Tag Archives: qld

Good news for Qld building industry as new apartment approvals surge

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Conditions will certainly improve in the Queensland building industry over 2014 as residential building approvals continue to recover (see first chart below based on the new ABS data), although we shouldn’t get too excited yet because the recovery appears to … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

SEQ has expensive public transport due to low density and costly trains

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Gene Tunny

While hard on commuters, the recent Translink fare hike (see Brisbane Times coverage) still leaves South-East Queensland with a heavily subsidised public transport system, which it will continue to have given a relatively low population density and historically poor choices … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Qld Tennis Centre precinct a missed opportunity

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Gene Tunny

At the Brisbane International Tennis tournament the other day, my friends and I were confronted with very high prices, such as $9.50 for a Corona and $7 for a fruit salad. In part, the high prices reflect the local monopoly … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Additional maps on average incomes in Qld

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Average wage and salary incomes of residents of mining regions in Queensland rival those of residents in the Western suburbs of Brisbane, according to the ABS’s new small area income data (see maps below for the whole of Queensland and … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Labour market | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Qld Govt leaves room to boost spending in election budget next year

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Government’s Mid Year Fiscal and Economic Review released yesterday didn’t contain many surprises, but left me with the thought the Government will have plenty of room to boost spending in next year’s Budget, in preparation for an election … Continue reading →

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Signs are good, but Qld economy not roaring back yet

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Paul Syvret in the Courier-Mail today has a good summary of recent positive economic news for Queensland (Queensland economy recovers from GFC with new jobless low of 5.6pc), but I think some of the commentators he interviewed are getting a … Continue reading →

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

Improving teacher quality key to lifting student performance

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The new OECD report showing Australia’s educational performance is slipping has gained a lot of media attention this morning (e.g. Queensland students lag behind national average in maths, science and literacy) and should inspire policy makers to push for further … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Teacher pay revamp long overdue

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I’m very pleased the Queensland Government is considering linking teacher pay to teacher performance (see today’s Courier-Mail), as improving pay for the best teachers will help stop the leakage of the best teachers out of the education system and may … Continue reading →

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Mining capital spending saved Qld economy from really poor growth in 2012-13

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The 2012-13 State Accounts, released by the ABS on Thursday, confirm that heavy engineering construction, largely by the resources sector, shored up the Queensland economy in 2012-13 and protected it from the adverse impacts of Government spending cuts. This is … Continue reading →

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

Perth might grow larger than Brisbane, but it won’t beat SEQ 200km City

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Gene Tunny

In its media release on its new population projections yesterday, the ABS noted: “Highlights from the ABS projections include Perth overtaking Brisbane in 2028, at three million people, and then ten years later, the Australian Capital Territory overtaking Tasmania.” This … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Population | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments