Tag Archives: qld

Better off allocating all lease proceeds to debt reduction

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Gene Tunny

John Quiggin’s interesting new paper on the budgetary impact of asset leases, reported in the Brisbane Times today (Strong Choices will have ‘adverse impact’), correctly points out the adverse budgetary impact of the Queensland Government allocating around one-third of asset … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Infrastructure, Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Qld Govt’s new jobs target much more achievable than previous 4% unemployment rate target

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Gene Tunny

The Premier today announced a relatively conservative employment growth target of 209,000 new jobs over six years, which he based on Treasury advice (see LNP unveils plan for the Jobs of Tomorrow). So long as the economy doesn’t remain in … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Retail turnover has been declining in real terms in Qld, possibly due to lack of fulfilment centres

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Gene Tunny

ABS data released Friday confirmed that Queensland’s retail trade sector remained relatively weak in the lead up to the Christmas period, with nominal retail turnover only increasing slightly by o.1 per cent in November (see chart below). Recent weak results … Continue reading →

Posted in Retail trade | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Up-tick in Queensland building approvals, while Victoria surges

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Gene Tunny

There was a welcome 5.6% increase in building approvals in November last year according to ABS data released yesterday (see chart above), largely due to approvals of new apartments and townhouses. Of course, the volatility of approvals from month-to-month means … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Employment and unemployment can both increase because labour force grows with population

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Gene Tunny

I’ve noticed there is a bit of confusion around regarding how the Queensland Government can claim employment has grown while at the same time unemployment has increased and the unemployment rate has risen to 6.9 per cent. Employment and unemployment … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good set of policy principles (mostly) from new Queensland think tank AiP

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Gene Tunny

New Queensland think tank the Australian Institute for Progress (AiP) has released a set of high-level policies for the Queensland election, which are mostly consistent with sound public finance and the promotion of free markets (see Our priorities for Queensland … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Industry policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Earlier election better for the Queensland economy

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Gene Tunny

It’s good news for the Queensland economy that the Premier is expected to announce a late January or early February election today. The CCIQ September quarter Pulse Survey report notes that uncertainty around the upcoming election has affected business expectations, … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Remarkable cost-cutting performance from Queensland Government

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Gene Tunny

Average input costs for Queensland Government activities appear to have declined by up to 5 per cent since mid-2012, based on State Accounts data from Queensland Treasury, assuming State Government activity mostly drives the State and local general government consumption … Continue reading →

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

Queensland economic outlook for 2015

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Gene Tunny

It became clear toward the end of 2014 that the upcoming Queensland election would be fought in a relatively weak economy. 2014 unfortunately saw an increase in Queensland’s unemployment rate from around 6 per cent to around 7 per cent … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2014 wrap up – Qld Govt excelled on budget management, but Adani & Tatts deals questionable

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Government’s major economic policy achievements in 2014 included: strong budget management, particularly through expenditure restraint, with the Mid Year Fiscal and Economic Review reporting that expenses in 2014-15 are expected to now be $720 million lower than budget … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Mining | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment