The state of the economy at the street level

[Smurf1976]

As an engineer I have found that there are two types of electricians, the ones that treat their craft as a profession who upskill and develop a pretty good understanding of electricity, switchboard and electrical standards. These are the top guys.

Agreed and there's also other people who display aptitude toward things.

One that comes to mind was employed as a cleaning contractor at a power station. That's normal cleaning nothing specialised - clean the toilets, vacuum the floor in the office, normal cleaning same as anywhere else.

Long story short they asked some seriously detailed technical questions to confirm what they'd read as to how the power station worked and the role of that station in the broader system.

After that they were promptly employed as a technical trainee.

As I've said many times, never judge anyone by their current occupation. What someone's doing now tells you only that, it doesn't tell you what they're capable of.

 

[Darc Knight]

Anyone else think that the condition of our Roads are a good Barometer of the State's budget.
QLD's budget has been well and truly strained due to natural disasters and our Roads are currently woeful - potholes everywhere.

 

[SirRumpole]

Anyone else think that the condition of our Roads are a good Barometer of the State's budget.
QLD's budget has been well and truly strained due to natural disasters and our Roads are currently woeful - potholes everywhere.

They probably won't spend anything until the end of the FY now when they are trying to justify their budget for next year.

 

[Darc Knight]

They probably won't spend anything until the end of the FY now when they are trying to justify their budget for next year.

Yep, but it's been bad for years now. You don't see road crews filling pot holes anymore. Brisbane roads are atrocious. You agree @wayneL ?

 

[Smurf1976]

Yep, but it's been bad for years now. You don't see road crews filling pot holes anymore. Brisbane roads are atrocious.

State government roads or local government roads?

 

[Darc Knight]

State government roads or local government roads?

Sobering thought. It's not just our Main Roads but local government controlled roads and streets which are bad. Everyone needs more funding, bad.
You can see why 4wd and SUV sales now outstrip normal car sales don't they. Almost need a 4wd to get around Brissy.

 

[wayneL]

Yep, but it's been bad for years now. You don't see road crews filling pot holes anymore. Brisbane roads are atrocious. You agree @wayneL ?

Yep, but I reckon the design is worse... Convoluted weirdness, bottlenecks, criss crossing routs on major highways, and slipramps tha just spit you straight out into freeways, oh and the extortion of the tunnels.

Worst roads in Australia.

 

[wayneL]

...not to mention mean spirited, revenue collecting speed traps.

 

[moXJO]

Shopping centers seem crowded in parts of nsw.
Haven't seen it this packed for a while. I'm not sure what the retail figures are. Food court is always packed, big expensive stores- not so much.

Bunnings still getting a crowd as well.

 

[qldfrog]

Opposite vision here north brisbane, went shopping wo crazy crowd for xmas prep

 

[moXJO]

Opposite vision here north brisbane, went shopping wo crazy crowd for xmas prep

Before Christmas and even Christmas eve, shops were very quiet for the time of year. But its been packed here once the sales hit.
People are looking for bargains perhaps.

"Retail figures" and how much people are saving for emergencies (or if at all) currently would be interesting.

 

[sptrawler]

Siege in Perth, from the news apparently the couple in their 60's, were going to be evicted from their PPR.
The sad reality, of getting old with debt, and no time to turn the problem around.
Pretty horrific, IMO.

https://thewest.com.au/news/perth-h...ital-after-five-hour-stand-off-ng-b881080854z

 

[qldfrog]

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/na...nd-business-in-the-lurch-20190117-p50rxp.html
Small business screwed up..and such a shame for the project and our taxes gone in smoke..not even considering the environmental cost

 

[sptrawler]

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/na...nd-business-in-the-lurch-20190117-p50rxp.html
Small business screwed up..and such a shame for the project and our taxes gone in smoke..not even considering the environmental cost

I don't think this will be the last fail, connected to the push to renewables, easy money to be made by shonky operators. Head down and keep running, is the call of the day.

 

[sptrawler]

Siege in Perth, from the news apparently the couple in their 60's, were going to be evicted from their PPR.
The sad reality, of getting old with debt, and no time to turn the problem around.
Pretty horrific, IMO.

https://thewest.com.au/news/perth-h...ital-after-five-hour-stand-off-ng-b881080854z

An update on the siege couple, apparently they were involved in a business several years ago, that went bad. It's sad what life can dish out to you, even if you try your best, they were obviously too proud to try the 'go fund me' path.
It just sounds like a very sad situation. IMO
Maybe bankruptcy and the pension, was a better choice.

https://www.aussiestockforums.com/t...at-the-street-level.28455/reply?quote=1011181

 

[Smurf1976]

Small business screwed up..and such a shame for the project and our taxes gone in smoke..not even considering the environmental cost

My view is that the law is deficient here in allowing those responsible to get away with it and pass the buck.

It happens far too often and it's time these highly paid Directors, CEO's and so on were held fully to account.

 

[basilio]

I think a very dangerous situation is developing with the potential problems surrounding many new high rise apartments. The Opal Towers issue threatens the financial future of hundreds of people. The situation is unlikely to be limited to just that instance.
Knock on effects for the banks as well as people who effectively lose very large amounts on such buildings.

'We've reached a crisis point': Experts decry ACT building industry
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The overwhelming majority of high-rise apartment buildings in Canberra are likely to have major defects, industry experts have estimated, with one warning the territory's construction industry has reached "crisis point".

Experts in engineering, waterproofing and strata law have told The Canberra Times that structural and design flaws would, in their estimations, exist in most new high-rise developments in the nation's capital, ranging from minor to more significant.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/na...ry-act-building-industry-20190101-p50p4i.html

 

[SirRumpole]

China, not the house price downturn, the major risk to Australia's economy, says Deloitte

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01...ice-downturn-the-major-risk-deloitte/10750342

 

[qldfrog]

As i i discussed on other threads, i felt a serious slow down in china when there last 2 weeks agaist the situation in let's say august/ September.i would forecast a chinese gov incentive with matching up trend in our bhp rio shares but there is structural flaw in china and in my opinion it will not take long for that surge of australian optimism to collapse.talking couple weeks not months.time will tell

 

[sptrawler]

I found this article very interesting, sounds as though we are standing on the edge of a cliff, it will be interesting to see if we step off.

https://thewest.com.au/business/mar...o-end-banks-profit-margin-pain-ng-b881083773z

Whatever happens, the changes to NG,CG etc will certainly change the dynamics, one way or another.
Very uncertain times IMO, my gut feeling is, we are in for a change of living standards across the board.
Just my opinion.