Tag Archives: australia

Weekend reading: CIS Policy mag featuring my article on film industry subsidies, available at good newsagents

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Gene Tunny

If you’re looking for something to read this weekend, you could try the latest issue of the Centre for Independent Studies’ magazine Policy, which includes some excellent feature articles. These include an article on the worrying levels of public debt … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Tax, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Qld’s lacklustre population and jobs growth have gone hand in hand over the current decade

Posted on March 25, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Queensland’s population, now at around 4.9 million, increased 1.4% in the year to 30 September 2016, a growth rate slightly below the national growth rate of 1.5%, but significantly below Victoria’s stand-out growth rate of 2.1% (Chart 1 based on … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Population, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Qld economy not generating enough jobs for uni, VET & school leavers

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Market economists do not appear too concerned about the new ABS jobs figures released yesterday showing the national unemployment rate increased to 5.9% in February from 5.7% in January. There is a recognition that there is a lot of noise … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Greater labour mobility a better way to assist PNG than budgetary support

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Last Thursday, ABC News reported that Papua New Guinea has asked for a re-direction of Australia’s foreign aid program towards direct contributions to PNG’s health and education budgets. PNG, a country already struggling with high population growth and public health … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Labour market, Tourism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Strong growth in plant & equipment capex is good news for Qld economy

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Last Friday, in his opening statement to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, RBA Governor Phil Lowe observed: “Nationally, measures of business conditions have picked up noticeably recently. For some time we have been waiting for a lift … Continue reading →

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

HSBC’s Paul Bloxham on the economic outlook and President Trump

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Last Thursday, Paul Bloxham, HSBC Chief Economist for Australia and NZ, gave an excellent briefing on the economic outlook at a lunchtime event organised by the French Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FACCI), and hosted by Clayton Utz at … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Mining, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Disappointing 2016 for Qld labour market

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Yesterday, on the same day the December jobs figures released by the ABS confirmed a disappointing 2016 for the Queensland labour market (see charts below), the Deputy Premier announced the State Government’s new regional jobs program. Coincidental or not, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Continuing rebound in Qld private sector job vacancies at end of 2016

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Gene Tunny

There was good news for the Queensland economy yesterday, with the ABS reporting a continuation of the rebound in private sector job vacancies in the final quarter of last year (see chart below). Private sector job vacancies have increased from … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Housing, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sydney & Melbourne property prices defy rational explanation

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Gene Tunny

At the Guardian, Gareth Hutchens criticises some market economists for their forecasts of a correction in house prices in 2016, while house prices in Sydney and Melbourne actually grew at double-digit rates. Market economists Saul Eslake and Stephen Koukoulas have … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Government right to rule out fiscal stimulus

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The ½ percent GDP contraction in September quarter that the ABS published last week has raised a lot of questions about the current state of the economy, and whether the Government should do more in terms of economic reform or … Continue reading →

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