Australia 2020 Summit - The future of the Australian economy

Here are "The future of the Australian economy" items accepted by the Australian Government in its "Responding to the Australia 2020 Summit" on 22 April 2009:

Australia faces a range of long term economic challenges including an ageing population, an increasingly competitive international economy, and adjusting to a low carbon future.

The global economic crisis has increased the risks faced by the Australian economy and created a more volatile and uncertain economic environment. The Government is collaborating with other national governments in order to stabilise international markets. The Government is also committed to maintaining the strength of the Australian economy by taking measures to stimulate growth, investment and jobs. In February 2009 the Government announced a $42 billion Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan to support jobs and invest in future long term economic growth. This built on the $10.4 billion Economic Security Strategy announced in October 2008, and the $4.7 billion Nation Building Package and $15.2 billion COAG funding package announced in November 2008. These investments are crucial in supporting economic activity and jobs now, and as we head towards 2020.

The Government is also committed to tackling Australia's long term structural challenges through ongoing economic reform including the productivity agenda, with the goal of making Australia's economy more flexible, sustainable, dynamic and resilient.

Participants in the Economy Stream of the 2020 Summit agreed that Australia should aspire to be the world's best place to live and do business, and that achieving this goal will require urgent action to create of a truly national, efficient, sustainable and inclusive economy. They also recognised that the Australian Government plays a major role in ensuring national economic prosperity and that policies on taxation, regulation and investment should be carefully defined to meet economic goals.

The Economy Stream developed a broad range of aspirations, themes and ideas that have influenced and guided the Government's policies in this area, including:

• Australia's Future Tax System - On 13 May 2008, the Government announced a review of Australia's tax system in response to the significant number of issues raised at the 2020 Summit regarding tax reform. The review's terms of reference were heavily influenced by ideas from the Summit. An initial discussion paper was released by the Commonwealth Treasury in August 2008. The final report is due by the end of 2009.

• Reducing the regulatory burden through COAG - The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) established the Business Regulation and Competition Working Group (BRCWG). COAG has agreed on a reform agenda for reducing the costs of regulation and enhancing productivity and workforce mobility in areas of shared Commonwealth and state responsibility through the National Partnership Agreement to Deliver a Seamless Economy. The reforms focus on harmonising or providing consistency of regulatory regimes across state boundaries and initial outcomes were agreed in November 2008. The Commonwealth has committed to provide funding to the states and territories of $550 million over five years to facilitate the implementation of these reforms and provide rewards for progress on agreed reforms.

The following tables provide the Government's response to the ideas raised by the Economy Stream at the 2020 Summit.

