Category Archives: Industry policy

QCA finds multiple policy failures associated with billions in industry assistance in Qld

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Gene Tunny

It appears that the QCA’s draft report on Industry Assistance in Queensland was released last Friday, a Friday before a long weekend, traditionally a good time to release reports that governments would rather be ignored and forgotten. But this report … Continue reading →

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Should governments financially support elite sports whose players are such poor role models?

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Gene Tunny

An example of massive government support for elite sport – Suncorp Stadium which cost nearly $300 million to upgrade in the early 2000s. The drugs scandal that has engulfed the Gold Coast Titans raises a question about government support for … Continue reading →

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NSW Govt risks annoying US conservatives by subsidising Redford-Blanchett film – my comments on Breitbart

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Gene Tunny

I’ve been quoted by Breitbart regarding NSW Government funding provided to the Truth film, starring Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett, which filmed in Sydney last year: Hollywood to Release Film Defending Dan Rather in Wake of Brian Williams Stolen Valor … Continue reading →

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Good set of policy principles (mostly) from new Queensland think tank AiP

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Gene Tunny

New Queensland think tank the Australian Institute for Progress (AiP) has released a set of high-level policies for the Queensland election, which are mostly consistent with sound public finance and the promotion of free markets (see Our priorities for Queensland … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Industry policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Don’t worry, Greg, the protectionists aren’t winning the real race!

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Never one to let a chance go by, Centre for Independent Studies founder Greg Lindsay sent out a great email to supporters of his think tank this afternoon following Protectionist’s Melbourne Cup win: What a great day for racing! My … Continue reading →

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Don’t we have better things to spend $22 million on than Pirates of the Caribbean 5?

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Government Ministers and officials who should know better have once again been seduced by the glamour of Hollywood, with the Australian Government offering around $22 million to Disney to secure production of Pirates of the Caribbean 5 in Australia (see … Continue reading →

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QCA finds nearly 150 ways Qld Govt assists industry – good hit list for Treasury

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The QCA has released a Draft Catalogue of Industry Assistance Measures (available at this link), and it shows nearly 150 ways the Queensland Government assists industry, many of which I’ve no doubt have zero public policy rationale and are a … Continue reading →

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Speech to University of the Third Age Redlands on the Australian Economy

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Gene Tunny

This morning I addressed the University of the Third Age Redlands at the Donald Simpson Centre, Cleveland on the topic of The Australian Economy: Where we’ve come from, where we’re going. My prepared remarks are reproduced below. I varied the … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, IR, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Migration, Mining, Population, Tax, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Public benefits of BIFF and BAPFF questionable

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Gene Tunny

With pressing needs in health and education, it seems obvious to me that there is little public benefit from supporting film festivals, whether in the form of the former Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) or its replacement, the Brisbane Asia … Continue reading →

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Government should wait for QCA Report before committing to new industry assistance

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Gene Tunny

It’s unfortunate the Queensland Government has entered into a thirty year deal with the Tatts Group while the QCA review of industry assistance is underway, a review which might be informative on the relative costs and benefits of supporting the … Continue reading →

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