‘Three priorities': Treasurer Jim Chalmers has outlined the key issues for discussion at the upcoming economic reform roundtable
The Albanese government will hold an economic roundtable event from August 19 to 21 in an effort to build consensus on reforms to boost Australia's productivity.
Speaking to Sky News Australia on Sunday, Treasurer Chalmers said he had been working to finalise the agenda over the past few weeks and would soon be issuing the next set of invites to the summit.
'It's been difficult, frankly, because there's been so much interest from my ministerial colleagues, from business leaders and land leaders and communities and others. That's a very good thing; that's a very welcome thing,' he told Sunday Agenda.
Mr Chalmers said productivity and economic reform were 'inseparable'.
'The productivity challenge is central to our economic reform efforts… but we're looking to build consensus on the next steps in that agenda,' the Treasurer said.
The federal Treasurer told Sky News the economic roundtable would be held over three days, with each day being focused on a different priority area.
'The first day will be resilience. The second day productivity, the third day budget sustainability,' he said.
'Those are the three priorities that I indicated at the Press Club when I fleshed out our thinking when it comes to this particular round table.'
The Treasurer said a range of topics would be contained within these priority areas.
'Tax will be part of the discussion. Productivity be part of the discussion. You can imagine a big focus on AI and technology, attracting capital and investment, quickening approvals, better regulation, an emphasis on people and skills; these are the sorts of things that people should expect central at the round table in August,' he said.
Asked whether the topic of budget sustainability would be viewed through an intergenerational lens, the Labor treasurer said this was not only an important consideration for budget sustainability but for all areas of his portfolio.
'The productivity challenge is all about… sustainably lifting wages over time so people can earn more and keep more of what they earn and provide for their loved ones. And we see that in intergenerational terms,' he said.
'So that is a big motivation for what we are putting together for the discussions in August, and a big influence on the work we do in July as well.
'Whether it's our international engagement, the work that I'm doing with states and the regulators, the work that I'm doing with peak organisations.'
The Treasurer said he had already had long discussions with leaders from the business community, the union movement, and others because he didn't want to 'waste this opportunity to build consensus around the next steps'.
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