Key ideas being taken forward by the Government

Topic	2020 proposed ideas	Government response
Review of Australia's Future Tax System Also raised by: Creativity Rural Productivity	The Commonwealth Government should undertake a comprehensive review of state and federal taxes within a two year timeframe, including interim reporting. This review should consider measures to simplify taxes, reduce inefficient taxes, harmonise taxes, ensure a progressive system as intended, and address negative interaction with the welfare system. Provide business and tax incentives, such as reduced income tax rates for those living in remote, rural and regional Australia. Increase harmonisation across jurisdictions to reduce the costs of administration and decrease the number of taxes. Removal of distortions Reduce wasteful taxes that create perverse incentives, such as the fringe benefits tax threshold that encourages people to increase their driving mileage. Eliminate transaction taxes such as stamp duty. Recognise that some taxes will be deliberately distortive, but ensure that any distortion is driven by deliberate socially beneficial policy. Move the tax base from income towards consumption. Ensure the tax system is progressive in practice. Provide incentives for participation, such as marginal tax rates on second family incomes. Redress negative interactions with the welfare system such as effective marginal tax rates on transition from welfare to work. Review tax offsets and tax deductibility and consider ways of encouraging older people's participation in the workforce. The taxation review should include consideration of the relationship with retirement incomes. Ensure that Australia is not permanently disadvantaged vis-Ã -vis the flatter, simpler tax systems in Asia. Index the tax scales to reduce buoyancy in the tax system. Eliminate distortions on taxation of investment. Use the tax system to encourage collaboration. Tax incentives should be provided for private investment in research and development.	The Government agrees with the need to review these issues and is undertaking a comprehensive review of Australia's tax system to position Australia to deal with the demographic, social, economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century. The review's terms of reference have been heavily influenced by ideas from the 2020 Summit. They also require the review to reflect the Government's policy not to increase the rate or broaden the base of the GST, and to preserve tax-free superannuation payments for the over-60s. The first round of public submissions closed on 17 October 2008. The review panel released a consultation paper in December 2008, informed by these submissions. The final report is due by the end of 2009, with the report on retirement incomes due at the end of March 2009.
Regulation - COAG Business Regulation and Competition Working Group Also raised by: Rural Governance	Uniform regulation, licensing, standards and enforcement for transport (both road and rail) and agriculture. Harmonisation of state and territory regulations, including the removal of impediments associated with access to drought assistance. Cutting red tape in general and setting minimum red tape targets when introducing new polices for dealing with climate change. Harmonisation of federal and state regulations to reduce duplication and the costs of doing business. The speed of regulatory reform should be increased, including creation of seamless national markets in key areas. Review regulatory regimes to encourage private investment. Regulation to be seen in the context of allowing market solutions wherever possible to deal with social problems and externalities. Establish uniform national laws for industry, trade, finance and property. Uniform laws for human rights, resources and infrastructure, and workplace safety.	Agree in-principle. The 2020 Summit recognised the importance of regulatory reform and harmonisation of state and territory laws. Many of the ideas discussed at the Summit reflect the work program of the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) Business Regulation and Competition Working Group (BRCWG). In December 2007, COAG established the BRCWG to deliver more consistent regulation across jurisdictions, reduce restrictions on competition in priority areas of the economy, and improve processes for regulation making and review. The work program includes reducing inconsistent and unnecessary regulation in 27 separate areas and delivering competition reform in eight agreed priority areas. In November 2008, COAG agreed to the new National Partnership Agreement to Deliver a Seamless National Economy, under which the Commonwealth committed to provide funding to the states and territories of $550 million over five years. The payments are in two components; $100 million to facilitate the implementation of reforms, and $450 million in reward payments. The reforms, include nationally uniform OH&S laws, a national system for registering business names, and a national electronic conveyancing system.
Infrastructure - National Institution Also raised by: Rural	Future infrastructure investment decisions should be approached from a national perspective. In rail infrastructure, such an approach would help facilitate a catch-up in investment and improve both the modality of our current network and intermodal hubbing. A single national government entity to facilitate financing, approval and development of infrastructure projects. Increase the power of Infrastructure Australia to drive priorities, develop more competitive national markets in areas such as water, electricity and transport and ensure market-based pricing of scarce resources such as water.	Agree in-part. Infrastructure Australia was established by the Government in April 2008. It will conduct regular audits to determine the adequacy, capacity and condition of nationally significant infrastructure, taking into account forecast growth and the adequacy of the infrastructure to meet that growth. It will also develop a national infrastructure priority list for COAG to consider. Infrastructure Australia released an interim report on both the National Infrastructure Audit and the Infrastructure Priority List at the end of 2008.

Infrastructure Australia - National Priorities and Investment Also raised by: Rural

A time-sensitive approach to more rapid development of infrastructure. Telescope the development approval process for infrastructure projects. Provide clear guidance to parties so they can act on the objective criteria that have been set for a project and make the necessary longer term investments. Increase accountability for regulators, with clear performance indicators to review performance. Liaise more directly with capital markets (that is, superannuation funds) and develop national standardised protocols for public‑private partnerships. Government should confirm its priorities in energy, transport, water and communications. Create a master plan with a clear framework for assessing infrastructure priorities. The plan should: focus on areas where Australia has a competitive advantage, such as agriculture, mining and education impose national standards encompassing economic, environmental and social criteria for the development of infrastructure, and provide a framework for a rigorous cost-benefit assessment of projects. Immediate and sustained investment in Australia's intramodal and intermodal transport systems, targeting rail as the short-term imperative.

