Tag Archives: qca

Qantas call for state gov’t incentives highlights the prisoners’ dilemma of interstate bidding wars

Posted on September 16, 2020 by

Queensland Government agencies such as Treasury and State Development will be busy developing an incentive package, no doubt containing payroll tax concessions and possibly a grant, to attract Qantas’s HQ. As the Australian reported yesterday: Qantas is asking state governments … Continue reading →

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My comments in Saturday’s Courier-Mail on payroll tax concessions—e.g. for BrewDog & Disney

Posted on April 22, 2019 by

With the possible exception of President Trump, the most interesting American politician at the moment is the millennial, freshman member of the House from New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). She is one of the main players is what The Economist … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Interview with Steve Austin on Qld election issues incl. LNP’s fiscal principles & Greens’ promises

Posted on November 14, 2017 by

Yesterday, on Steve Austin’s 612 ABC Brisbane Mornings radio show, I had another enjoyable chat with Steve and some of his listeners regarding a range of state election issues. These included John Quiggin’s critique of the LNP’s fiscal principles, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Tourism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Protectionist Buy Queensland policy unlikely to survive in current form

Posted on August 9, 2017 by

Queensland’s new protectionist procurement policy, Buy Queensland, was the subject of discussions today between Australia’s and New Zealand’s Trade Ministers, Steve Ciobo and Todd McClay (see this AAP report). You may recall that late last month the Queensland Government announced … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sweetheart deal to lure Land 400 “war machine” contract winner to Qld undesirable

Posted on July 8, 2017 by

If we want the most efficient and productive economy possible, with the largest number of sustainable jobs, then we should aim to minimise the taxes and charges on all businesses, not just the favoured few which have the resources to … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Merger savings good if they occur, but debt shuffle dubious

Posted on December 15, 2015 by

I am very flattered the Courier-Mail has a story about me this morning with the title on its website of The man who could clear Qld’s deficit: THE forecast deficit of $1.5 billion could be overcome by courageous decisions made … Continue reading →

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

QCA and Premier’s Department have shown where Government can find budget savings

Posted on December 14, 2015 by

The need for difficult decisions to repair Queensland’s Budget is reinforced by news that, due to the drop in coal prices and a slower economy, revenue will be further written down by $1.5 billion over the next four years. The … Continue reading →

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

Transparency needed around luring film productions such as Thor: Ragnarok to Qld

Posted on October 25, 2015 by

In its final report on government industry assistance (i.e. corporate welfare) released in August, the Queensland Competition Authority recommended an end to the lack of transparency that still, alas, characterises Queensland Government industry attraction measures. This lack of transparency was … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

ABC News interview on industry assistance

Posted on August 10, 2015 by

I appeared on Brisbane ABC News tonight, commenting on the Queensland Competition Authority’s new report on Queensland Government industry assistance, and the story has been written up on the ABC News website: Queensland Government will maintain industry assistance measures for … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

QCA review suggests major budget savings available from slashing wasteful industry assistance

Posted on August 9, 2015 by

The Queensland Competition Authority published the final report of its Industry Assistance Review on Friday, and regrettably the Queensland Government was quick to reject its recommendations regarding a cut to drought assistance and the further review of subsidised regional electricity … Continue reading →

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