Category Archives: Uncategorized

There is an interesting letter from John Penhallurick in the June 19 Economist arguing the Resource Super Profits Tax (RSPT) is unconstitutional: Constitutional powers over minerals and mining lie with the states, which have levied royalties on mining companies for … Continue reading →

There was some reasonably good news in today’s interstate trade figures for Queensland released by the ABS.  Through the year to March 2010, there was a 17% increase in Queensland’s exports to other States, while imports remained roughly constant.  (Note I … Continue reading →

There is a useful volume on SEQ planning issues out at the moment, A Climate for Growth, edited by Brendan Gleeson and Wendy Steele of Griffith University, and published by University of Queensland (UQ) Press. The volume includes two standout essays … Continue reading →

With around 350 other cities across the world, Brisbane is today holding the Fête de la Musique, which brings music to multiple locations on the city streets.  City workers walking through Eagle Lane (linking Eagle and Queen Streets) were pleasantly … Continue reading →

Every Sunday morning, when I jog past Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, I notice a sign proclaiming that scalping (or on-selling) of tickets is prohibited.  In the future, there may be changes to laws around scalping across Australia, in response to … Continue reading →

Following the news that Premier Bligh has appointed the Australian Industry Group’s Chris Rodwell as the new Trade Commissioner to the Americas (Peter Beattie’s previous LA-based gig), today’s Courier-Mail ran a thought-provoking editorial, “State must come first in envoy posts”. … Continue reading →

On Wednesday 7 July, the University of Queensland (UQ) Economics School is hosting a panel discussion on the Queensland Rail (QR) sale, featuring heavy hitters Doug McTaggart and John Quiggin.  The brochure / registration form is here: Panel discussion registration … Continue reading →

One of the best bits of news in last week’s Queensland State Budget was the establishment of the Skills Commission, which according to the Education Minister, Geoff Wilson, “will examine economy – wide, across all major industry sectors, what skills … Continue reading →

It’s only recently that greater Brisbane has had an integrated ticketing system (the Go Card) for its public transport.  Initiatives such as integrated ticketing (and the SEQ Regional Plan) reflect a growing appreciation, across Australia, that there needs to be … Continue reading →

Flicking through the Queensland Budget papers I was reminded that Australian State Governments aren’t fettered like their cousins in the US, with many US states forced by state constitutions to run balanced budgets.  In recessions, when tax revenues fall, balanced … Continue reading →