Agree in-principle. Infrastructure Australia released an interim report on both the National Infrastructure Audit and the Infrastructure Priority List at the end of 2008. The final Priority List will enable the Government, advised by Infrastructure Australia, to make timely decisions on projects that will advance Australia's nation building agenda. In November 2008 COAG endorsed a National Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) package. The package offers major reform gains in terms of consistency and harmonisation of PPP policy and practices across jurisdictions. It aims to encourage the consideration of PPPs, ensure consistent application of best practice across Australia and encourage private sector investment in public infrastructure in Australia.

Infrastructure - National Broadband Network Also raised by: Productivity Rural Creativity	Connecting Australia: Use new technologies to foster new working environments that dissipate the 'tyranny of distance' both within and beyond Australia. Build and enable the use by all Australians of a world class broadband system to foster full participation in the digital economy. Roll out a competitive national broadband network across Australia. Establish a national digital fund to continue to expand Australia's broadband. Improve technology infrastructure and increased access to technology. Provide broadband access for remote, rural and regional Australia.	Agree. The Government has announced it will establish a new company that will invest up to $43 billion over eight years to build and operate a National Broadband Network (NBN) delivering superfast broadband to Australian homes and workplaces. Every person and business in Australia, no matter where they are located, will have access to affordable, fast broadband at their fingertips. The Schools Summits also recognised the importance of connecting regional areas to the internet, and the Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG) program complements the rollout of the National Broadband Network in rural areas by providing safety net broadband services to all Australian households that are unable to access metro-comparable broadband services. An additional $270.7 million over four years was allocated in the 2008-09 Budget to continue the ABG program. In addition the Government is preparing a 'Digital Economy - Future Directions' Paper in consultation with industry. The paper will provide a roadmap of how the Government and industry can collaborate to maximise the participation of Australians in the digital economy. Further, the Government's Vocational Education Broadband Network will create a single post-secondary high speed broadband network, connecting the Australian training system to a similar network to that currently serving universities. This will increase flexibility in the place and pace of learning, and offer speedy access to resources no matter where they are located.
	The rural, economy, creativity and productivity streams proposed that the Government should assess the case for vertical separation of the national broadband network owner from retail carriers and carriage service providers.	Agree in-part. The Government has established a company that will invest up to $43 billion to build and operate a new super fast national broadband network. The network will be a wholesale-only, open access network that offers equivalent access terms and conditions for all access seekers. The Government will encourage private sector investment in the new network but measures will be put in place to ensure that the equivalence arrangements are not compromised. The Government has also announced that in the transition period to the full rollout of the new network, it will give consideration to stronger measures to ensure access seekers receive equivalent access terms on Telstra's existing fixed-line network.
	Fibre-to-the-home should be the key technology goal of government.	The Government has announced that it will establish a company that will invest up to $43 billion to build and operate a new super fast national broadband network. The Government's objective is that the national broadband network achieve 90 per cent coverage to homes, schools and workplaces using optical fibre (fibre-to-the-premises or 'FTTP') and remaining coverage to be delivered through wireless and satellite technologies, within this funding envelope.
Mortgage Regulation and Housing Finance	Ensure there is a fully effective housing finance market.	The Government agrees that a properly functioning housing finance system is critical to support residential lending. Important recent initiatives to support a fully effective housing finance market include: A package of measures announced in February 2008 to make it easier for Australians to switch banks if they are not satisfied with their current provider Agreement through COAG that the Commonwealth will assume responsibility for the national regulation of consumer credit, which will establish a consistent and robust consumer credit protection framework for borrowers The introduction of First Home Savers Accounts The Government has directed the Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) to purchase residential mortgage-backed securities to support strong and effective competition in Australian mortgage market A guarantee has been made available on wholesale funding for banks, building societies and credit unions, to support them raising the funds necessary to provide home loans.

Removing Discrimination Also raised by: Security Governance	Unleash Australian talent by removing direct and indirect discrimination, which means improving structural support, strengthening laws and creating public accountabilities beyond gender - that is, age, race and disability. Review domestic legislation for human rights impacts and compliance.	Agree in-principle. On 10 December 2008, the Commonwealth Attorney-General announced a national consultation process on human rights and responsibilities in Australia. The consultation will be conducted in the first half of 2009 by a committee comprised of Father Frank Brennan SJ AO (Chair), Ms Tammy Williams, Ms Mary Kostakidis and Mr Mick Palmer AO APM. The Government has recently taken some key steps to addressing issues of discrimination. For example, in July 2008, the Government ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in December 2008, tabled a National Interest Analysis proposing that Australia accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention. The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties reported its views on 12 March 2009 and recommended that Australia accede to the Optional Protocol. In December 2008, the Government tabled draft Disability Standards to improve access to premises for persons with disabilities, and introduced legislation to implement recommendations of the Productivity Commission from 2004 to improve the operation of the Disability Discrimination Act. The states and territories also have existing programs to address issues of discrimination. In December 2008, the Government acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Budgets	Re-establish annual budgets as the sole priority-setting mechanism for government policy. This would help avoid 'short-termism'.	The Budget is the principal economic statement of the Australian Government and will continue to be supported by a comprehensive process of deliberation on competing proposals for limited funding. The Government, however, reserves the flexibility to respond outside the Budget process on matters of significance, such as the delivery of the economic security packages in response to the global economic crisis.

Teaching Workforce - Improving Teacher Quality Also raised by: Productivity	Reward excellence in teaching. Celebrate the vocation and contribution of teaching. Create a national education and qualification accreditation system and increase education funding.	Agree in-principle. The Government is committed to rewarding excellence in teaching and attracting high quality teachers. The Government has allocated $550 million to the Smarter Schools - Improving Teacher Quality National Partnership and will work together with the states and territories to deliver reforms to attract, train, place, develop and retrain quality teachers and school leaders. Reform will focus on a number of areas, including new professional standards, recognition and reward for quality teaching - including for top graduates and mid-career changers, and national accreditation of pre-service teacher education courses.
Financing Literacy Program	Establish a national financing literacy program to provide to customers knowledge and understanding about things such as investment in superannuation, retirement and other sectors.	The Government has consolidated the Government's financial literacy response under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). This will help ensure that Australia's financial markets are fair, transparent and supported by more informed investors and consumers. ASIC will play a national leadership role in advancing financial literacy in Australia. The Government's decision recognises the need for people of all ages to have access to a range of learning opportunities, as well as reliable and independent information and resources to help them make informed financial decisions.

Community Engagement Also raised by: Communities Governance Rural

Introduce a Prime Minister's Grand Challenge Prize for solving big national challenges of a global nature - for example, climate change. Strengthen the public policy debate. Establish a 'bottom-up' approach instead of a 'top-down' one, fostering an environment for experiments that are monitored, measured and shared with the public through the internet.

The Government agrees with the idea of enhancing community engagement. The Government's approach is to trial different and innovative mechanisms and draw on specific suggestions across several streams in that context. For example the Government is committed to developing practical initiatives in e-governance that increase communities' ability to interact with the Parliament and the policy development processes of government. The Government is committed to making extensive information about policy issues available on-line to the community. The Government will develop better ways to increase interactive consultative processes using new technologies to communicate and hear from people. Some aspects of this work will be guided by the statutory Information Commissioner position, which the Government will be establishing as part of its Open Government reform agenda. As a first step, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has sought expert advice on the enhancement of information and access to Commonwealth information and policy and a whole-of-government approach to the development of an e-governance strategy. The Government is also considering holding a set of forums that will bring together experts, business and community representatives and others with a strong interest in a number of topics to promote a collaborative approach to challenging issues and better inform government decision making. The full list of related ideas can be found in the Governance Stream.

