Tag Archives: qld

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

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Continuing rebound in Qld private sector job vacancies at end of 2016

There was good news for the Queensland economy yesterday, with the ABS reporting a continuation of the rebound in private sector job vacancies in the final quarter of last year (see chart below). Private sector job vacancies have increased from … Continue reading

Posted in Agriculture, Housing, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Higher royalties improve Qld budget bottom line, but work still needed on budget repair

As we have been expecting for some time, higher coal prices and thus royalties (see chart below) have translated into a much improved State Budget balance, with the Queensland Treasury now forecasting the biggest operating surplus ($2 billion) in a … Continue reading

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

Government right to rule out fiscal stimulus

The ½ percent GDP contraction in September quarter that the ABS published last week has raised a lot of questions about the current state of the economy, and whether the Government should do more in terms of economic reform or … Continue reading

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Qld Audit Office identifies risks to energy businesses from State debt reshuffle

In a report published today on Queensland’s government-owned energy businesses, the Queensland Audit Office has flagged risks associated with the Government’s debt reshuffle (on the debt reshuffle, see this QEW post from December last year). Here is the relevant extract … Continue reading

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

Should Queensland ban plastic shopping bags?

Last week, the Queensland Government Environment Department issued a discussion paper to consult with the community on its proposed ban of lightweight plastic bags (i.e. the type you get at Coles and Woolworths). However, the scope for public consultation is … Continue reading

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Upcoming ESA Qld event: How economics improved the world in 2016

2016 has not been a good year for economics. Brexit and the US Presidential election result both implied a rejection of free trade and free markets by large numbers of people in the UK and US. Economists have learned that … Continue reading

Posted in qut, Retail trade, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 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

ABC Regional Drive interview – dubious jobs data another sign ABS is struggling under a tight budget

In its September labour force report, which reported the Australian unemployment rate fell to 5.6% from 5.7% while employment fell by 9,800 (and full-time employment fell 53,000!), contrary to the jobs growth the market was expecting, the ABS more or … Continue reading

Posted in Labour market, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments