A leading provider of :


Specialising in northern and regional Australia


Features of this website include :



Some Current Studies »


Information on Papua New Guniea

Cummings Economics have carried out substantial research work on Papua New Guinea, including its geography, histories, government structures, social patterns, economy, trade and financial situation.

Transport Infrastructure Needs in the Cairns/Tablelands Region

Bill Cummings will again address the Mareeba Chamber of Commerce Annual Economic Forum to be held in Mareeba on 29th July 2011 on “Future Transport Infrastructure Needs in the Cairns/Tablelands Region”.

Tourism in the Cassowary Coast Area

Cummings Economics have been pleased to assist Cassowary Coast Regional Council with establishing the value of tourism in the area and demand for marine facilities to assist with targeting post Yasi cyclone recovery funding.

Future Workforce Needs in the Cairns Economy

Cairns Regional Council have commissioned the North Australia Research Group / Cummings Economics to carry out a study to identify likely future workforce needs in Cairns on a 5 to 10-year time frame.

First phase of the study has been to look back at what has happened in the past and the lessons to be learnt about the dynamics of the region’s economy and workforce composition before seeking to project forward. The study is being conducted with input from employment agencies, education/training institutions and regional business groups to help identify issues that need to be addressed.

Demand for Aerodromes in the Cassowary Coast Region

Cummings Economics have been commissioned by Cassowary Coast Regional Council to carry out studies into likely future demand for the Council’s aerodromes in the Cassowary Coast area at Innisfail, Tully and Dallachy (near Cardwell).

Tourism Contribution to the Regional Economy

Cummings Economics have been pleased to assist Tourism Tropical North Queensland define the important role of tourism in the regional economy and the likely impacts of the industry increasing tourism takings in the region by $1bn.

Papua New Guinea Shipping Study - 2010

Major mining & economic development in Papua New Guinea represents an opportunity to further extend Cairns leading role in Northern Australia in the supply of goods and services northwards into Papua New Guinea, the Pacific & Papua Indonesia. Ports North have commissioned North Australia Research Group comprised of Cummings Economics, Amstec Logistics Consultants, Blockey Consulting and the Robert Bird Group to carry out studies to develop a business case for new shipping services to Papua New Guinea and requisite infrastructure development at Cairns and other Ports North Seaports.

Regional Freight Patterns

Cummings Economics are currently assisting Flanagan Consultants with economic research and input on likely future freight patterns in the region and issues to help in the formulation of transport strategies for the region.

Regional Development “Road Map”

Cummings Economics were pleased to assist Regional Development Australia Far North Queensland and Torres Strait with a profile of the region’s economy and trends including illustrative statistical data as part of their process in developing their Regional Road Map.

Transport Impacts

Cummings Economics in association with logistics consulting firm AMSTEC recently carried out Transport Impact Studies for the major proposed Copper String line project to link Townsville to Mt Isa.

Mareeba Chamber Economic Snapshot

Cummings Economics are again assisting the Mareeba Chamber of Commerce with their Annual Economic Snapshot report with statistical data and commentary on the economy.

Pongamia/Bio Diesels

Pongamia also known as Millettia is an exciting new potential tree crop for the tropics as a source of bio diesels. Further information about the Millettia can be found on www.millettiaplantations.com

Various work by Cummings Economics in recent years has been tracking the crop’s development and prospects. It is a native of the region, but also of India, where the beans have been used for thousands of years since Vedic times as a source of lamp oil

The Far North Future in Forestry

Increasing restrictions on forestry in south east Queensland is leading the industry to look to the Far North as a growing source to meet Queensland’s future timber needs. Failure of some ‘Managed Investment Scheme’ forestry projects has caused turmoil in the sector and the Queensland Government’s sale of the pine plantations in the north has added a further factor in the equation. Various recent work has led Cummings Economics to research and evaluate the sector and conclude it could be worth looking beyond the current situation.