Reform of the Federation Also raised by: Governance

The creation of an independent body to carry out a 'clean sheet of paper' review of the roles and responsibilities of federal, state and local governments in areas of major economic activity. This body could be a new Federation Commission or an expanded version of the Productivity Commission and would absorb the activities currently conducted by the COAG Reform Council. The new independent body should: Initiate studies into areas of federal and state activity perceived to be operating at sub-optimal level and make recommendations for improvement Monitor the progress of implementation of the foregoing initiatives against agreed criteria and perform these tasks through a combination of internal research and self-initiated public inquiry Make reports public early in the process to ensure progress and transparency Include a detailed cost-benefit analysis of the proposed changes, considering the question of fiscal imbalances and resourcing, and design a road map for implementing the changes Within two years carry out a detailed audit of existing national governance arrangements Make recommendations on the priorities and changes required in order to achieve efficient, effective, non-duplicating outcomes, with a clear definition of the roles and responsibilities of respective governments and a true common market.

On 29 November 2008, COAG reaffirmed its commitment to cooperative working arrangements through an intergovernmental agreement that provides an overarching framework for the Commonwealth Government's financial relationships with the states and territories. The intergovernmental agreement is aimed at improving the quality and effectiveness of government services by reducing Commonwealth prescriptions on service delivery by the states and territories, giving them increased flexibility in the way they deliver services to the Australian people. The agreement provides a clearer specification of the roles and responsibilities of each level of government and an improved focus on accountability for better outcomes and better service delivery. Under the new framework, six National Agreements set out the roles and responsibilities of each level of government and what they intend to achieve from their joint involvement in major areas of policy, including health, education, early childhood and housing. The new arrangements also include National Partnership payments to fund specific projects and to facilitate and/or reward states that deliver on nationally-significant reforms. Further work on roles and responsibilities will be taken forward in 2009. To enhance accountability, COAG has agreed to an expanded role for an independent body, the COAG Reform Council (CRC). The CRC will report to the Prime Minister (as Chair of COAG) on the performance of all jurisdictions in relation to each National Agreement, and independently assess whether performance benchmarks have been achieved before an incentive payment to reward nationally-significant reforms under a National Partnership is made. The CRC will also produce an analytical view of performance information for each Specific Purpose Payment. The CRC also has a role in monitoring the aggregate pace of activity in progressing COAG's agreed reform agenda.

Climate Change - Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Also raised by: Sustainability

Introduce an Emissions Trading Scheme and transition to clean energy technologies. Invest in a carbon tax to create internationally competitive markets, such as reinvesting in research and development of clean technology. This would give domestic industry a chance to solve national problems, obtain an international advantage, and use the solution to create further export opportunities. Establish a National Climate Strategy for transforming Australia to a green economy with technologies that could be exported globally. Establish institutions for the long term management and oversight of carbon risk - a single, independent clean energy authority, in the manner of the Reserve Bank of Australia. 'Climate-proof' the economy, remove anomalies and inconsistencies in planning, zoning, building codes, inefficient and distorting taxes, subsidies and regulations.

Agree. The Government is committed to a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) commencing in 2010. The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper was released on 15 December 2008 and outlines the design of the national emissions trading scheme, including a mid-term target range of a 5 to 15 per cent reduction in emissions from 2000 levels by 2020. The 5 per cent reduction represents an unconditional commitment by Australia to reduce emissions even if no international agreement to do so is reached. This sets Australia on a path to achieve its long term goal of a 60 per cent reduction from 2000 levels by 2050. The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper proposes that a scheme regulator be created with powers to monitor compliance, educate liable entities, investigate suspected non-compliance and initiate enforcement action if necessary. The scheme is specifically designed to link with international developments in this area.