Tag Archives: privatisation

Qld Budget needs to reflect challenging conditions – asset sales good option to cut debt

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The March quarter private capital spending figures released today by the ABS confirm that Treasury was right to make conservative, sub-par growth forecasts in developing the Federal Budget. Queensland Treasury will have to do the same in the Queensland Budget, … Continue reading →

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Failure of Strong Choices now obvious – missed chance to persuade on asset sales

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Government should have directly made the case for asset sales, rather than hoping people would conclude they’re necessary after playing the choose-your-own-budget game on the Strong Choices website, a point I’ve made a few times over the last few weeks (see … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Labour market | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Brisbane Times article on asset sales

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I’m quoted in a Brisbane Times article today regarding asset sales: Asset sales divide economists – but they are united in saying ‘Strong Choices’ is flawed I re-iterated the same points I’ve made over the last couple of weeks: that asset … Continue reading →

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

Strong Choices poorly received by public – Treasury needs to do a lot more work

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Government needs some new advisers who can prepare logical, coherent arguments as to why particular assets such as ports and electricity businesses should be privatised, because the current Strong Choices campaign has flopped (see the Brisbane Times article Strong … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Qld Treasury needs to explain logic of asset sales much more clearly

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Gene Tunny

In her terrific book On Speaking Well, former Presidential Speech Writer Peggy Noonan argues convincingly that people ultimately are moved by logic, and you shouldn’t underestimate the intelligence of your audience. She writes: A good case well argued and well … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Macroeconomy, Queensland Government, Transport | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Qld Treasury right that paying down State debt is a huge challenge

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Queensland Treasury’s new Economic and Fiscal Challenges report reiterates the huge challenge ahead in paying down debt and restoring Queensland’s AAA credit rating, which isn’t a likely prospect this decade. The projection that debt levels will stabilise at around $80 … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Qld budget surplus delay not a big deal, but reinforces need to consider Energex & Ergon sell off

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Gene Tunny

There won’t be much to report after the release of the Queensland Budget later today as it appears much of the big news has already been released, including a delay in achieving the Budget surplus, originally forecast for 2014-15 and … Continue reading →

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

Qld Government should sell assets – further spending cuts would weaken economy further

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Given the weakness in the Queensland economy in recent months, it’s unsurprising Government revenues have fallen short of forecast levels, and the Government is considering  asset sales recommended by Peter Costello’s Commission of Audit, as reported by the Courier-Mail this … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Govt should embrace Costello Commission of Audit privatisation recommendations

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Unsurprisingly, the Peter Costello-led Queensland Commission of Audit has recommended privatisation of a large number of Queensland Government assets, as reported in the Courier-Mail this morning: SELL assets or spend the next half a century paying off debt. That is … Continue reading →

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