Tag Archives: brisbane

Bad day for developers in Queensland – risk to future investment and jobs

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Gene Tunny

At a time when the Queensland economy is experiencing a huge negative shock from the downturn in the resources sector, and at a time when the health of our recovering building industry is very important, it is discouraging that some … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

RACQ should push for demand management options such as congestion pricing

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Gene Tunny

I was surprised by this view attributed to RACQ Executive Manager Michael Roth in the Brisbane Times article Brisbane drivers spend three days a year stuck in traffic: Mr Roth said there were two ways to prevent worsening congestion rates … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

PwC Budget breakfast tickets on sale – business sees need for budget repair, even if politicians don’t

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Former PM John Howard, who will speak at PwC’s Federal Budget Breakfast in Brisbane on 13 May On the morning after the night the Federal Budget is delivered, the most desirable tickets in Brisbane are to PwC’s Budget Breakfast, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Urban sprawl filling in the 200km City

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Gene Tunny

In the first seven months of financial year 2014-15, the top five suburban areas in Queensland for residential building approvals were: Newstead-Bowen Hills (1,358 approvals), Southport (1,305), North Lakes-Mango Hill (612), Caloundra-West (406), and Jimboomba (401) (see map below based … Continue reading →

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

State & local govts need to allow development to boost housing supply – Gap mega-suburb would be a good start

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Now that likely future PM Malcolm Turnbull has highlighted the “big supply side issue” in Australia’s housing market (see yesterday’s Australian), it would be timely for State and local governments around Australia to review their regulations and charges, which many … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ok to investigate options for Executive Building, although keeping it unlikely to be sensible

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Although I doubt it makes sense to keep the Queensland Government Executive Building, I have no problem with the Government investigating options for the future of the building, which was to be demolished to make way for the new casino. … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

New Qld Government should allow plenty of time for thorough review of spending

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Gene Tunny

I noticed that former Olympian Kieren Perkins has cast doubt on Queensland’s ability to host an Olympic Games and has pointed to the Queensland Government’s lack of a clear strategy to pay down debt (see today’s Courier-Mail). While the Queensland … Continue reading →

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

No tears for BaT tunnel – it most likely didn’t stack up

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Whichever party forms government in Queensland, the Bus and Train (BaT) tunnel project is no more, as reported by the Brisbane Times (BaT tunnel plans scrapped). I was always skeptical about the economic case for the project, and was very … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Transport | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strong December sales needed after lean year for Queensland retailers

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I’m looking forward to this morning’s Boxing Day sales in Brisbane CBD, which hopefully will live up to expectations of big crowds and high turnover, as historically low interest rates and lower petrol prices free up cash for discretionary spending … Continue reading →

Posted in Retail trade | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The compliance burden of work Christmas parties

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Back in October, Chris Richardson from Deloitte Access Economics pointed out the large costs (up to $70 billion in total p.a.) that businesses are imposing on themselves and other businesses through internal rules, such as those designed to demonstrate the … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments