Tag Archives: australia

Heritage protection imposing high costs

Posted on May 18, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The head of the Financial Stability Department at the Reserve Bank of Australia, Luci Ellis, delivered an excellent speech last week on Space and Stability: Some reflections on the Housing-Finance System. In the speech she observed: The cumulation of individual … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Calls for holistic tax and super reform at BDO Budget Breakfast

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Accounting and professional services firm BDO has prepared an excellent guide to the 2014-15 Federal Budget Time to Pull on the Reins, which notes “The budget measures continue to tinker around the edges of real tax reform.” This was a major … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

PwC Breakfast on the Blackadder Budget – a cunning plan is afoot

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Gene Tunny

At the PwC Federal Budget breakfast this morning at the Brisbane RNA Showgrounds convention centre, popular finance commentator Peter Switzer gave an entertaining and informative address on last night’s Federal Budget, which he labelled the Blackadder Budget, because a cunning … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Good Budget strategy, but a mix of good and bad policy measures

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I told Ben Davis on 4BC’s Drive program this afternoon that this would be the Federal Budget we needed to have – while we’re not facing an emergency/crisis, if we don’t repair the Budget now, we probably never will. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Huge disparity in qualification levels across regions, even in SEQ – e.g. Bris West vs Ipswich & Logan

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Gene Tunny

A new ABS publication, Perspectives on Regional Australia:  Changes in Regional Educational Attainment, reveals huge differences in the percentage of people aged 20-64 with post-school qualifications (Certificate III and above) across Australian regions (see map below based on 2011 Census … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Education | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Grattan report shows need for permanent budget measures, not temporary debt levy

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The highly regarded think tank the Grattan Institute yesterday released the 2014 update of its excellent Budget pressures on Australian Governments report. The report makes it clear that Governments need to take permanent measures to repair budgets, not short-term fixes … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Weekend reading and listening – 3-4 May 2014

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Recording of my interview by Pat Hession on Townsville radio on the National Commission of Audit report: Reworking the Budget Excellent article on how to save money on pharmaceutical benefits spending: PBS savings: two sides of the coin Great paper from the CIS’s … Continue reading →

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ABC radio interview on the debt tax and paid parental leave

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Company Director and advisor Monica Bradley and I joined Steve Austin on 612 ABC Brisbane radio this morning to talk about paid parental leave, the debt tax and the upcoming Federal Budget more broadly. Is a paid parental leave scheme … Continue reading →

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Entrepreneurs seeking venture capital better off going to US

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Australia’s low level of venture capital investment is often raised as a cause for concern, as in today’s article from Elizabeth Knight in the Age, Start ups starved of venture capital: In Australia the venture capital sector is not starved … Continue reading →

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

Qld unemployment rate falls slightly to 6.1% – rising participation a good sign

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The March labour force data released today by the ABS, showing the unemployment rate falling to 5.8% from 6.1% in February, were good news for the Australian economy, as reflected in the dollar surging and one prominent commentator forecasting an … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments