Category Archives: Uncategorized

Should Queensland legalise recreational marijuana use?

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Gene Tunny

My friend and fellow economist Dr Stephen Thornton of Bluegreen Economics has released a report advocating for the legalisation of marijuana for recreational use in Queensland. While the Queensland Parliament has recently passed a law allowing medicinal marijuana use, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Social policy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Higher royalties improve Qld budget bottom line, but work still needed on budget repair

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Gene Tunny

As we have been expecting for some time, higher coal prices and thus royalties (see chart below) have translated into a much improved State Budget balance, with the Queensland Treasury now forecasting the biggest operating surplus ($2 billion) in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Guest post from Paul McGuire: Some Investment Tips – dos and don’ts

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Gene Tunny

I am delighted to publish this guest post from my friend and former colleague Paul McGuire, who has had a diverse career as a professional economist, including positions in the Commonwealth Treasury, OECD, Australian Government ministerial offices and Queensland Government … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Government right to rule out fiscal stimulus

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The ½ percent GDP contraction in September quarter that the ABS published last week has raised a lot of questions about the current state of the economy, and whether the Government should do more in terms of economic reform or … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why the Adani mega mine is welcome news in Townsville

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Gene Tunny

It is welcome news to the local community that Adani will base its Carmichael coal mine headquarters in Townsville , which has struggled with job losses and high unemployment over the last couple of years. The Townsville Bulletin reports: “Townsville … Continue reading →

Posted in Mining, North Queensland, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

US recovery on track, while Australian economists wait anxiously for latest National Accounts

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The latest US jobs data show an economy that is growing quite nicely, with 178,000 new jobs over the last month, and with unemployment falling to 4.6%, its lowest rate since the financial crisis (see chart below). However, the market … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Macroeconomy, Mining, North Queensland, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Qld Audit Office identifies risks to energy businesses from State debt reshuffle

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Gene Tunny

In a report published today on Queensland’s government-owned energy businesses, the Queensland Audit Office has flagged risks associated with the Government’s debt reshuffle (on the debt reshuffle, see this QEW post from December last year). Here is the relevant extract … Continue reading →

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

Should Queensland ban plastic shopping bags?

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Last week, the Queensland Government Environment Department issued a discussion paper to consult with the community on its proposed ban of lightweight plastic bags (i.e. the type you get at Coles and Woolworths). However, the scope for public consultation is … Continue reading →

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

Upcoming ESA Qld event: How economics improved the world in 2016

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Gene Tunny

2016 has not been a good year for economics. Brexit and the US Presidential election result both implied a rejection of free trade and free markets by large numbers of people in the UK and US. Economists have learned that … Continue reading →

Posted in qut, Retail trade, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

ABS data confirm Qld economy under-performed in 2015-16

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The annual gross state product (GSP) data the ABS published on Friday revealed Queensland’s lacklustre economic growth of 2% in 2015-16 (compared with 2.8% nationally) was heavily influenced by the transition at the end of the mining boom. The data … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments