Category Archives: Uncategorized

Brisbane City Council’s plan to turn Brisbane into a cycling haven, akin to say Copenhagen or Amsterdam, looks like it may be frustrated by Queensland’s compulsory helmet law. The Council’s inner city bike hire scheme will be less attractive if … Continue reading →

Do you know if your jeans were produced in sustainable and ethical ways?  Increasingly consumers will demand to know if they were, according to an interesting panel discussion at the second day (11 August, 2010) of the Australian Cotton Conference … Continue reading →

The Australian Cotton Conference features a fascinating combination of agronomy, politics, farm machinery (with big tractors displayed in the trades hall) and fashion (including a runway show of the work of young designers). Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) chairperson Mike … Continue reading →

Yesterday’s Reserve Bank Statement on Monetary Policy confirms that the Australian economy is heading back towards a strong GDP growth rate of around 4%, but highlights that the strength of the Australian economy depends critically on investments by the resources … Continue reading →

In today’s Courier-Mail, columnist Robert MacDonald laments that Brisbane isn’t one of Monocle Magazine’s top 25 most liveable cities in the world (Munich is no. 1, Melbourne is 9th, Sydney is 12th, and Auckland is 20th).  Mr MacDonald comments: We … Continue reading →

While the consensus among economists appears to be that interest rates will increase by another 1-1.5% over the next year or so, the Reserve Bank’s decision to leave the cash rate at 4.5% today was sensible, given the uncertainty out … Continue reading →

It’s pleasing to see the recently introduced Sunday trading in Mackay (bringing Mackay into line with other coastal centres) is popular with local residents: Sunday trading a hit in Mackay It’s time for the Government to go further and consider … Continue reading →

Sir Richard Branson is right to point out the downside of Australia’s small population, given the sheer size of Australia, which is a continent after all (Sir Richard Branson advocates big Australia): A bigger population would create a much bigger … Continue reading →

The influence of David Beckham is ever encroaching on the bastions of manliness, and now it’s North Queensland tradies who are heading to the beauty salon for facials and full body waxes.  The Cairns Post reports on how this is … Continue reading →

Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser is absolutely correct to dismiss the CommSec report claiming the Queensland economy is currently the worst performing in the country (well, equal last with NSW).  Mr Fraser observed (see Sunshine State economy ranks last): “I don’t … Continue reading →