A leading provider of :
- Economic, statistical and demographic research & analysis
(Cummings Economics) - Market research
(Compass Research) - Economic and social impact assessments
(North Australia Research Group)
Specialising in northern and regional Australia
Features of this website include :
- Background on the firm's capability and key personnel.
- Access to information the firm regularly generates, especially on economic conditions and development in northern Australia.
- Access to some of the firm's extensive library of public reports and documents and papers and addresses by the firm's principal, W S (Bill) Cummings.
Some Recent Studies
Research projects during 2014-15-16-17 included:- Survey of 100 households and businesses in the Cape Tribulation / Daintree area re experiences with not being on the electricity grid.
- Economic Impact Benefit.
- Economic Impact proposed major resort project in the region.
- Economic Impact of a Retirement Village in Cooktown.
- Economic Impact Waterfront Development Cooktown.
- Economic Impact Sewerage Upgrading Mareeba.
- Economic Impact Community Solar Generation Project Cook Shire.
- Economic Impact of a Spinal Rehabilitation Facility Cairns.
- Review of Queensland State Infrastructure Plan.
- Preliminary Economic Impact Analysis, Proposed Southern Atherton Tablelands Irrigation Project.
- Economic Impact Possible National Sporting Body Headquarters Location, Ipswich.
- Potential Impacts on the costs of energy in the region including costs of electricity from determinations by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and QLD Productivity Commission hearings.
- Economic Impact Benefit Cost Analysis, Mareeba Wastewater Treatment Plant Refurbishment.
- Economic Impact Benefit Cost - Wharf Restoration Innisfail.
- Economic Impact Major Proposed Residential Development, Caravonica.
- Economic Impact : Proposed Mt Ruby Magnetite Mine and Shipment via Mourilyan.
- Analysis of trends in the demand for and supply of and prices achieved for hotel rooms and apartments in the Cairns area.
- Preparation of a Strategic Business Plan for Mandingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation, East Trinity.
- Economic Impact of Tourism in Tropical North QLD, Cassowary Coast, Tablelands, Douglas, Cook & Gulf area.
- Statistical profile and information for Mareeba Chamber of Commerce Annual Snapshot.
- Benefit Cost Analysis Mission Beach Aquatic Centre.
- Benefit Cost Analysis Upgrading Mareeba Airport.
- Benefit Coast Analysis Upgrading Old Narrow Beef Roads Sections of the Gulf Developmental Road.
- Benefit Cost Analysis Proposed New Charleston Dam Water Supply – Etheridge shire.
- Analysis and Submissions to Queensland Coordinator-General and Queensland Parliamentary Committee on Cairns Seaport Development.
- Research on Potential Economic Impacts of Failure to Upgrade Cairns and Mourilyan Seaport Facilities.
- Research comparative prices of Fruit and Vegetable Cairns retail outlets.
- Demographics of Cairns CBD Population in Buildings 4-storeys or more.
- Research into new wave of agricultural development and opportunity to develop agricultural education courses.
- Economic Impact of Pacific Patrol Boats contract.
- Economic Impact of NDRRA funding, Douglas Shire.
- Research and presentation to Cairns Chamber’s Emerging Leaders Program
- Major research into long-term population trends in regional Queensland and across northern Australia.
- Attendance at Global Food Forum Melbourne.
- Expenditure generated by Hospital Foundation Cardiac Challenge event.
- Economic Impact Botanica Project.
- Research and input into the development of the Northern Australia Green and White Papers.
- Research Urban Growth in Northern Australia.
Handshakes »
 |
The Cairns Chamber of Commerce is one of the leading business organisations in Cairns, established for over 100 years and a representative of the local business community. |
 |
Advance Cairns is the peak coordination agency for economic development in TNQ. Our vision is to develop a vibrant and sustainable regional economy that promotes and facilitates diverse employment, growth, social and lifestyle opportunities. |
 |
TTNQ is the peak regional visitor destination marketing organisation for Tropical North Queensland, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef. |
 |
Regional Development Australia (RDA) is an Australian Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to enhance the growth and development of Australia's regions. A national network of RDA committees has been established to achieve this objective. |
 |
One of the world's leading institutions focusing on the tropics, Australia's James Cook University is surrounded by the spectacular ecosystems of the rainforests of the Wet tropics, the dry savannahs, and the iconic Great Barrier Reef. Our unique location enables students from Australia and overseas to study in a diverse physical environment unparalleled by any university in the world. |
 |
Ports North has played a significant role in the growth and development of the region over the past 100 years. It has been managing the operations of the Port of Cairns since 1906, Ports North is committed to the community and our environment. |
 |
The Cairns Airport is Australia’s leading regional airport, providing air links to a range of domestic and international locations. |
 |
The Mareeba Chamber of Commerce is committed to business and community interests in Mareeba and surrounding districts. We provide a wide range of services to business including scheduling and co-ordination of a number of opportunities and events. |
 |
The Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Inc. aspires to be the communities' finest public leader within its market place. Dedicated to serving the business sector, with accessible information to changes or developments happening around us. |
 |
The RAI is Australia’s first national, apolitical, independent think tank devoted exclusively to regional issues. Our job is to conduct research into priority policy areas for regional Australia. |
 |
Cairns and PNG are ideally positioned to be trade partners. Economic, social and cultural links are strong, and the respective Chambers of Commerce work cooperatively and productively. |
Links »
> Australian Bureau of Statistics> Australian Market and Social Research Society
> The Economic Society of Australia
> Regional Science Association Australia and New Zealand Section Inc.
Publications »
Cairns Chamber of Commerce
Yearbook 2017
SOME INFORMATION RELEASES »
.July, 2018
Winning Through
Economic Trends & Prospects for Cairns and the Tropical North Queensland Region
Bill Cummings presented his annual review of the region's economy to the Cairns Chamber of Commerce on 24th July 2018.
2.5mb (pdf presentation)
88.8kb (pdf text) RefJ3171May, 2018
Cairns Region - Leading Population Growth in Northern Australia and in Regional Queensland
Papers prepared for Cairns Regional Council sets out how the Cairns region has led long-term population growth across the North and in regional Queensland and projects forward to 2050. Importantly, the papers explain why this has happened.
1.34mb (pdf note) RefJ3131June, 2018
Statistical Note: 2018/19 Capital Expenditure Regional Comparisons
The following gives an analysis of the 2018-19 State budget capital expenditure (purchases) by region compared with population and movements over the last 5 years.
548kb (pdf note) RefJ3168June, 2018
Statistical Note: Hospital Funding Cairns Region Compared
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital & Health Service now accounts for the largest number of hospital admissions in regional Queensland.
639kb (pdf note) RefJ3150November, 2017
Economic Activity Potentially Affected by a Change of Use of Cairns Seaport's Working Port Buffer Zone
A proposal mooted to put community facilities, this time in the form of the proposed extension of the Convention Centre, into the Buffer Zone of the Cairns Seaport "Working Port" rather than other alternatives has raised the question again of the value of trade and jobs accounted for by the general cargo wharves that would potentially be negatively affected.
280kb (pdf note) RefJ3118November, 2017
Employment & Unemployment Statistics - A Warning
Note on employment & unemployment in the Cairns region and other regional areas in Queensland.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Labour Force Series is notoriously inaccurate in providing an indication of employment/unemployment levels and trends at a regional level.
The recent availability of 2016 Census Labour Force data gives an opportunity to check on reliability of the ABS Labour Force Series. The availability of data on registered unemployed receiving unemployment benefits also gives an opportunity to check reliability of movements indicated by the ABS Labour Force Series over the last 12 months.
The analysis in the first note clearly indicates that:
- The ABS Labour Force unemployment rates recorded at the time of the August 2016 Census were up to 30% wrong at regional level.
- Over the period 2011 to 2016, the ABS Labour Force Series was invariably inaccurate and at variance with what actually happened to employed workforce. In the Cairns region, the ABS Labour Force Series indicated that the employed workforce fell by 9200 between 2011 and 2016. Census information shows it actually grew by 3300.
