Comments on: Fifteen turbulent years of Australia’s economy, in graphs

By: John Molloy

John Molloy — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:45:40 +0000

I know NSW is a problem, but the graphs are not corrected for population changes Queensland for example has had a relative increase in population compared with NSW. That’s why they are gaining federal seats, and we are losing them.

The NSW problem is not as bad as it appears here.

By: Bernard Keane

Bernard Keane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:04:40 +0000

I’ll cop to the criticism from Taswegians. Indeed, Eleri from Crikey queried me too. But… too small and didn’t actually change - I think the change in 17 years was 0.1%.

By: Roger Clifton

Roger Clifton — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:46:13 +0000

Calling our ageing population a timebomb appears to assume that age pensions are paid from the income tax of youngsters. If however, we tax the economy directly, such as GST or carbon tax, the threat vanishes.

By: Evan Beaver

Evan Beaver — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:58:31 +0000

Agreed, no need for me to ‘bear with you’ on this BK. A thoroughly informative and properly investigated article. Must be the first journalism ever included on Crikey? (if you believe Hartigan).

The massive decline in manufacturing is not just a hunch here either. I’d heard mention of it and never seen the numbers, but, well, there you go. I would argue that the rise of China is a large part of the reason?

But yes, great article, and good to see some graphs for a change.

By: Mark Duffett

Mark Duffett — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:08:46 +0000

I know Tasmania’s small, but surely not so small as to be invisible at this scale?

Otherwise, some very nice graph porn, thanks BK.