Economic Reform Roundtable 2025: What it is, who’s attending and what’s on the agenda?

What is the Economic Reform Roundtable?

• A three-day event aimed at lifting living standards primarily by boosting productivity, which has stagnated in Australia and other Western countries
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised it will deliver long-lasting change to the government’s economic agenda

What is productivity?

• It’s about squeezing more from less, allowing wages to grow and helping build things better and faster, such as homes and clean energy infrastructure

Why is it important?

• Productivity has been in decline since 2016, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Treasurer Jim Chalmers has said the roundtable will make the economy more productive over time, helping to lift living standards and make people better off
• The summit follows the Reserve Bank of Australia’s downgrading of productivity growth from one per cent to 0.7 per cent

Ideas on the agenda

• Documents leaked before the summit suggest the government will consider cutting red tape to boost housing supply
• The Productivity Commission is calling for reduced regulation for artificial intelligence, while unions are calling for greater protections of workers from the risks of AI
• Proposals for tax reform, including calls from Independent MP Kate Chaney to increase Goods and Service Tax to 15 per cent
• A push from the Australian Council of Trade Unions for a four-day working week.

What are some concerns?

• Leaked Treasury advice raised concerns that the outcomes of the roundtable have already been pre-determined
• The government has already ruled out large changes to tax like negative gearing. Shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien warned the summit would be a “privileged talkfest” without the chance of meaningful outcome

Who is on the guest list?

• About 30 participants including leading economists, employers, business groups, unions and civil society representatives
• Prominent names include Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock, Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood, economist and policy adviser Ken Henry, independent MP Allegra Spender and NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey
• Some of the sectors represented include banking, universities, mining and superannuation
• The summit will run from August 19 to 21 at Parliament House in Canberra