Category Archives: Uncategorized

Uni not essential for success, but on average uni graduates do better

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I’m disappointed news.com.au tonight features the really silly headline “Four reasons you should bypass uni”, under photos of Mark Zuckerberg, Steven Spielberg, Ellen DeGeneres and Richard Branson. Sure, you can be hugely successful without going to university, if you work incredibly … Continue reading →

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Top power regulator skeptical about “gold plating” allegation

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I attended an excellent function on electricity distribution pricing at Customs House, Brisbane last night which was organised by the UQ Energy Initiative. Panelists included John Pierce, Chair of the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), Tony Bellas, who recently chaired … Continue reading →

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ABARES forecasts large increases in seafood prices over coming decades

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The traditional seafood feast at Christmas will become much more expensive in future decades as limitations on our seafood stocks mean that rising demand significantly increases prices. This forecast is contained in ABARES’s new publication Global food production and prices … Continue reading →

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Top ten countries for imports to Qld and exports from Qld

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Based on today’s new ABS international trade statistics, I prepared the charts below, which show Japan and China are our top two export destinations and the US and China are our top two sources of imports: I was initially surprised by … Continue reading →

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Was Maxine McKew asleep during the Rudd Government?

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Maxine McKew was a great journalist, but her time in politics has been marked by naivety and hero worship for Kevin Rudd, against all the objective facts. As a Treasury official during the first eighteen months of the Government I … Continue reading →

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Interesting links this week

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Pete Faulkner warns against over-analysing the recent CPI data that surprised on the up-side: An attempt to dismiss Q3 CPI James Falk cites a previous post of mine in his piece on Analysis serving ideology Seth Godin has a brilliant … Continue reading →

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Pre-mixed concrete production remains well below pre-GFC high

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA) industry body has a nice summary of the importance of concrete in our lives on its website: The heavy construction materials industry produces concrete and its constituent parts – sand, aggregate and cement … Continue reading →

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Direction for directors

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Gene Tunny

University of Queensland Emeritus Professor Geoff Kiel gave a great speech at the Australian Institute of Management at Spring Hill, Brisbane on Thursday night, launching the new book Directors at Work, which he co-authored with three of his colleagues (one … Continue reading →

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Latest Brisbane Economic Series issue – Energy and Resources

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The October 2012 issue of Brisbane Marketing’s Brisbane Economic Series covers energy and resources and is worth a read. I agree with the positive outlook for the Queensland economy expressed by Deloitte Access Economics: …despite a slowing of Queensland’s recent … Continue reading →

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Tea Party debate in Brisbane Thursday night

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Young Economists debate tomorrow night in Brisbane on whether Queensland needs a Tea Party looks fascinating: Queensland Competition Authority is proudly supporting the 2012 Young Economists Debate Night. The rather timely topic is Queensland needs a ‘Tea Party’ – … Continue reading →

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