Tag Archives: debt

How did the Qld government accumulate so much debt?

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Gene Tunny

One of Queensland Deputy Premier-Treasurer Jackie Trad’s biggest challenges in her first state budget, to be delivered next month, is to demonstrate a credible debt reduction strategy. She needs to show how she can reduce state debt from its current … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Critical Qld Gov’t debt metric still projected to worsen

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Yesterday’s Mid Year Fiscal and Economic Review revealed Queensland Government debt forecasts marginally lower than they were at budget time in June, but total borrowings will still reach nearly $81 billion by mid-2021. As Steven Wardill notes in today’s Courier-Mail: … Continue reading →

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

Des Houghton’s comments on Qld Government’s daily interest bill of $10 million

Posted on December 13, 2017 by Gene Tunny

In an opinion piece published Monday, the Courier-Mail’s Des Houghton rightly highlighted the huge challenge new Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad faces in reining in spending, particularly given the significant burden placed on the budget by the interest on general government … Continue reading →

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Infeasible for Qld Greens to pay for extravagant promises by only taxing property developers & big corporations

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Gene Tunny

The Brisbane Times is reporting Queensland Greens, swelled by the newly enrolled, plan on ‘doing a Northcote’, and it appears that the Palaszczuk Government’s star performer, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, remains at risk of losing her seat of South Brisbane … Continue reading →

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Qld Greens policies would increase State Gov’t spending by $8-9BN p.a.

Posted on November 12, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Queensland’s Deputy Premier Jackie Trad is under threat of losing her seat of South Brisbane to the Greens candidate Amy MacMahon, who is benefiting politically from a range of utopian policies disconnected from economic reality (see Friday’s Courier-Mail on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Qld state debt debate is challenging for both sides

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Gene Tunny

What an exciting first week of the election campaign! I am very pleased that state government debt is a prominent issue in the campaign, and I must say I’m surprised by the Queensland Treasurer’s recent description of the total state … Continue reading →

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

Comments on Qld state debt to the Courier-Mail

Posted on October 31, 2017 by Gene Tunny

I am quoted in today’s Courier-Mail in an article on Queensland state debt, which for the whole Queensland Government (incl. government-owned businesses) is on its way to over $80 billion (see chart below). The paper reports on the Premier’s failure … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Improved economic conditions may give Qld Gov’t confidence to call early election

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Queensland political observers were stunned today when State Government Ministers started giving what appeared to be end-of-term wrap up speeches in Parliament, raising the possibility of an early election in September or October. With some of the Government’s recent announcements, … Continue reading →

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Qld Government gets lucky in election Budget, but debt to climb to $81 billion in 2020-21

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Gene Tunny

The 2017-18 State Budget reveals the Queensland Government got very lucky this year, benefiting from a surge in royalties that has allowed it to generate a positive fiscal balance (i.e. the budget balance that also accounts for infrastructure spending) in … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

On mega mine, Qld Government should avoid taking equity risk for just a return on debt

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Gene Tunny

Financial journalist Trevor Sykes would frequently point out that the problem with lending to highly-leveraged companies is that you can effectively take on equity risk while only receiving a return on debt. The Queensland Government needs to avoid this risk … Continue reading →

Posted in Mining, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments