Tag Archives: infrastructure

Qld Government & Treasury disagree over jobs created by capital works projects – Treasury right, of course

A recent media release from the Deputy Premier Jackie Trad (Jobs bonanza for regional Queensland) appears to have contained a huge typo. The media release from Tuesday last week states: “$200 million will kick off 723 projects and support almost … Continue reading

Posted in Infrastructure, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Disappointing 2016 for Qld labour market

Yesterday, on the same day the December jobs figures released by the ABS confirmed a disappointing 2016 for the Queensland labour market (see charts below), the Deputy Premier announced the State Government’s new regional jobs program. Coincidental or not, the … Continue reading

Posted in Labour market, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Victoria still beating Queensland in interstate migration & population growth

Since late 2012, Queensland has been losing people to Victoria, a reversal of the historically positive net flow of people from Victoria to Queensland (see chart below based on the latest ABS population estimates published Thursday last week). While the … Continue reading

Posted in Population, queensland, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Guest post – Where is NSW getting the money to fund its massive infrastructure spending?

I am delighted to publish another guest post from my friend and fellow economist Dr Alistair Robson. Views expressed in this article are Alistair’s, and should not necessarily be attributed to me. Where is NSW getting the money to fund … Continue reading

Posted in Infrastructure, Transport, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Comments on asset sales/privatisation in Saturday’s Courier-Mail

At the IAQ Infrastructure Summit in Brisbane on Thursday last week, several participants lamented that Queensland was missing out on the benefits of so-called asset recycling that NSW and Victoria were expecting. The privatisation issue will not die in Queensland, … Continue reading

Posted in Infrastructure, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Heavy criticism of Qld’s infrastructure deficit at IAQ Infrastructure Summit

Government ministers should accept speaking invitations at important conferences so they can communicate with industry and the public, and, also, so they can deny Opposition members 20 minute speaking slots in which they can criticise the Government’s performance. That is … Continue reading

Posted in Infrastructure, Transport, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Be careful what you wish for on infrastructure spending

The Brisbane Times this morning draws attention to the relatively low level of heavy or engineering construction activity (e.g. on roads, bridges, dams, etc) being undertaken for the public sector in Queensland at the moment, based on analysis by RPS’s … Continue reading

Posted in Infrastructure, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Driverless cars and congestion charging up for discussion at IAQ Qld Infrastructure Summit 2016

The well-known fatal crash involving a self-driving Tesla car and a lorry suggests a completely driverless future is some time away, but nonetheless regulators and businesses need to start preparing for it. Hence it is great to see driverless cars … Continue reading

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

Transparency and good governance essential for successful infrastructure projects

After my recent post on mega-projects, I came across this excellent presentation, by a Jacobs consultant and an Adelaide University academic, which was delivered to a conference in Adelaide last year: Jacobs presentation on infrastructure risks and mega projects The … Continue reading

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

Cross River Rail equals mega-project equals mega-risk

Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh is a very good economist, so I hope he is encouraging his colleagues to wait for and fully scrutinise the Cross River Rail business case being delivered in June, before the Federal Opposition commits to … Continue reading

Posted in Brisbane, Infrastructure, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment