Category Archives: Gold Coast

Most host cities lose money on the Olympics – SEQ Olympics needs to be delivered cost-effectively

While it’s exciting news that SEQ is the lead candidate for the 2032 Olympics (check out the Brisbane Times report), the reality is that the Olympics probably won’t be an economic boon and it will end up costing Queensland taxpayers … Continue reading

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Infrastructure | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Second GC motorway should have been built decades ago – BODBTN extract

It was good to see in a media statement yesterday the state government’s commitment to a second M1: The Palaszczuk Government’s economic recovery plan will be significantly boosted with a $755 million commitment to build the 16-kilometre stage one of … Continue reading

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Infrastructure, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hollywood subsidies by Qld Gov’t kept hidden – Qld Right-To-Info process a huge joke

I’ve long argued that the current approach to assisting the film industry, focused on luring international film productions, is wasteful, doesn’t achieve any important public policy goals, and is politically motivated, so drab politicians can benefit from some Hollywood glamour. … Continue reading

Posted in Gold Coast, Industry policy, Queensland Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gold Coast and Inner Brisbane the worst affected Qld regions in employment terms

According to the latest regional payroll jobs data released by the ABS today, in early August employment on the Gold Coast was still 6% below the level it was mid-March, before all the major COVID-related restrictions began (see chart below). … Continue reading

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Labour market, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Economic impact of COVID-19 & policy responses webinar for QUT Centre for Data Science

The video recording of a webinar on the economic impact of COVID-19 I participated in last Friday is now available. The other panellists were Danielle Wood from the Grattan Institute, Griffith Professor Tony Makin, and QUT Professor Pascalis Raimondos. My … Continue reading

Posted in Cairns, Gold Coast, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

State and regional unemployment rates in this time of COVID-19 with Pete Faulkner

Mission Beach-based economist Pete Faulkner from Conus Consulting has been in the news recently with his estimates of the massive adverse impacts that measures to combat coronavirus are having on Queensland’s regional economies (e.g. see the InQueensland report Jobless numbers … Continue reading

Posted in Cairns, Gold Coast, Labour market, Macroeconomy, North Queensland, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Catch up with CCIQ Chief Economist on dreadful business conditions & huge budget deficits

Yesterday afternoon I caught up with CCIQ Chief Economist Dr Marcus Smith for a phone interview on the coronavirus-induced recession/mini-depression, and you can listen to the recording here: Highlights include: 3:50 – discussion of forecasts for double-digit unemployment rates in … Continue reading

Posted in Budget, Cairns, Gold Coast, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Money on the Screen – film industry episode of Economics Explained podcast

The latest episode of my Economics Explained podcast, Money on the Screen, explores the economics of the film industry. What affects the return on investment in films? Should governments subsidise film productions as they do in Australia? In the episode, … Continue reading

Posted in Gold Coast, Queensland Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Destination Gold Coast CEO right the GC’s been missing out

I’m usually sceptical of pleas from regional leaders for greater government investment in their regions, but I think the Destination Gold Coast CEO has a legitimate grievance. The Gold Coast Bulletin reports: THE Gold Coast’s tourism boss has blasted the … Continue reading

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Concentration of Qld population in SEQ expected to increase with its higher rates of net migration

Regarding my previous post noting SEQ’s dominance in population terms, regular QEW reader Mike Willis commented perceptively: Gene, it seems the concentration will be reinforced, if the most recent Qld government statistician’s report is any guide. State population growth is … Continue reading

Posted in Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments