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Australia is set to hold an economic reform roundtable next month, aiming to forge consensus on fiscal priorities. Historically, similar gatherings—such as the efforts under Kevin Rudd—have fallen short of delivering concrete, meaningful reforms. Carling was cautious about expecting a detailed blueprint but hoped for agreement on high-level principles, particularly emphasizing the importance of boosting productivity growth.
He pointed out that "weak productivity growth is one of the nation's biggest economic problems." Effective government policy, he argued, should focus on reducing regulation, streamlining red tape, and fostering an environment conducive to productivity advancement.