Tag Archives: queensland

Largest unemployment rate increases over 2012-13 in metro Brisbane and Central Qld

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I’ve mapped the changes in regional unemployment rates over 2012-13 (based on Queensland Treasury’s briefing on yesterday’s ABS data) in the maps below. The largest increases in the unemployment rate are in metropolitan Brisbane, related in part to public service … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Labour market, Mackay, Mining | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Solar subsidy creates suburban “eyesore” on Gold Coast

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Gene Tunny

In describing how government policies can have strange effects, economic textbooks often refer to the window tax that applied in Britain in France in the 18th and 19th centuries. This tax resulted in a number of households bricking up windows … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Environment, Gold Coast | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ipswich will play important role in eventual recovery of Qld building industry

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Gene Tunny

With Springfield continuing to grow and a new master-planned community being developed at Ripley Valley, Ipswich will play an important role in the eventual recovery of Queensland’s building industry from its current weak condition. Indeed, residential land data published today … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Ipswich | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tourism sector needs IR reform

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Gene Tunny

You may have noticed how difficult it has become to get a single night’s accommodation during weekends in Australia, particularly via Wotif. And in yesterday’s Sunday Mail I noticed a large advertisement for two night weekend packages by Rydges, and … Continue reading →

Posted in IR, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Don’t read too much into one month’s unemployment figures – Qld data pretty volatile

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Today’s unemployment figures from the ABS confirm a lacklustre economic outlook for Queensland over 2013-14 as the resources sector slows down, but I think it’s too early to conclude we’re heading for anything worse than expected. That is, based on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Mining | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Which Qld regions are the most productive per capita?

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Based on Queensland Treasury figures published earlier this year (Experimental Estimates of Gross Regional Product), the North West and Mackay regions of Queensland have the highest levels of gross regional product (GRP) per capita, largely due to mining in each … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, North Queensland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Greater uncertainty over 2013-14 economic outlook

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Gene Tunny

The last 24 hours have seen the release of a sobering NAB report on its monthly business survey (Business conditions collapse in June, retail worst hit, says NAB) and the latest IMF World Economic Outlook, which has slightly downgraded China’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Scope to raise more revenue from gambling and cut bad taxes

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Gene Tunny

In making his case for getting Brisbane’s second casino licence, James Packer observed last week (according to the Courier-Mail): “Brisbane and Queensland have been badly let down by Echo – they have under-invested and underperformed. Queensland taxpayers are missing out … Continue reading →

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

Toowoomba very reliant on education sector – risk from higher ed reform

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Gene Tunny

An article in the Toowoomba Chronicle has reminded me just how significant the University of Southern Queensland has been to Toowoomba’s economic development and prosperity, and the USQ Vice-Chancellor is certainly right to be concerned about potential higher education policy … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Toowoomba, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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