Tag Archives: qld

ABC Brisbane radio interview on Toyota departure

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Gene Tunny

This morning, Steve Austin from 612 ABC Brisbane interviewed me regarding Toyota’s departure and the demise of car manufacturing in Australia: How will Toyota’s departure affect the local economy? I reiterated a number of points I’ve made previously, including in … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Hospitality suffering under IR regime

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Gene Tunny

On my way back from the Boondall ice skating rink this morning I stopped in at my favourite north side cafe, Dandelion & Driftwood, and while walking back to my car I noticed this sign on the neighbouring restaurant:  The … Continue reading →

Posted in IR | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Qld businesses more optimistic than current conditions suggest they probably should be

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The December quarter edition of the timely and very useful CCIQ-Westpac Pulse Report released yesterday confirms reasonably high levels of confidence among Queensland businesses and a continuing improvement in business conditions. While CCIQ considers confidence is no longer running ahead of … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Retail trade | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Further TAFE job cuts likely in new contestable training market

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The effective corporatisation of TAFE Queensland last year (see Qld TAFE to become statutory body) and the push for greater contestability in training funding – both of which I support – will no doubt lead to a rationalisation of Queensland … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, VET | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Billions of benefits from selling Gladstone and Townsville ports

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Gene Tunny

My colleague and friend Brad Rogers, who is also Secretary of the Queensland branch of the Economic Society of Australia, has written a nice post arguing for privatisation of Queensland’s Government-owned ports at his new blog: Queensland Ports For Sale Brad … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Housing, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Why is training in oil & gas drilling fee-free?

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Government’s blueprint for reform of vocational education and training (VET), Great Skills Real Opportunities, which was released in June last year, goes a long way toward creating a more efficient and responsive VET sector, but falls short in … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Labour market, Mining | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Rent auctions linked to constraints on inner city development

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Gene Tunny

A story in mX yesterday afternoon highlighted an unnecessary law against so-called rent auctions: Brisbane’s rental squeeze is forcing prospective tenants to offer landlords extra cash to secure a place to live. As competition for properties in the inner city … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Regional infrastructure plan should be based on updated population projections

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Having spent the first fifteen years of my life in Townsville, I’m a great supporter of regional Queensland, but as an economist I think the Government needs to do some further analysis before it commits large amounts of money to … Continue reading →

Posted in Population, Queensland Government, Townsville | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Qld jobs market remains sluggish – unlikely trend unemployment rate fell last month

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Today’s labour force data from the ABS confirmed that the jobs market remains sluggish, with Queensland’s unemployment rate at 5.9 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms. Unfortunately, the ABS data aren’t very precise for Queensland and it’s hard to have … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Good pick up in home loans in Qld over 2013

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I agree with MacroBusiness’s assessment (New home finance takes a breather) that the number of loans for the construction or purchase of new houses, which is linked closely with the health of the building industry, picked up in Queensland over … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments