Category Archives: Uncategorized

Newly appointed Commonwealth Trade Minister Dr Craig Emerson is the most experienced economist and one of the best policy thinkers in the Gillard Government, but he is being wasted in a ministerial portfolio that no economist could enjoy: Trade.  The … Continue reading →

In a breakfast celebrating Ipswich’s 150th anniversary, Premier Anna Bligh referred to the “renaissance” of the Ipswich CBD, which has been recently re-developed.  The Premier was very upbeat about Ipswich’s capacity to maintain its own identity and industry base separate … Continue reading →

Miners and property developers are clearly at the top of the heap but, reading Queensland’s top 100 Rich List in the Courier-Mail back on August 15, I was surprised that three top 100 fortunes came out of waste management, namely: … Continue reading →

The Force from the North, Bob Katter MP, knows that life is a negotiating table, and he isn’t afraid to make an outrageous demand first off, knowing that after he cuts a deal it’ll still be a big pay day: … Continue reading →

Residential building approvals fell 18% (seasonally adjusted) in Queensland in July, compared with a 2.3% increase nationally, suggesting Queensland’s residential construction industry is set for a period of softness.  Hence we’ll be relying on strong export growth from the mining … Continue reading →

The go card readers on Brisbane buses and City Cats appear to be playing up a bit lately, taking their time to get ready to read your card, and I’ve heard chatter (or did I read it in mX?) that … Continue reading →

With the Force from the North, Bob Katter MP, now a member of an exclusive triad that will anoint the next Australian PM, the odds of a new State of North Queensland (NQ) being created have shortened (although they probably … Continue reading →

For a City that owes its existence and livelihood to tourism, it’s a little surprising that some Gold Coast residents would push for a ban on short-term holiday accommodation. As reported in today’s Gold Coast Bulletin: The Short Term Accommodation … Continue reading →

The free mX newspaper reports today that: Brisbane’s property market is almost 30 per cent more expensive than it was a year ago, a new report has found. A joint study by the Housing Industry Association and the Commonwealth Bank … Continue reading →

The latest ABS Labour Price Index report suggests that public servants have escaped the financial crisis unscathed, with public sector hourly pay rates growing at 4% over 2009-10.  In contrast, perhaps because private sector employers remain cautious in the wake … Continue reading →