailing Queensland’s recovery from the floods and Cyclone Yasi: The rebuilding process will also be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclones, Floods | Leave a comment

Flood and cyclone relief money wasted on pokies

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Gene Tunny

With increasing evidence that a lot of flood and cyclone relief money ended up going through pokie machines, welfare and problem gambling support groups are trying to rationalise the spike in gambling as stress relief, ignoring the possibility that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclones, Floods | Leave a comment

Was spending on the pokies boosted by flood and cyclone relief payments?

Posted on March 19, 2011 by Gene Tunny

A significant number of people who claimed flood and cyclone relief assistance from Centrelink may not have really needed the $1,000 they received, and it’s likely that a good chunk of any undeserved assistance was spent on leisure activities, including … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclones, Floods, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Is it sensible for governments to take out disaster insurance?

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Gene Tunny

SA Senator Nick Xenophon is pushing the Commonwealth Government to force state governments to take out disaster insurance, in return for his support of the flood levy: States may be forced to take out disaster insurance This may not be … Continue reading →

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Courier-Mail’s big call on population boom hitting the wall

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Courier-Mail’s Patrick Lion went too far in his article on Queensland’s population growth this morning when he declared that: AUSTRALIA’S love affair with Queensland is over, with migration from interstate crashing to its lowest level in almost 30 years. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclones, Floods, Migration, Population | 1 Comment

Yasi damages bill at around $1.5 billion

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Weekend Australian Financial Review (Feb 5-6, p. 13) contains the following tabulation of the costs of Cyclone Yasi: Damage to sugar crop:                  $500m Damage to banana crop:         … Continue reading →

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Full credit to Bligh and Emergency Management team for Cyclone preparations

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Despite the devastation wrought by Cyclone Yasi, particularly in Mission Beach, Cardwell and Tully, there are no reported lives lost so far – an incredible achievement and a testament to the preparations of our authorities. The Telegraph newspaper from the UK … Continue reading →

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