The dramatic fall in numbers unemployed showed by the ABS series over the last 12 months is not borne out by figures for registered unemployed on unemployment benefits that actually rose slightly over the same period.
414kb (pdf note) RefJ3114ANovember, 2017
Note on youth and indigenous unemployment in the Cairns region.
This note analyses Census 2016 workforce data which indicates:
- Youth unemployment rates are about double those for the total population but the Cairns region’s rates are no higher than for Queensland overall.
- The youth and total unemployment rates are extremely high for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.
- If the higher proportion of workforce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in the Cairns region is taken into account, the Cairns region’s youth and total population unemployment rates were lower than the State average.
417kb (pdf note) RefJ3114BOctober, 2017
Survey : Impact of Higher Electricity Prices on Businesses in Regional Queensland
Compass Research carried out surveys of businesses on the question over the period July to early October 2017 in the four representative regional districts of Queensland.- Mareeba : Far North Queensland : Agricultural
- Southern Downs : Southern Queensland : Agricultural
- Mt Isa : Western Queensland : Mining
- Whitsundays : Central/Northern Queensland : Tourism
Copies of the resulting reports including an overall report can be accessed by checking on www.quen.com.au
July, 2017
The New Wave : Keeping it Rolling
Trends & Prospects for the Cairns / Tropical North QLD Regional Economy
Bill Cummings presented his annual review of the economy to the Cairns Chamber of Commerce on 28th July 2017.1.5mb (pdf presentation)
149kb (pdf text) RefJ2992July, 2017
Intercensal Population Growth
Analysis of intercensal population growth by usual place of residence indicated that over the period 2011 to 2016 the long-term pattern in regional Queensland continued with the Cairns/TNQ leading in growth followed by Wide Bay, and across the North the Cairns/TNQ region leading followed by he Northern Territory.
293kb (pdf note)March, 2017
Statistical Note: Population Growth 2015-16
The Cairns/Peninsula Australia (Tropical North Queensland) region continued a long-term trend of leading the way in regional population growth across the North and in regional Queensland outside the southeast corner.
280kb (pdf note) Ref:J3071
March, 2017
Statistical Note: Level of Government building approvals major Northern Australian Regions
Illustrates the extremely low level of comparative Government Building Approvals in the Cairns Region over the past 5 years.
208kb (pdf note) Ref:J3080
March, 2017
Newspaper readership
Gives latest data on newspaper readership of major regional dailies indicating that the Cairns Post is right up there with Canberra, Townsville and ahead of Geelong & Sunshine Coast papers.
250kb (pdf note) Ref:J3081
February, 2017
"Learning the Economic Lessons of the Past 10 Years"
Address to the Cairns Forum for Business Growth (F4BG) outlining how the Cairns Economy has been heavily influenced and damaged by decisions at national and state level affecting fiscal and monetary policy, the Australian dollar and government spending levels in the region.
1.5mb (pdf presentation)
135kb (pdf text) RefJ3059January, 2017
Statistical Note: Job Seeker Numbers
Analysis of latest job seeker numbers indicates that unemployment in the Cairns Region has peeked and is moving back down again, but has been continuing to rise in the Mackay and Rockhampton regions.
938kb (pdf note) Ref:J3032
November, 2016
A Review of the Cairns Economy provided to Cairns Chamber of Commerce
295kb (pdf text) RefJ3028September, 2016
Presentation on the Cairns Economy
W S (Bill) Cummings presented a review of the Cairns Economy to the Cairns Professional Accountants Association.
2.12mb (pdf presentation)
146kb (pdf text) RefJ3015
August, 2016
Cairns and Ageing
The following is a comment provided to the Cairns Sun.
28kb (pdf note) Ref:J3001
July, 2016
Achieving "Lift Off"
Trends & Prospects for the Cairns / Tropical North QLD Economy
Bill Cummings presented his annual review of the economy to the Cairns Chamber of Commerce on 26th July 2016. 2mb (pdf presentation)
149kb (pdf text) RefJ2992