Category Archives: Floods

Ten years since the 2011 floods

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Ten years ago today, a swelling Brisbane River flooded the city, and made us question whether we really needed that $9 billion of climate-resilient water infrastructure the state government had commissioned in the middle of the drought, when there were … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Floods | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Deloitte highlights trade tensions with China and lower commodity prices as risks to Qld recovery

Posted on July 6, 2020 by Gene Tunny

According to today’s Courier-Mail, Deloitte’s new Business Outlook report highlights the risks to Queensland’s economic recovery from lower commodity prices and trade tensions with China affecting our commodity, tourism, and education exports. Deloitte also rightly mentions the risk to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, China, Floods, Macroeconomy, Mining, Retail trade | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Economic impacts of the North & North West Qld floods – Initial views

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Gene Tunny

All week we have been hearing the awful news about all the dead cattle in North and North West Queensland as a result of the recent floods. An estimate of around half a million dead cattle has been suggested, although … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Floods, Mining, North Queensland, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

PC natural disaster funding recommendations could cost Qld over a billion

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Productivity Commission has injected a huge dose of economic rationalism into its recent draft report on natural disaster funding, which contains a recommendation to cut future Commonwealth support from 75% to 50% of the repair bill – a recommendation … Continue reading →

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Disasters have had huge budgetary impacts

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland State Budget is out and it contains a clear analysis of the huge budgetary impact of natural disasters, particularly: the large expenditure associated with disasters (e.g. around $2.5 billion to deal with ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald’s impacts); and the … Continue reading →

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Flood-proofing levy has merit, but funds should go into Consolidated Revenue

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Given Queensland’s budgetary challenges, there is merit in the Government’s plan to raise additional money to pay for flood-proofing projects through a special levy, as reported in the Courier-Mail this morning. I would, however, advise against having the money paid … Continue reading →

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Growing list of impacts and costs of big wet

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Gene Tunny

One economic impact I failed to explicitly mention in my post yesterday on the economic impact of the big wet is the impact on the sugarcane crop, which may be very signficant, as reported in the Courier-Mail this morning: Yesterday, … Continue reading →

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Economic impact of the Big Wet in Queensland

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The heavy rain, winds and floods that have resulted from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald have caused a large amount of human suffering and will have an adverse short-term impact on Queensland’s economy. I expect the adverse short-term impacts will arise mainly as … Continue reading →

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Storms and floods reveal need for public education campaign on disasters

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Gene Tunny

After South-East Queensland’s wild weekend of storms, the Queensland Government should consider a public education campaign on how to stay safe during storms and floods, as the Bureau of Meteorology obviously doesn’t see that as its role. While the Bureau … Continue reading →

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Whole world struggling to manage disaster risk

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Gene Tunny

I was pleased to learn that the World Bank and Government of Japan are hosting the Sendai Dialogue tomorrow and Wednesday this week to discuss how the world better manages disaster risk. This is a critical issue because, assuming no … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Cyclones, Floods, Housing, North Queensland | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments