Tag Archives: australia

Higher education reform important in improving budget balance

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I’m broadly pleased with the new Federal Government’s planned reforms of the higher education system (reported in the Brisbane Times article Christopher Pyne reveals university shake-up). Policy targets are generally useless, as they are rarely achieved and are often misguided, … Continue reading →

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New Government should reject car industry begging

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Since the late 1940s, Australia has bought itself a car industry, first through very high tariff protection that rose to around 57% by the 1980s, and then through financial assistance that, in part, replaced the benefits of tariff protection to … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Resources sector investment hasn’t and won’t fall off cliff

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Yesterday’s ABS capital expenditure data show just how significant resources sector investment has been to the Queensland economy over the last few years, and how the manufacturing sector has been affected by the high exchange rate (see chart below). While … Continue reading →

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Queensland’s dynamic labour market

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Today’s new ABS data on labour mobility show Queensland has one of the most dynamic labour markets in Australia, with one of the highest proportions of workers having been with their current employer for under twelve months (chart above). I … Continue reading →

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Growth in cost of living highest for pensioners

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Pete Faulkner has a great post today (Cost of living pressures?) commenting on the new ABS Living Cost Indexes data, some of which I’ve charted above. Pete notes: Today’s release of the Living Cost Indexes by the ABS should hopefully end … Continue reading →

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OECD forecasts Australian unemployment rate to remain relatively low

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The OECD has released its Employment Outlook 2013, which contains a forecast of a stable, relatively low unemployment rate for Australia at 5.5 per cent and a grim forecast of persistent, high unemployment in the Euro area of over 12 … Continue reading →

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Greater uncertainty over 2013-14 economic outlook

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The last 24 hours have seen the release of a sobering NAB report on its monthly business survey (Business conditions collapse in June, retail worst hit, says NAB) and the latest IMF World Economic Outlook, which has slightly downgraded China’s … Continue reading →

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

Further decline in exchange rate would be good news for Qld tourism

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The HIA released an interesting note today forecasting the Australian dollar will continue to decline, possibly down to the US$0.70 to US$0.80 range (see Decline of the Aussie dollar: Where to from here?). I agree with the HIA there are … Continue reading →

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Commonwealth should give up student target – big savings possible from higher ed reform

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The Commonwealth is projected to spend over $10 billion on higher education by 2016-17 according to the 2013-14 Budget papers (see chart above). Hence it’s unsurprising the Government is looking at savings in this area, as reported in the Australian … Continue reading →

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Productivity Commission says no rationale for State ownership of Energex and Ergon

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Paul Syvret in the Courier-Mail today has a nice summary of the Productivity Commission’s latest report on Electricity Network Regulation. The Commission suggests there would be cost savings and lower power bills flowing from privatisation of electricity network businesses such … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments