In this candid discussion, show host Gene Tunny joins a panel to expose the shortcomings of the Australian Government’s August 2025 economic reform summit. Topics include the high cost of energy, tax policy, the ballooning NDIS and big government generally, AI regulation, and Senator Matt Canavan’s rival roundtable, which Gene attended. This episode borrows the audio from Damian Coory’s The Other Side episode broadcast on YouTube on 22 August 2025. The other guests are Graham Young, Executive Director of the Australian Institute for Progress, and Dan Petrie, a data analyst and former editor at Bloomberg.  

Please email Gene your thoughts on this episode via [email protected].

Timestamps

• Australian Government's Economic Reform Roundtable Overview (0:00)
• Critique of the Official Roundtable (3:26)
• Challenges in Defining Productivity and Addressing Labor Market Issues (6:59)
• Impact of Government Spending and Energy Costs on Productivity (9:48)
• Innovation and Small Business Challenges (34:00)
• Taxation and Economic Reform Proposals (34:29)
• NDIS and Healthcare Funding Challenges (51:04)
• Final Thoughts on the Roundtable and Future Directions (51:15)

Takeaways

1. The Official Roundtable Lacked Focus & Diversity: Only six business leaders were among 30 participants — a serious oversight for a summit focused on productivity and economic reform.
2. Energy Costs Are a Major Barrier: Australia’s rapid rollout of renewable energy is raising energy prices, affecting both consumers and heavy industries.
3. Government Spending Is Too High: Public spending is nearing 40% of GDP, with half of Australians now receiving government income, raising concerns about sustainability and productivity.
4. Small Business & Innovation Ignored: There was little meaningful discussion of the role of small business or innovation in driving productivity.
5. AI Regulation Needs a Balanced Approach: The roundtable discussions on AI were dominated by union concerns, focusing on job protection rather than innovation. This risks stifling technological advancement and missing opportunities for productivity gains.
6. NDIS Costs Are Spiralling Out of Control: The National Disability Insurance Scheme is growing at an unsustainable rate, with concerns about high eligibility and inadequate oversight. The government’s proposed changes lack proper consultation and shift costs to the states.

Links relevant to the conversation

The Other Side episode - “AUSTRALIA's Decline - No Vision, No Innovation, Just MORE Big Government and Taxes”:

https://youtu.be/FeicrCu2sO0?si=Rd8xZV_CsmLzikW0

Senator Matt Canavan’s roundtable broadcast on Sky News - “Real Productivity Roundtable reveals four ways to save Australia:”

https://youtu.be/4xBGcjIXgHU?si=Uk1kaqq92bhacSma

Robert Carling’s recent paper - “Leviathan on the Rampage: Government spending growth a threat to Australia’s economic future”:

https://www.cis.org.au/publication/leviathan-on-the-rampage-how-the-growth-of-government-is-draining-australias-economic-vitality/

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