<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/19/labor-andrew-leigh-focus-productivity-after-us-inequality-warning>
"The Harvard-educated economist and MP tapped to help Jim Chalmers lift
Australia out of its productivity funk says the nation is a generation away
from “US-style inequality”. Amid the drama of Labor’s factional bloodletting
that saw two senior ministers toppled after the resounding election win, the
responsibilities of assistant minister Andrew Leigh were quietly expanded.
Anthony Albanese reappointed Leigh as the assistant minister for competition,
charities, treasury and now, productivity. Alongside housing, it is the
economic issue dominating the national economic debate.
The Productivity Commission revealed overnight that reforming corporate tax and
speeding up clean energy infrastructure approvals were among 15 priority
reforms it considered ripe for “further exploration” through its five inquiries
into reinvigorating productivity.
Chalmers late last year tasked the commission with providing a practical
roadmap for reform by the end of 2025, with the interim reports expected by
late July and early August.
Amid growing calls for a more ambitious policy agenda aimed at securing
Australia’s long-term prosperity, it’s no surprise that the addition of
productivity to Leigh’s junior treasury portfolio has caught the attention of
the media.
“I think it’s an indication of the importance the government places on
productivity,” Leigh tells
Guardian Australia in his office in Parliament
House.
“As Jim said, the first term was inflation first and a focus on productivity
second. Now it’s that, reversed.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
