PATHWAYS TO GROWTH: THE REFORM IMPERATIVE 2014 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL OUTLOOK CONFERENCE Thursday 3 and Friday 4 July 2014
Program Day One - Thursday 3 July 2014 8.45 - 9.05AM
SESSION 1: OPENING
Introduction
Mr Paul Kelly, Editor-at-Large, The Australian
Speakers
Professor Glyn Davis AC, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Melbourne
9.05 - 10.40AM
SESSION 2: FACING THE HEADWINDS
Setting out the economic context from global, national and labour market perspectives. Why has the recovery from the 2008 crisis been so faltering and what are the implications of the unwinding of extraordinary monetary support from the Federal Reserve and other central banks? The surge in resource investment from 2006 to 2012 may have been located in remote parts of Australia but brought spill-over benefits to the entire nation, enabling it to achieve outstanding economic growth at a time of global stagnation. As resource investment winds down, to what extent will these gains be reversed? How are these tensions reshaping the labour force? Who is being left behind?
Chair
Professor Judith Sloan, Professorial Fellow, Melbourne Institute, The University of Melbourne
Speakers
Professor Warwick McKibbin, Chair in Public Policy, ANU Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University Mr Chris Richardson, Director, Deloitte Access Economics Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark, Ronald Henderson Professor and Director, Melbourne Institute
10.40 - 11.00AM
MORNING TEA
11.00AM - 12.30PM
SESSION 3: SUSTAINABLE BUDGETING: TAILORING WHAT WE WANT TO WHAT WE’LL PAY FOR THIS SESSION IS SPONSORED BY THE ECONOMIC SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA
Both commonwealth and state government spending has been allowed to grow beyond a level that is supported by the current tax base. What are the longer term implications, drawing upon Productivity Commission research, the findings of the new government’s audit commission and Labor’s critique of the government’s budget strategy?
Chair
Professor Gary Banks AO, Dean, Australia and New Zealand School of Government
Speakers
The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Shadow Treasurer Professor John Daley, Chief Executive Officer, Grattan Institute Dr Peter J. Boxall AO, Chairman, Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal
12.30 - 2.00PM
LUNCH: THE BUDGET CHALLENGE
Chair
Mr David Uren, Economics Editor, The Australian
Speaker
The Hon Joe Hockey MP, Treasurer
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PATHWAYS TO GROWTH: THE REFORM IMPERATIVE 2014 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL OUTLOOK CONFERENCE Thursday 3 and Friday 4 July 2014 2.10 - 3.40PM
SESSION 4: CONCURRENT SESSION 4A: HOW TO GET EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION RIGHT
Chair Speakers
SESSION 4C: TRADE AND INVESTMENT: SESSION 4B: CAN THE COMMONWEALTH HOW TO BUILD REGIONAL DRIVE INFRASTRUCTURE? RELATIONSHIPS
It is recognised that the first few years of life are critical to future success in education and yet there is no coherent national, or even state, based approach to the provision of early childhood education, with a mixture of ad hoc private sector and council based pre-school services. What should be done and how should government support be focussed amid the various calls for child care support, preschool, and parental leave?
Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants to use his office to drive the development of Australia’s infrastructure. However infrastructure has traditionally been state government responsibility. The Commonwealth’s huge NBN investment sounds a warning to advocates of “think big” projects. What is required to fulfil the prime ministers’ ambition in this area?
Mr Mark Burford, Executive Director, Mitchell Institute of Health and Education Policy The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Assistant Minister for Education Ms Julia Davison, Chief Executive Officer, Goodstart Early Learning
Mr Michael Woods, Deputy Chair, Productivity Commission
Trade with Asia has soared over the past two decades, but bilateral investment remains low. How does Australia lift investment and trade with China and the region? What does Australia need to do to strengthen its regional relationships?
Professor Ross Garnaut AO, Professorial Research Fellow, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Melbourne The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Shadow Minister for Communications Minister for Trade and Investment Mr Paul Broad, Managing Director and Professor Kerry Brown, Executive Chief Executive Officer, Snowy Hydro Director, China Studies Centre, The Limited University of Sydney Professor Steve Zubrick, Winthrop Professor Henry Ergas, Senior Economic Mr Andrew Michelmore, Chief Professor, Centre for Child Health Adviser, Deloitte Australia and Professor Executive Officer, MMG Limited Research, University of Western Australia of Infrastructure Economics, SMART Infrastructure Facility, University of Wollongong
3.40 - 4.00PM
AFTERNOON TEA
4.00 - 5.20PM
SESSION 5: END OF THE AGE OF ENTITLEMENT
Payments to individuals account for about 40 per cent of all commonwealth outlays. The National Disability Insurance Scheme and new Paid Parental Leave illustrate the continuing pressure to expand entitlements to government support. How should limits be imposed and what is the dividing line between public support and private self-reliance. A debate between social services minister Kevin Andrews and shadow spokesperson, Jenny Macklin.
Moderator
Ms Patricia Karvelas, Victorian Editor and Bureau Chief, The Australian
Speakers
The Hon Kevin Andrews MP, Minister for Social Services The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments and Disability Reform
7.00 FOR 7.30PM
CONFERENCE DINNER: SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY
Venue
Olympic Room, Melbourne Cricket Ground
Chair
Mr Paul Kelly, Editor-at-Large, The Australian
Keynote Speaker
The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister of Australia
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PATHWAYS TO GROWTH: THE REFORM IMPERATIVE 2014 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL OUTLOOK CONFERENCE Thursday 3 and Friday 4 July 2014
Program Day Two - Friday 4 July 2014 8.30 - 10.00AM
SESSION 6: CHANGING CLIMATE ON CLIMATE CHANGE
The abolition of Australia’s market-based carbon emissions scheme comes as a number of countries are relying more upon regulatory rather than market based measures to control emissions. However market based pricing continues to be explored in pilot schemes and at sub-national levels in China, the United States, Japan and Canada. Where is the debate heading, and what does it mean for Australia’s power industry?
Chair
Mr Michael Woods, Deputy Chair, Productivity Commission
Speakers
The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for the Environment Professor Ross Garnaut AO, Professorial Research Fellow, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Melbourne Mr Matthew Warren, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Supply Association of Australia
10.20AM - 12.00PM
Chair
Speakers
SESSION 7: CONCURRENT SESSION 7A: THE PRODUCTIVE WORKPLACE
SESSION 7B: PUTTING INCENTIVE BACK INTO FEDERALISM
SESSION 7C: WRONG TAX SYSTEM FOR THE DIGITAL AGE
The role of industrial relations in unlocking productivity improvement was recognised by all parties 25 years ago with the shift to enterprise bargaining, yet the last decade has seen constant upheaval in the regulation of workplace relations. What is the current wisdom on productivity in the workplace, and what have we learned from the experience of both the Workchoices and Fairwork regimes?
Australia’s federation is marked by overlapping responsibilities, different levels of government being in charge of raising taxes and budget spending, and a system designed to impose uniformity of outcome on very different state governments. How should relations between commonwealth and state governments be restructured to give all sides the greatest incentive to improve their efficiency and service delivery?
Company income provides about 20 per cent of all tax revenue and about 300 companies account for 80 per cent of that. However, in the digital age, companies have increasing choice over where they locate their income, and global authorities appear to be losing the battle against “base erosion” and profit shifting. High skilled individuals also have increasing discretion over where they earn their income. Increasing attention being given to expenditure taxes as a more secure form government revenue. What is the potential of this approach in the government’s forthcoming tax review?
