Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Good Times, Bad Times
When the 2008 global financial crisis erupted, Queensland was ready to weather the
storm. An ongoing economic boom fuelled by tourism and mining was luring about 1000
Aussies per week into southeast Queensland in 2007. But the boom went bust: the global
economy stuttered and Queensland's growth slumped to just 0.2% in 2011. A depressed
housing market, downturns in manufacturing and construction, and falling tourism hit the
state. The soaring Australian dollar meant more spending power for Aussies overseas, but
hurt Queensland tourism and exports.
Things soon picked up though, with southeast Queensland in particular booming again
from 2012: growth promptly bounced back to around 4%. In other good news, the Gold
Coast's fledgling Australian Football League (AFL) team (the aptly named 'Suns') seems
to be dragging itself off the bottom of the AFL ladder, and the Gold Coast has been an-
nounced as the host of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. With a bit of luck, the new Gold
Coast Light Rail system will be up and running by then. And, if the hospitality and arts
sectors are any measure, Brisbane is also kicking goals, with a slew of new cafes, galleries
and small bars opening their doors in recent times.
Political Challenges
After 20-plus years of left-wing Labor government, Queenslanders elected conservative
Campbell Newman's Liberal National Coalition to office in 2012. Newman brought a new
swagger and confidence to the top job, befitting a state on the rise, but he has since been
causing ructions: a 42% pay rise for members of parliament; the decision not to introduce
daylight savings time in Queensland (country voters - comprising much of the Coalition's
supporter base - largely oppose daylight savings); and his plans to introduce Optional
Preferential Voting in Queensland for federal elections (at odds with the way the rest of
Australia votes, this system grants voters the ability to vote for a single candidate rather
than distributing preferences from most to least preferred). Newman's wind-back of laws
protecting the Wild Rivers area in Far North Queensland has also alarmed many, but des-
pite his abrasive style, Newman remains popular amongst the proletariat.
Meanwhile, renegade north Queensland federal MP Bob Katter has been ruminating
about north Queensland seceding from Queensland proper and becoming Australia's sev-
enth state - interesting times!
