Tag Archives: productivitycommission

US infrastructure: lessons from Australia, with Darren Brady Nelson – Economics Explained EP36

Posted on May 21, 2020 by

I recently spoke with Darren Brady Nelson about his new Heartland Institute Policy Brief How to fix America’s crumbling infrastructure: lessons from Australia. You can now listen to our conversation which I’ve published as Economics Explained EP36. Darren is an … Continue reading →

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

ABC radio interview on PC inquiry into GST revenue redistribution

Posted on February 5, 2018 by

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

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

Posted on July 31, 2017 by

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?

Posted on November 8, 2016 by

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

Posted on June 14, 2016 by

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

Posted on June 6, 2016 by

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

Transparency essential in Building Qld cost-benefit studies of infrastructure projects

Posted on March 20, 2016 by

Last Thursday morning I attended an excellent breakfast seminar on infrastructure organised by the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FACCI) and hosted by Holding Redlich Lawyers in their Queen St, Brisbane CBD offices. The seminar featured highly informative and … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Infrastructure, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

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

Posted on February 26, 2016 by

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

Australia Awards program with Indonesian Finance Ministry officials on strengthening the public policy process

Posted on November 12, 2015 by

In late October, I felt honoured to deliver workshops on economic forecasting and industry policy to officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Finance. The officials were recipients of Australia Awards from the Australian Government and were visiting Brisbane to attend … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Productivity Commission re-litigates road pricing reform

Posted on July 28, 2015 by

In situations where demand exceeds supply, a good or service can either be rationed by queuing or rationed by price. Economic theory is clear that it is most efficient to ration by price, as the good or service goes to … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment