Category Archives: Queensland Government

Will the Brisbane Olympics stack up? The Federal Parliamentary Library investigates

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Gene Tunny

The latest federal budget refers to “$22.5 million for the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games 2032 – Business Case Development”. It’s a shame that we didn’t spend some of that money prior to deciding to bid for the Games, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Fake privatisation of Titles Registry helping Qld Gov’t pretend it has debt management plan

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Gene Tunny

This post is an early draft of an article I’m preparing for a public finance or public policy journal about the Queensland Government’s accounting trickery regarding the Titles Registry last year. The state government has violated some well-established principles for … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Poorly thought out regulations for Qld reopening

Posted on December 29, 2021 by Gene Tunny

With its poorly thought out regulations surrounding Queensland’s reopening, the state government is providing lots of instructive examples of adverse unintended consequences of regulations. Among other problems, we have had: overstretched COVID testing centres, here and in other states, although … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Gov’t says COVID “enduring emergency” – “temporary” powers will be in place longer than two years

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Gene Tunny

As expected, the Queensland Government has brushed off One Nation MP Stephen Andrew’s e-petition to “Restore Democracy in Queensland”, citing the “enduring emergency” from COVID-19. The Government still claims the emergency powers it gave to the Chief Health Officer in … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Qld Treasury must be very worried about Olympics cost blowout

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Treasurer is being criticised for not being a team player on the Olympics (e.g. in the Courier-Mail), but what he’s being criticised over is, in my view, Cameron Dick’s finest moment in the job so far. InQld has … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

On whether we should follow bad laws + Public Choice podcast chat with Brendan Markey-Towler

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Despite the positive messaging from the Queensland Government yesterday, Brisbane’s lockdown has been extended by at least 24 hours, because of two new cases on the south side, causing considerable angst among more than one million people and ruining weddings … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Brisbane inner city and Qld outback get highest Qld Gov’t capital spending per person

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Here’s the latest version of a chart I usually prepare following each state budget on Queensland Government capital spending per person by region (i.e. the ABS SA4 regions). The very high per person spending figure for the Queensland outback is … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Qld Gov’t to waste $53M attracting temporary film industry activity

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Gene Tunny

After the Queensland Government was willing to spend $8 million to attract a one-night State of Origin game to Townsville last week, it’s unsurprising it will be willing to spend $53 million attracting film productions providing only temporary economic activity … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Role of Qld Parliament in public finance – upcoming ASPG event on 14 June 21

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Gene Tunny

Thanks to the Queensland chapter of the Australasian Study of Parliament Group (ASPG) for inviting me to be a panel member at its upcoming event The role of Parliament in public finance on 14 June at Parliament House, Brisbane. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Qld Audit Office should have recommended council amalgamations

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Audit Office’s Local government 2020 Audit Report has identified that 25 Queensland local governments, around one-third of the total, “are at a high risk of not being financially sustainable.” As the QAO hints on pages 21 to 22, … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments