Treasurer Jim Chalmers has refused to confirm whether members of the opposition will be invited to his economic productivity roundtable.
The Albanese government’s productivity summit in August 2025 will bring together businesses, unions and leaders to discuss economic reform.
While Mr Chalmers told the National Press Club he wanted participation “across the aisle”, he refused to say if the Coalition’s economic team would be invited.
“We’re finalising the invitation list. I say that very genuinely. We’ve done a bit of work on that,” Mr Chalmers said on Wednesday.
“I’ve been a little surprised, to be honest, to hear that there’s been some interest from the opposition.
“There will be opportunities for the opposition to be constructive — whether they’re inside the room or not inside the room.”
The Treasurer added that invites would only be offered for people who would be “genuinely constructive”.
“Regardless of the final invitation list, it would be a very good thing for Australia if we all took a constructive approach,” he said.
“Where I think the opposition or the crossbench or other colleagues in the senate are being genuinely constructive, I’m going to try and respond in kind.”
At the 2022 Jobs and Skills summit, there were concerns that the government used the event to allow unions to dominate efforts to reregulate the industrial relations system.
Mr Chalmers has emphasised that the roundtable’s goal is not to re-litigate past debates, but to build consensus on practical, forward-looking reforms.
“The purpose of the roundtable won’t be to dwell on problem definition or re-prosecute the policy arguments of the past,” Mr Chalmers told the Press Club.
“It’s a genuine attempt to find common ground if it exists, in the service of our shared national economic interest. We have an open door and an open mind.”
Shadow finance minister James Paterson cast doubt on the government’s motives on Wednesday, telling Sky News the round table must be “more than just a meeting”.
“Our budget became weaker as a direct result of the decisions that Jim Chalmers and the Albanese government made in their first term,” he said.
“I hope that (Mr Chalmers) is able to help clean up the mess that he started… It is a good thing that he’s recognised the harm that has been done to our economy, particularly on productivity.
“We welcome the productivity roundtable, but we want more than just a meeting.”