Rugby League

Cummings Economics are providing support for Rugby League in the region through researching and estimating the economic activity the code generates in addition to that recently researched for the Northern Pride.

Cairns Amateurs

Cummings Economics are currently carrying out studies into the value of the Cairns Amateurs to the regional economy.


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.

You may recognise Tropical North Queensland (TNQ) as a world famous tourism destination in Australia, but here at Think TNQ you will also learn what it has to offer in terms of opportunities for business, investment and lifestyle.

www.cairnsgreatbarrierreef.org.au is the official website of Nature's Theme Park. The only place on earth where the world heritage listed Daintree rainforest meets the 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.

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 Far North Queensland Ports Corporation Limited has the enjoyable task of operating the Ports of Cairns, Cape Flattery, Cooktown, Burketown, Karumba, Mourilyan, Quintell Beach, Skardon River and the Port of Thursday Island in one of the world’s most spectacular regions.

The Cairns Airport is Australia’s leading regional airport, providing air links to a range of domestic and international locations.


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.



SOME INFORMATION RELEASES »


August.2011
Annual Presentation to the Cairns Chamber of Commerce

Bill cummings presented his annual address to the Cairns Chamber of Commerce on the Cairns Economy titled "Economic Prospects in a changed Global Economy".


66kb(pdf text) 1.9mb(ppsx presentation) RefJ2478

August.2011
Are Impacts Broader than Beef

Bill cummings presented an address to the Live Exports Ban Impacts - Pratical Recovery & Restructure Conference Georgetown on 12th August 2011 on the subject "Are Impacts Broader than Beef - The Value of the Beef Industry to the Regional Economy" Link to Agenda


106kb(pdf text) 1.5mb(ppsx presentation) RefJ2475

July.2011
Population Projections for Cairns & Far North Queensland

Sate Government long term projections of population growth for Cairns & the region have almost without exception proved to be underestimates. This note compares past projections with what has actually happened. It identifies that if the projections of the 1980's & 1990.s had been realised, Cairns Statistical Sub Division would now have a population of 122,000 compared with actual expected for 2011 of about 153,000. Against this background current State Government projections at 1.9% per annum compared with the city's continuing long term average of 3% per aunnum are questionable.
226kb(pdf text) RefJ2429

July.2011
Sorting out the Far Norths Logistics

Bill cummings presented an address to the Mareeba Chamber of Commerce Tablelands Economic Forum on 29th July 2011 that emphasised the need in the current changed world economy to upgrade road, rail & seaport transport infrastructure in the region with particular emphasis on the need to upgrade the Kuranda Range Road to take B-Double size freight vehicals if renewed opportunities for mining & agricultural expansions were to be realised.


117kb(pdf text) 844kb(pdf presentation) RefJ2456

July.2011
Cairns’ Hinterland Population Outstripping that of Townsville by a Wide Margin

Latest population statistics indicate the degree to which Cairns is now the capital of the north Australia’s most populous and fastest growing region. Over the period, 2001 to 2010, the region’s residential population grew by 51,000 to 280,000 compared with the Townsville region growth of 41,000 to 261,000.

Cairns’ hinterland population grew by 13,000 from 116,000 to 129,000 compared with Townsville’s hinterland that grew by 3,000 only to stand at 88,000. Cairns’ hinterland population is now 41,000 or 50% more than that of Townsville.

The two cities however each grew by 38,000.

Growth in Estimated Residential Population, 2001 to 2010
Townsville Cairns Townsville Hinterland Cairns Hinterland Total Townville Area Total Cairns Area
2001 134,072 112,932 85,475 116,292 219,547 229,224
2010 172,316 150,920 88,403 129,229 260,719 280,149
Growth No. 38,243 37,988 2,938 12,935 41,172 50,925
% Growth +29% +34% +3% +11% +19% +22%
Source: Cummings Economics from ABS data

Note: Cairns region defined as Far North Qld Statistical Division plus Gulf Shires of North West Division. Townsville region defined as Northern Statistical Division plus Mt Isa & North West Statistical Division less Gulf Shires.

