Tag Archives: covid-19

Qld-NSW border war (of words) chat with Joe Branigan from Tulipwood Economics

Currently, the big economic debate in Queensland concerns the border with NSW, which remains closed to interstate visitors. Earlier today I spoke with my old friend and former Treasury colleague Joe Branigan, Director of Tulipwood Economics, who thinks the border … Continue reading

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Chat with CCIQ’s Jack Baxter on collapse in business conditions & confidence

I spoke with CCIQ Economic and Policy Advisor Jack Baxter earlier today regarding the corona-crisis-induced collapse in business conditions and confidence reported in the March quarter Suncorp-CCIQ Pulse Survey report. Business conditions and confidence are at their worst levels in … Continue reading

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ABC radio comments re. Virgin: QIC needs to think for itself and resist any gov’t pressure

The current investigation of a potential investment in Virgin Australia will be a defining moment for the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC). On ABC radio yesterday morning, I told host Bec Levingston that QIC needs to show it can act as … Continue reading

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Working from home during & after the pandemic with Alison Pennington – podcast interview

Earlier this week I interviewed Alison Pennington, Senior Economist at the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute, about the opportunities and risks of working from home during this time of COVID-19. Alison has been getting a lot of … Continue reading

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Economic impact of COVID-19 – upcoming QUT/QAAS webinar

I’m a panellist on an upcoming webinar on Friday 22 May on The economic impact of COVID-19 and the likely short and long run economic impacts of the policy responses to it. The webinar is free and is part of … Continue reading

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Qld needs new Treasurer and budget update

The Sunday Mail Editorial is calling for a new Queensland Treasurer to be appointed to replace Jackie Trad, who has had to temporarily stand aside during a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into her conduct, this time relating to the … Continue reading

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State and regional unemployment rates in this time of COVID-19 with Pete Faulkner

Mission Beach-based economist Pete Faulkner from Conus Consulting has been in the news recently with his estimates of the massive adverse impacts that measures to combat coronavirus are having on Queensland’s regional economies (e.g. see the InQueensland report Jobless numbers … Continue reading

Posted in Cairns, Gold Coast, Labour market, Macroeconomy, North Queensland, Townsville, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Highlights of recent coronavirus-related podcast episodes

In my latest Economics Explained podcast episode, I review some of the big issues covered in recent episodes on coronavirus. Brisbane-based businessman Tim Hughes of Urban Ergo and I react to excerpts of recent episodes and discuss the important policy … Continue reading

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Catch up with CCIQ Chief Economist on dreadful business conditions & huge budget deficits

Yesterday afternoon I caught up with CCIQ Chief Economist Dr Marcus Smith for a phone interview on the coronavirus-induced recession/mini-depression, and you can listen to the recording here: Highlights include: 3:50 – discussion of forecasts for double-digit unemployment rates in … Continue reading

Posted in Budget, Cairns, Gold Coast, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Qld public service freeze – my Courier-Mail comments

Well done to the Courier-Mail’s Steven Wardill for his scoop on the Queensland public service hiring freeze in today’s paper: Qld public service hiring freeze to rein in budget (pay-walled). I spoke with Steven about the hiring freeze yesterday afternoon … Continue reading

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