PM announces national roundtable to boost productivity

SBS Australia

a day ago

"That footage was horrific." Anthony Albanese has voiced his support for the Australian journalist shot with a rubber bullet while covering immigration protests in Los Angeles. The PM praised Nine correspondent Lauren Tomasi, saying she was clearly identified as press, and should not have been targeted. "And so, we have already raised these issues with the US administration. We don't find it acceptable that it occurred and we think the role of the media is particularly important." As the incident garners international headlines, LA Police chief Jim McDonnel has also expressed his concern. " I know the situation you're referring to with the member of the media. We saw that we're very concerned about that and we're looking into that." But Anthony Albanese stopped short of committing to raising the incident at the G7, where he is expected to meet with President Donald Trump on the sidelines next week. "Discussions I have with the president, are discussions between myself and the president." There's little doubt those discussions will turn to tariffs, as Australia seeks an exemption from US import levies, and seeks to promote free and fair global trade. Speaking at the National Press Club today Mr Albanese's big announcement was on economic issues, particularly productivity growth. "Making our way forward depends on what all of us can work together to achieve, and that's why I've asked the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, to convene a roundtable to support and shape our government's growth and productivity agenda. At Parliament House in August, we'll bring together a group of leaders from the business community, the union movement and civil society." He says the government wants to build the broadest base possible to support further economic reform. The move has been welcomed by the Australian Industry Group. Chief Executive Innes Willox says Australia's productivity performance has been woeful, even before the pandemic, and the summit is perfectly timed. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Andrew McKellar also welcomed the news. "There are few more critical issues than productivity for the Australian economy. In the end, that's the only way that we're going to get sustainable increases in living standards going forward. So, from a business point of view, we're keen to participate. We will come with constructive ideas, suggestions how to improve productivity going forward. We want to see an ambitious agenda from the government. " Shadow Minister for Productivity and Deregulation Andrew Bragg blamed Labor for poor productivity and warned of the risk of another "Canberra talkfest". He says the Liberal Party is willing to be constructive but will judge the result on the volume of regulation removed and adoption of policies to promote private investment. Senator Bragg also called for an end to what he called "the war on small business". Andrew McKellar says he wants to see changes for small business too. " It's about doing things like cutting red tape, so making it easier for small business simply to comply, you know, to focus on doing the things that you know are better for business and better for people who are working in jobs. So, you know, it's not about working harder. It's about working smarter. It's about doing things simple, things like cutting red tape." The productivity roundtable has been quickly compared with the Jobs and Skills Summit Labor held in its first term, which received a mixed reception. Liberal MP for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie, offered this lukewarm reception on ABC Afternoon Briefing. "Productivity is absolutely a key issue in terms of the Australian economy at the moment, and may I say, has already been for years. We see a very sluggish Australian economy, multiple quarters of negative growth on a per capita basis, and the government's solution is a round table. Unbelievable. It's like the Job Summit 2.0, the next edition, the unions didn't get everything they wanted last time - they seemed to get most of what they wanted as far as I could tell - and now they go on in for more, but this time we're going to call it a productivity round table, and hope for the best." Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young was more positive - pushing for a greater focus on women's workforce participation. "Well one of the first and best things the Prime minister could do to boost productivity is to help more women participate in the workforce, and that would be by making childcare genuinely free, so that mums and dads can participate in the workforce, and know that their children will be cared for by good quality educators in an affordable manner." No doubt the unions and civil society will have their say at the roundtable too, if not before.