June.2011
Relations Between Australia & Papua New Guinea in an Age of Opportunity

On 16th June, Bill Cummings presented an address to the PNG Gas Developments Conference held in Cairns on the subject “Relations Between Australia & Papua New Guinea in an Age of Opportunity” that highlighted the growing economic strengths of the northern regions of Australia and their growing role in strengthening relations between Australia and PNG.


111kb(pdf text) 4.7mb(ppsx presentation) RefJ2423

April.2011
Economic Prospects for Cairns Over the Next Few Years

Bill Cummings presented an address on “Economic Prospects for Cairns Over the Next Few Years” to the Cairns Board of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Q’ld on 8th April and the Board of Regional Development Australia FNQ & Torres Strait on 29th April.


103kb(pdf text) 1mb(ppsx presentation) RefJ2446

04.April.2011
ABS 2009/10 Population Figures - Good News for Cairns Region

Latest ABS residential population data recording 2.6% growth in 2009/10 for Cairns & 2.0% for the Cairns Region (Far North Queensland) statistical division area. Good news for the Cairns Economy
86kb(pdf text) RefJ2435

18.March.2011
Tablelands – Economic Snapshot, 2011

Bill Cummings presented an address to the Mareeba Chamber of Commerce at the launch of the Mareeba Chamber Annual Report "Strength in Diversity - An Economic Snapshot". For copies of the report contact Mareeba Chamber of Commerce, Tel 40926050 or promotion@mareebachamber.com.au


3.9mb(ppsx presentation) RefJ2416

9.March.2011
Economic Prospects for Cairns Over the Next Few Years

Bill Cummings presented an address to Cairns Branch of Marine Queensland on the 9th March 2011, addressing likely future prospects, especially for the residential marine market. In the process, it looks at the ups and downs of the Cairns economy since the 1980’s and the underlying factors causing strong accelerations and slow downs against a background of strong long term average growth of population around 3% per annum over each of the past three decades.

87kb(pdf text) 750kb(ppsx presentation) RefJ2413

13.September.2010
The Primary Industries in the Regional Economies of Northern Queensland

Bill Cummings presented a paper to the AGInvest Forum, CAIRNS 2010, giving details of the full value of the primary industries (agriculture, livestock, fishing and forest industries), in the Far North, North and North West Statistical Divisions. The research included both pre farm-gate and post farm-gate activities including processing, transport, merchanting, and other value added and associated government and education services. The study values the sector’s turnover at $3.3bn with direct employment of over 17,000 with ‘flow-on’ employment generated estimated at a further 21,000. It is estimated that the sector’s value add to the regional economy including ‘flow-on’ impacts accounts for about 14% of Gross Regional Value Added.
58kb(pdf text) 2.56mb(pps presentation) RefJ2315

For a full copy of the Research Paper

The Contribution of the Primary Industries Sector to Northern Queensland Regional Economies.
859kb(pdf text) RefJ2315

September.2010
Modeling the Regional Economies of Northern Queensland – Input Output Analysis

The North Australia Research Group has prepared a paper as background to work carried out by Cummings Economics in relation to measuring the contribution of the Primary Industries Sector to Northern Regional Economics.

Inter alia the paper uses Australian Bureau of Statistics National Input/Output Multiplier data modified to take account of the structure of the northern regional economies to construct input/output multipliers and Gross Regional Value Added estimates for the Far North, North and North West Statistical Divisions.

It is envisaged that the estimates derived will be regarded as initial and will provide the basis for further research to more closely reflect actual industry structures and relationships in the regions as opposed to using national industry averages. The work also identified a need to improve methodology to take account of the different impact of mining fly-in/fly-out workforce as opposed to being employed in mining locally and to better account for where gross operating surpluses in the mining sector were actually spent.
1.2mb(pdf text) RefJ2315

Recent Key Information Releases Archive ...