Category Archives: Uncategorized

Targeting infrastructure spending as a % of GSP won’t work – Guest post by Joe Branigan

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Again, I am delighted to publish a guest post from my good friend and former Treasury colleague Joe Branigan. The usual disclaimer applies, that the views expressed in this article are Joe’s and should not necessarily be attributed to me. … Continue reading →

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

FACCI thriving in time of greater French-Australian economic cooperation

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The recent awarding of the $50 billion submarine contract to French firm DCNS was greeted enthusiastically by members of the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FACCI), which is doing terrific things around town and running some excellent events. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Mining, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Don’t miss 16 June Brisbane speech by RBA Deputy Governor Philip Lowe, the Bank’s next Governor

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Gene Tunny

At a lunchtime event at Tattersall’s Club in Brisbane yesterday, after he predicted another interest rate cut this year in either June or August, Dr Chris Caton, BT’s Chief Economist, noted that “Interest rate changes are like cockroaches.” That is, … Continue reading →

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Government ownership of QIC becoming less appropriate every day

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Treasurer’s media release yesterday regarding QIC’s purchase of a large stake in a Northern Australian cattle business should have raised eyebrows: Treasurer Curtis Pitt has welcomed today’s announcement that the Queensland Government’s investment manager, QIC, will acquire 80 … Continue reading →

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

Could we cope with two Federal Budgets in one year?

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Michael Roche, QRC CEO, and I at Jade Buddha for the Resources Roundup At the QRC Resources Roundup at Jade Buddha, Brisbane CBD on Wednesday afternoon, after I provided my thoughts on the 2016-17 Budget, I was asked whether there … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Mining, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“Responsible economic management & fiscal restraint”-really?

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The 2016-17 Budget is very disappointing, but economists and former Treasury officials were always going to be disappointed in an election year. It is also a Budget that is particularly disappointing to the Queensland Government, due to a lack of … Continue reading →

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

Go Qld campaign moves on to attack payroll tax and penalty rates

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The Courier-Mail’s terrific “Go Queensland” campaign has today moved on to the issues of payroll tax and penalty rates, both of which I covered in my paper for the Jobs Growth Summit last week (see related post). I am quoted … Continue reading →

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Exciting week for economy watchers: State of the States, a possible rate cut, and the Budget

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Gene Tunny

CommSec’s latest State of the States Report is out today, and, while I think its placement of Queensland in around the middle of Australia’s States and Territories (5th out of 8) is reasonable, I have some sympathy for Queensland Treasurer … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Housing, Infrastructure, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fast-tracking of Uber review is great news – Gov’t has adopted one of my Jobs Growth Summit recommendations

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Gene Tunny

I am very pleased the Queensland Government has brought forward the reporting date of its review into taxi and ride-sharing services, as announced by the Premier yesterday (see Brisbane Times coverage). This followed my call for a fast-tracked review in … Continue reading →

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After Jobs Growth Summit, business groups need to lobby hard for better policies

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Gene Tunny

At today’s Queensland Jobs Growth Summit at Parliament House in Brisbane, I did my best to argue for good economic policy. After Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s speech, I asked her whether the Government would consider fast-tracking the review of taxi … Continue reading →

Posted in IR, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments