Unions, bankers, shippers, processors, farmers to thrash out ag reform agenda
Key agriculture stakeholders have been asked to set aside their differences and political turbulences to build a productivity blueprint for the industry that will feed into Treasurer Jim Chalmers' economic reform summit next month.
With all eyes on Canberra following the return of parliament for the first time since March, Labor is working behind the scenes to gather sector-specific policy ideas and priorities from industry leaders to help guide talks being pumped up by the government as the foundation to drive Australia's productivity into the future.
In a two-step process, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry earlier this month invited various stakeholders to come up with "practical and nationally beneficial" reform ideas to inform the agenda for an agricultural productivity roundtable, to be led by Agriculture Minister Julie Collins, scheduled for August 12 in Brisbane.
Suggested topics included how artificial intelligence can be used across supply chains, how regulation can be streamlined and duplication removed and how things like traceability and e-certification can be further digitised.
The department is also looking for ways to improve the consistency and speed of government decision-making, enhance market access and research and development commercialisation, address worker shortages and climate shocks and engender fairer competition.
Invitations were extended to representatives from across the agricultural supply chain and commodity groups, including producers, processors, logistics, importers, exporters, research and development representatives, unions, businesses and banking.
"This roundtable will bring sector leaders together to look at how we can enhance productivity, support economic growth, and address the challenges and opportunities in these critical industries," Ms Collins said.
"Continuing to improve the productivity of our agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors remains a strong focus of the Albanese Labor Government this term, which is why I'm looking forward to hosting this roundtable."
A broad consensus among the invitees already exists around aspects of tax reform, reducing green and red tape and accelerating planning and other major project approvals.
The August 12 event will be followed by the government's much-hyped three-day Economic Reform Roundtable, to be held from August 19 to 21 in Canberra.
The aim of organisers is for the event to help strengthen the nation's long-term economic resilience and address a significant structural budget deficit.
While it is being hyped by Labor as a productivity ignition switch, the 24 invitees so far, while worthwhile participants with a lot to offer, are also the usual suspects who already interact with government on a regular basis.
The invitees include Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood, Commbank chief executive Matt Comyn and former treasury boss Ken Henry, NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, Woodside board member Ben Wyatt, former Queensland treasurer Andrew Fraser and business and ACTU leaders.
Also on the guest list are federal member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Steven Kennedy, Treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson and shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien.
The Coalition has called on Dr Chalmers not to use the event as cover to prosecute its own agenda towards a predetermined outcome.
Former Qantas boss Alan Joyce this week said he hoped the event was not like the Albanese government's 2022 jobs and skills summit.
Mr Joyce said that midway through the event it was obvious that the agenda was driving towards a significant regulation of IR laws.
"We're being done over here, aren't we?" he told the AFR,
"This whole thing is orchestrated."
Meanwhile, opposition frontbencher Andrew Bragg has promised to table a Senate motion to launch a two-year bipartisan inquiry into the nation's ailing rates of economic growth and efficiency and Ms Spender has also announced that she will set up her own inquiry to search for ways to boost living standards.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a speech to the National Press Club last month that his government's second-term priorities will be to kick-start Australia's flailing productivity through a range of measures, including faster approval of infrastructure, housing and renewable projects.
He indicated that a large part of the puzzle will be to meet business sector demands to cut red tape and quicken development approvals.
Resources Minister Madeleine King held a roundtable for that sector last week.
The government's view is that it wants the sectors to come to a broad agreement on topics as a way to break years of gridlock on policy and potential improvements that have contributed to stalled productivity.