Tag Archives: qld

Queenslanders spending, but not building

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Gene Tunny

It was a week of mixed economic news for Queensland, with the latest ABS data showing retail spending is growing reasonably well in Queensland, while building approvals continue at low levels. Queensland is out-performing the rest of Australia on retail … Continue reading →

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

Further decline in exchange rate would be good news for Qld tourism

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The HIA released an interesting note today forecasting the Australian dollar will continue to decline, possibly down to the US$0.70 to US$0.80 range (see Decline of the Aussie dollar: Where to from here?). I agree with the HIA there are … Continue reading →

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

Productivity Commission says no rationale for State ownership of Energex and Ergon

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Paul Syvret in the Courier-Mail today has a nice summary of the Productivity Commission’s latest report on Electricity Network Regulation. The Commission suggests there would be cost savings and lower power bills flowing from privatisation of electricity network businesses such … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Queensland regional unemployment maps, May 2013

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I’ve prepared some maps based on the ABS regional unemployment rate data released yesterday. I’ve taken the numbers from Queensland Treasury’s briefing on the data, which presents 12-month moving averages of the ABS data to smooth out the high degree … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Cairns, Labour market, Wide Bay-Burnett | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Qld records respectable population growth in 2012 – still waiting for interstate migration rebound

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Gene Tunny

In 2012, Queensland’s population grew 2.0% to 4.61 million people, a respectable growth rate but only slightly above the Australian population growth rate of 1.8% and much lower than WA’s growth rate of 3.5% (see Queensland Treasury’s nice briefing on … Continue reading →

Posted in Migration, Population | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Queensland Plan survey – a mix of interesting philosophical and misguided questions

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I found time today to fill out the Queensland Plan survey, which is meant to inform the Government’s development of a 30-year vision for Queensland. I did my best to answer the somewhat vague questions, a couple of which are … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland Government | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

24-hour retail trading inevitable and desirable

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I was very pleased to read in today’s Sunday Mail that Woolworths will open a 24/7 store on Federal Government land at Brisbane airport, avoiding Queensland’s archaic trading hours restrictions. While the Attorney-General has suggested there needs to be a … Continue reading →

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

Public service cuts had only temporary impact on unemployment rate

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Gene Tunny

It’s now clear that Queensland public service cuts have had only a temporary impact on the unemployment rate, as I expected and have previously posted on (see Temporary surge in unemployment due to public service cuts and spending restraint). While the unemployment … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour market, Macroeconomy | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Commission of Audit report an impressive guide to reform of Qld Government

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The three volumes of the Commission of Audit report released today form an impressive guide to the reform of the Queensland Government over the rest of the decade. With solid analysis of policy issues across the wide range of public … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Queensland Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Forward estimates budgeting needs rethinking in more volatile economic times

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Today’s speech by Prime Minister Gillard is a good attempt at explaining the Government’s budgetary challenges, but I was unconvinced by this line in the speech: The Budget will outline the fiscal path for the coming four years, one designed … Continue reading →

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