Category Archives: Industry policy

Time to cut our losses on industry assistance

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Michael Stutchbury has a great article in today’s Australian calling for some hard headed thinking on IR and government support for manufacturing (Old talk on tax and jobs). He notes: The October 6 jobs forum announced by Julia Gillard and … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, IR | 4 Comments

Is upgrading regional racecourses a priority for Government investment?

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Given the need to reduce State government debt and to restore our AAA credit rating, as well as the far more worthwhile infrastructure investment opportunities that are available, I’m surprised the Government has advanced Racing Queensland $20 million for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Infrastructure, Townsville | Tagged | Leave a comment

Qld Government provides $850 million of industry assistance ($190 per capita)

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Gene Tunny

One of the easiest jobs I ever had in the Commonwealth Treasury was working in the Industry Policy Unit,  partly because the Productivity Commission had already compiled the hit list of wasteful corporate welfare programs in its annual Trade and … Continue reading →

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Is Screen Queensland assisting Deception and Bad Karma?

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Government provides over $13 million of assistance per annum to the film industry through Screen Queensland. Following a report in the Gold Coast Bulletin this morning with the headline Two new feature films to be shot on the Coast, … Continue reading →

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Let in those cheap second-hand Japanese cars

Posted on April 24, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Australia’s $12,000 tariff on used cars came into my mind the other day when I read a Monocle story on Vladivostok, which highlighted that in 2008 Russia had brought in huge tariffs on cars to protect its domestic automotive industry. … Continue reading →

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Dr Doom forecasts China crash

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Nouriel Roubini, the New York economics professor who predicted the financial crisis –  and who is also known as Dr Doom – is forecasting a sharp slowdown in China in a few years’ time, because it is currently over-investing in … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Industry policy, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

OECD upbeat about global economy

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Despite the economic uncertainty arising from the tragedy in Japan, the OECD is optimistic about the strength of the global economic recovery. From the OECD newsroom today: Growth in the G7 economies outside Japan appears to be stronger than previously … Continue reading →

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Should Australian taxpayers subsidise Baz Luhrmann’s Gatsby movie?

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Great Gatsby is among two novels with a legitimate claim to being called the Great American Novel – the other being the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – so it’s surprising Baz Luhrmann is making his $120 million Gatsby adaptation … Continue reading →

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Problems with picking winners

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Gene Tunny

Two recent news stories confirm that governments should leave it to private investors to decide which commercial projects get funding. Governments may simply invest where it’s fashionable (e.g. biotech, renewable energy) and miss some really good opportunities associated with less … Continue reading →

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Wine making not an industry for a Smart State

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Gene Tunny

Queensland’s 185 wine makers must have noted with some concern Brown Brothers’ investment in Tasmania last month (Climate drives big wine deal): VICTORIAN winemaker Brown Brothers has outlined critical environmental reasons behind its $32.56 million purchase of Gunns’ wine assets … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy | 2 Comments