Tag Archives: pc

Qld frontline police per capita down nearly 4% since 2013-14, PC ROGS report reveals

The number of Police Service operational staff per capita has fallen nearly 4% since 2013-14, from 296 per 100,000 people in 2013-14 to 285 per 100,000 people in 2019-20 (see chart below). That’s according to the very useful and somewhat … Continue reading

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

ABC radio interview on PC inquiry into GST revenue redistribution

I had an enjoyable chat with Steve Austin on his ABC Brisbane radio Drive program this afternoon regarding the Productivity Commission’s Brisbane hearing for its inquiry into Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation (HFE), the methodology which is used to distribute the GST … Continue reading

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

Has Qld dropped the ball on the GST Carve-Up Review? Guest post from Nick Behrens

I am delighted to publish this guest post from my colleague Nick Behrens from QEAS on the GST redistribution inquiry currently being undertaken by the Productivity Commission. Views expressed are Nick’s, and are not necessarily shared by me. That said, … Continue reading

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PC scathing of Qld sugar industry’s “dependency psyche” & “back to the future” re-regulation

One of the low points for the current Queensland Government occurred in late 2015, when it failed to stop the Real Choice in Marketing legislation advanced by Katter’s Australian Party with support from the Opposition and Billy Gordon. This provided … Continue reading

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

PC ennui?

Based on its discussion paper for its five year productivity review, the Productivity Commission appears to be suffering from ennui or world weariness. Consider this passage, which the PC has published in bold italics (on p. 17): “The Commission is … Continue reading

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

Qld Government needs to avoid costly inter-state bidding wars

In the 2016-17 Queensland Budget being handed down today, among other measures, the State Government will allocate $40 million to “aggressively” attract businesses to the State, no doubt through a combination of payroll tax concessions, grants and similar financial incentives … Continue reading

Posted in Industry policy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Container deposit scheme very likely a costly bad idea

Regrettably, there is now a bipartisan commitment in Queensland to what is very likely a costly bad policy, with the Opposition announcing its support for a container deposit scheme, otherwise known as a “cash for cans” scheme (see the Brisbane … Continue reading

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

Is banning plastic bags the best option to tackle litter and reduce waste?

Guest post by Rod Bogaards It looks like a push is on to ban single-use plastic bags nationally according to the Courier-Mail. A ban has already been implemented in some of the smaller states and territories but not elsewhere. Perhaps … Continue reading

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

PC calls for partial inclusion of family home in pension means test

Last week, Treasurer Scott Morrison warned young Australians not to expect they can rely on the age pension in the future. This was good advice, because the budgetary pressures facing the Commonwealth Government, emphasised again this week in grim forecasts … Continue reading

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

PC concludes there are some adverse employment impacts from minimum wage increases

The President of the Queensland Council of Unions is reported in the Brisbane Times this morning as noting “There is no empirical evidence that cutting wages creates more jobs” (Qld unions to make penalty rates election battlefield). In my view, … Continue reading

Posted in Labour market | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments