Category Archives: Queensland Rail

Inquiry should consider contestability and privatisation of QR services

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Gene Tunny

One of the alleged benefits of public provision of services is that levels of service and reliability are higher than for private provision, but the crisis engulfing Queensland Rail at the moment suggests we should question that purported benefit. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Rail, Transport, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Goss Government was strong on economic management, possibly to its political detriment

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Gene Tunny

It was sad news indeed today that Wayne Goss has died at what is now a relatively young age of 63. He certainly made a fine contribution to Queensland during his years as Premier. In addition to the electoral and … Continue reading →

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

Govt should embrace Costello Commission of Audit privatisation recommendations

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Unsurprisingly, the Peter Costello-led Queensland Commission of Audit has recommended privatisation of a large number of Queensland Government assets, as reported in the Courier-Mail this morning: SELL assets or spend the next half a century paying off debt. That is … Continue reading →

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

Citytrain reliability should be an election issue

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Gene Tunny

This may be a case of kicking a dead dog, but the Queensland Government needs to explain why Citytrain has become so unreliable, as evidenced by this statement on the Translink website this morning: Train services have resumed after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Rail, Transport | 1 Comment

Qld economy will easily hit Bligh’s 100,000 new jobs target

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Given the massive amount of resources sector investment in the pipeline, I have no doubt the Queensland economy will rebound strongly and prove wrong pessimistic stories such as this one: Anna Bligh’s target of 100,000 new jobs in jeopardy amid … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Queensland Government, Queensland Rail | 1 Comment

QR should aim for value for money in train purchases and ignore pro-Maryborough lobbying

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Train manufacturer Bombardier Transportation is a major contributor to Maryborough’s economy, employing around 300 people or 3% of Maryborough’s workforce. Hence there is a lot of interest in the outcome of a recent request for tenders to build 200 trains … Continue reading →

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SEQ mayors’ infrastructure wish list

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The South East Queensland (SEQ) Council of Mayors released its infrastructure wish list today. Two proposed projects stood out to me as representing great value. My favourite proposed project is the: Darra to Springfield Rail Extension (to Redbank Plains) ESTIMATED COST: … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Infrastructure, Ipswich, Queensland Rail, Tourism | Leave a comment

QR investors make a tidy profit

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Gene Tunny

It’s reassuring news for the Queensland economy that QR National didn’t tank on its sharemarket debut yesterday.  As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald (QRN float defies doubters by not sinking): Retail investors who paid $2.45 a share made a … Continue reading →

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Disappointing QR float likely to inspire move against Bligh

Posted on November 21, 2010 by Gene Tunny

A persistent rumour around Brisbane in 2010 has been that, once the asset sales were out of the way, the Labor caucus would oust Bligh and replace her with Attorney-General Cameron Dick, clearly Labor’s best performer in recent times.  With … Continue reading →

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Effective damage control – Government affirms trains should run on time

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Gene Tunny

Today’s Courier-Mail reported that Queensland Rail (QR) executives’ pay packets will be leaner if the trains don’t run on time: Queensland Rail executives to cop salary cuts for train delays Given the lateness of trains in the morning commuting period, … Continue reading →

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