Category Archives: Industry policy

Uber confusion – Premier was right to back Uber and support deregulated taxi industry

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I’m a bit confused about the Queensland Government’s position on the Uber ridesharing service, which has the potential to massively disrupt the highly regulated taxi industry. Taxi industry regulations, particularly the restricted number of licences, result in economic rents (i.e. super … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

QCA should investigate V8 Supercars funding in industry assistance review

Posted on May 17, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Townsville V8 Supercars event appears not to have delivered the huge visitor numbers and economic benefits that were once forecast by its organisers, given the announcement of a new joint marketing campaign with other V8 races. The Townsville Bulletin reports (V8 … Continue reading →

Posted in Gold Coast, Industry policy, Ipswich, Townsville | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Entrepreneurs seeking venture capital better off going to US

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Australia’s low level of venture capital investment is often raised as a cause for concern, as in today’s article from Elizabeth Knight in the Age, Start ups starved of venture capital: In Australia the venture capital sector is not starved … Continue reading →

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QCA issues paper shows large potential savings in industry assistance

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Competition Authority yesterday released its issues paper for its inquiry into Queensland Government industry assistance. The paper provides an excellent framework for evaluating industry assistance measures. It also highlights a number of costly assistance measures provided by Queensland … Continue reading →

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QCA review of Qld Govt industry assistance is great news

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Competition Authority has announced that the Government has commissioned it to review State Government industry assistance (see Review of Queensland Government Industry Assistance), which the Productivity Commission has previously estimated at over $800 million per annum (See Scope to cut … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Large fare savings possible from taxi industry deregulation

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Gene Tunny

My friend and colleague Brad Rogers has a great post at his blog on Queensland Taxi Licenses and Drunken Violence. Brad argues: Queensland’s taxi regulations are costing the Brisbane public over $80 million per year and may be contributing to drunken … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Removing second-hand car import restrictions could significantly lower car prices

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I was happy to learn from a former Canberra colleague yesterday that I’m cited in the Productivity Commission’s January 2014 Position Paper on the car industry, regarding the benefits that would come from removing the restriction on second-hand car imports. … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Labour market | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Scope to cut Qld Government industry assistance

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls did a good job of dampening expectations for this year’s Queensland Budget yesterday: Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls says there will be no over-spending in the last budget before the election While the Government is rightly investigating … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

ABC Brisbane radio interview on Toyota departure

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Gene Tunny

This morning, Steve Austin from 612 ABC Brisbane interviewed me regarding Toyota’s departure and the demise of car manufacturing in Australia: How will Toyota’s departure affect the local economy? I reiterated a number of points I’ve made previously, including in … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Minimal threat to Qld economy from car industry shutdown

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The demise of Australia’s car manufacturing industry was always inevitable, but even I have been surprised at the pace with which Ford, GM Holden and now Toyota have announced their plans to cease production in Australia. While the plant closures … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Labour market, Macroeconomy | Tagged , | 6 Comments