Tag Archives: budget

New evidence stimulus worsened our competitiveness from Makin & Ratnasiri

Griffith University Economics Professor Tony Makin and his co-author Shyama Ratnasiri have just published an interesting paper (Competitiveness and government expenditure: The Australian example) presenting new econometric evidence that suggests fiscal stimulus in response to the financial crisis worsened Australia’s … Continue reading

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Budget briefing – speech notes and slides

Last Friday afternoon I gave a presentation on the 2015-16 Budget at a private function I organised at the Tattersall’s Club in Brisbane. My slides are available for download (Budget briefing 15 May 15). Budget briefing Good afternoon. Today I’d … Continue reading

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Trajectory to surplus not the same thing as budgeting for a surplus

As I mentioned to Pat Hession on Townsville ABC radio yesterday afternoon, the 2015-16 Federal Budget simply kicks the can down the road, as they say, leaving it for a future Government (or this one if it stays in power) … Continue reading

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Budget measures insufficient to avoid risk of permanent deficits

Tonight’s Federal Budget will be very disappointing, as the expected measures do not go anywhere near enough to reducing the risk that Australia will end up in a state of permanent deficit, as I’ve previously suggested it would if we … Continue reading

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Risk to Qld Budget of lower dividends from Govt-owned businesses

In addition to royalties revenue being lower than previously forecast, a major risk to the Queensland State Budget in coming years is lower than expected dividends from government-owned businesses. Currently government-owned businesses contribute over $2 billion to the Budget or … Continue reading

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ABC radio interview on the fiscal challenges facing the new Qld Government

Chatting with Steve Austin about the fiscal challenges facing the new Government in the Legislative Council Chamber at Queensland Parliament House, Brisbane (Photo: Terri Begley) On the first day of Queensland’s new Parliament, Steve Austin from 612 ABC Brisbane radio … Continue reading

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

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

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Qld Government will find it a big challenge to achieve its fiscal strategy

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has rightly labelled the upcoming 2015-16 Budget as “no frills” (see ABC news report). The Government cannot afford any frivolous expenses, because the budget challenge it faces is massive. The major problems the Government has are: … Continue reading

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Queensland Treasury’s forecasting record on royalties

I’ve written before about the big fiscal challenges facing the Queensland Government, and about how concerning it is that the Queensland Treasury is now as reliant as it is on volatile revenues such as royalties (see Qld Govt increasingly dependent … Continue reading

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Qld Government increasingly dependent on volatile royalties revenue

The current resources sector slowdown is resulting in hard times for many businesses and workers, and it will make the new Queensland Government’s budget management task a lot harder, especially if projected royalties revenues don’t eventuate. Over the last ten … Continue reading

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