There has been a dearth of exposure in the media, but the Business Council of Australia is proposing a revamp of the education system that would be nothing short of a revolution. The BCA wants Australia to develop a culture of lifelong learning and to abandon the dichotomy between Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training,…
The development of infrastructure – the key to economic growth – has languished in recent years due to the global financial crisis and the mining industry downturn. The need for additional and improved infrastructure in Queensland remains acute so, with the economy improving, albeit slowly, what is the outlook for the state? Some months ago, the…
Recently, we highlighted the $8.4 billion investment the Federal Government has budgeted to make in the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project and the benefits it could deliver to South East Queensland. The 1,700km-long standard-gauge project will link to Queensland’s narrow-gauge system at the 15,610 hectare Bromelton State Development Area, near Beaudesert, where some 1,800…
In a previous newsletter, we addressed the importance of infrastructure to economic growth. We suggested Australia’s governments, for many years, had failed to adequately address the need for infrastructure, leaving the nation facing a mammoth task and worrisome costs. In Queensland, the condition of the Bruce Highway highlights the problem. As pointed out, the cost of making…
The choice of the Gold Coast as the host city for the 2018 Commonwealth Games is a boon for which most global tourist destinations can only dream. Thousands of overseas visitors will experience Australia’s tourism capital – and the city’s accommodation providers, recreational venue operators and restaurateurs will be hoping the event will lead to significantly increased…
Reflecting on the heady days ahead of the global financial crisis when banks were shelling out loans to developers, and businesses generally, as though the good times would never end, one cannot fail to remark the changes that have occurred since in the funds market. It was a time when businesses were encouraged to borrow to…
The New Year is upon us, however, as we move into 2017, we should not turn our back to 2016 without noting that its close was accompanied by the unveiling of Australia’s first City Deal. The deal, announced in December, will see the Australian and Queensland governments work with Townsville City Council and private industry…
As we move towards 2017 – and with the outcome of the November 8 United States presidential election behind us – it is easy to forget about any change that may lie ahead. After all, other United States elections have had little direct impact on Australia whose close relationship with the Western superpower has, for…