Category Archives: Queensland Government

Government should just sell Energex, Ergon & Powerlink

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Government’s interesting proposition for private sector participation in Energex, Ergon and Powerlink, which raises the bulk of the $30-35 billion under the Strong Choices plan, should be attractive to investors because the businesses have reasonably reliable revenue streams they … Continue reading →

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Overall a good Budget, but earmarking sales proceeds for infrastructure funds undesirable

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Budget released yesterday is a sound plan to reduce Queensland’s large State debt and to set us on a path to eventually reclaiming our AAA credit rating. My old friend and former Treasury colleague Joe Branigan has a … Continue reading →

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

7.30 Qld interview on asset sales

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Last week, Maria Hatzakis interviewed me for the Queensland edition of the 7.30 Report, which aired on Friday night: Privatisation push as power prices surge again In understanding why the sale of electricity assets is desirable, the Productivity Commission’s Electricity … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Energy, Queensland Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Brisbane Times article on asset sales

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I’m quoted in a Brisbane Times article today regarding asset sales: Asset sales divide economists – but they are united in saying ‘Strong Choices’ is flawed I re-iterated the same points I’ve made over the last couple of weeks: that asset … Continue reading →

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

Strong Choices poorly received by public – Treasury needs to do a lot more work

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Government needs some new advisers who can prepare logical, coherent arguments as to why particular assets such as ports and electricity businesses should be privatised, because the current Strong Choices campaign has flopped (see the Brisbane Times article Strong … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Qld Treasury needs to explain logic of asset sales much more clearly

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Gene Tunny

In her terrific book On Speaking Well, former Presidential Speech Writer Peggy Noonan argues convincingly that people ultimately are moved by logic, and you shouldn’t underestimate the intelligence of your audience. She writes: A good case well argued and well … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Macroeconomy, Queensland Government, Transport | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Top ten contractors supplying to Qld Government

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Business people and professionals across Queensland will be interested in data recently uploaded to the Queensland Government’s http://www.data.qld.gov.au website, particularly because it will allow them to check how much Government work their competitors have obtained (Queensland contract disclosure—$10,000 and above). For … Continue reading →

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

Treasury projections suggest Qld Plan regional population target unachievable

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I’ve previously questioned whether the target in the draft Queensland Plan to have half the population living outside South East Queensland is achievable (see Regional infrastructure plan should be based on updated population projections). The latest official State population projections from Queensland … Continue reading →

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

Regional infrastructure plan should be based on updated population projections

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Having spent the first fifteen years of my life in Townsville, I’m a great supporter of regional Queensland, but as an economist I think the Government needs to do some further analysis before it commits large amounts of money to … Continue reading →

Posted in Population, Queensland Government, Townsville | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Queensland Plan survey – a mix of interesting philosophical and misguided questions

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I found time today to fill out the Queensland Plan survey, which is meant to inform the Government’s development of a 30-year vision for Queensland. I did my best to answer the somewhat vague questions, a couple of which are … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , | 2 Comments