Dr Matthew Butlin, Chair, Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission
Dr Pradeep Philip, Secretary, Department of Health
Professor Peter Gahan, Professor of Management and Director, Centre for Workplace Leadership, The University of Melbourne Professor Judith Sloan, Honorary Professorial Fellow, Melbourne Institute, The University of Melbourne
Professor Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute
Professor Kevin Davis, Professor of Finance, Department of Finance, The University of Melbourne Mr Rob Heferen, Executive Director, Revenue Group, Department of the Treasury
Mr Tim Lyons, Assistant Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions
Dr Vince FitzGerald, Director, ACIL Allen Professor Chris Evans, Professor of Consulting Taxation, Atax, Australian School of Business, The University of New South Wales Mr Richard Bolt, Secretary, Department Mr Alf Capito, Senior Tax Partner and of Education and Early Childhood Leader, Tax Policy Group in Asia Pacific, Development Ernst & Young
12.10 - 1.30PM
LUNCH: THE LABOR ALTERNATIVE
Chair
Professor Glyn Davis AC, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Melbourne
Speaker
The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Leader of the Opposition
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PATHWAYS TO GROWTH: THE REFORM IMPERATIVE 2014 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL OUTLOOK CONFERENCE Thursday 3 and Friday 4 July 2014 1.40 - 3.00PM
SESSION 8: CONCURRENT SESSION 8B: BRINGING THE OUTSIDERS IN
SESSION 8C: SOURCES OF COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
The financial system stood up to the stresses of the global financial crisis with some government help, but that does not mean it is fit for the future. New risk ratings are turning banks into glorified building societies, with their asset books overwhelmingly consumed by home loans. Yet superannuation funds, with portfolios set to overtake the banks in size, are reluctant to move beyond equity markets and are increasingly turning overseas for diversification of their risk. What should be the priorities for the government’s review of the financial system?
Too many prime working age adults are marginalised from the workforce and dependent upon welfare. Australia’s prosperity would be enhanced if participation rates could be raised. Why has this proven so difficult among indigenous communities, in rural and remote Australia and other geographic pockets of poverty? What strategy directions hold the best prospects?
Resources and agriculture stand out as Australia’s two greatest areas of comparative advantage yet both face challenges. The resource sector has been exceptionally profitable over the past decade of supply shortages, however key resource markets are shifting to surplus, testing Australia’s real cost advantage given high labour and infrastructure costs. In agriculture, the growing efficiency of farm sectors in China and in nations such as Kazakhstan poses new threats to traditional markets. What are the policy implications of these threats?
Associate Professor Sam Wylie, Principal Fellow, Melbourne Business School Dr Luci Ellis, Head, Financial Stability, Reserve Bank of Australia
Mr Tony Nicholson, Executive Director, Brotherhood of St Laurence
Professor Paul Kofman, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Melbourne Dr Brian Fisher AO PSM, Managing Director, BAEconomics
SESSION 8A: FINANCING THE FUTURE
Chair
Speakers
Mr Warren Mundine, Managing Director, NyanggaBlack and Chair, Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council Dr Carsten Murawski, Senior Lecturer, Mr Patrick McClure AO, Chairperson, Department of Finance, The University of Reference Group for Welfare Reform Melbourne Mr Barry Sterland PSM, Group Dr Cassandra Goldie, Chief Executive, Executive, Macroeconomic Group Australian Council of Social Services (International), Department of the Treasury
3.00 - 3.10PM
SHORT BREAK
3.10 - 4.00PM
SESSION 9: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF ACHIEVING REFORM
Mr Mick Keogh, Executive Director, Australian Farm Institute Mr Martin Ferguson AM, Group Executive of Natural Resources, Seven Group Holdings Limited
It is one thing to identify what needs to change in order to lift national and/or provincial prosperity, but another thing to implement change. What is the secret of successful reform, and what are the most common causes of failure.
Panellists
Mr Paul Kelly, Editor-at-Large, The Australian Senator Nick Xenophon, Independent Senator for South Australia Mr Terry Moran AC, National President and National Fellow, Institute of Public Administration Australia Mr Michael Woods, Deputy Chairman, Productivity Commission
4.00PM
CLOSE
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