Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
RSNSW Provocations and Inspirations: 19 August 2025
“Solving Australia’s Productivity Crisis”
Ross Gittins AM FRSN FASSA
Economics Editor
The Sydney Morning Herald
https://www.royalsoc.org.au/events/lunchtime-series-provocations-and-inspirations-august-2025/
The presentation commences at 04:43
Timing Marks:
00:00:00 Introduction: Emeritus Professor Christina Slade, President, Royal Society of NSW
00:04:43 Presentation: Ross Gittins, Economics Editor, SMH
00:41:32 Q&A Session: moderated by Dr Donald Hector AM FRSN, Royal Society of NSW
01:14:13 Vote of Thanks: Emeritus Professor Lindsay Botten FRSN, Vice-President, Royal Society of NSW
01:16:14 Meeting Close
Summary: The issue of productivity growth in Australia is now front and centre of the Australian Government’s economic policy framework. Productivity improvement has been at a virtual standstill for the last decade, and there is broad agreement that this has to change if Australia is to maintain its prosperity.
But the debate over what to do about productivity has been hijacked by too many people with axes to grind. Yet there are sensible conclusions to be drawn about the causes of our lack of productivity improvement and possible steps we can take to improve matters.
Ross Gittins is one of Australia’s leading economic commentators and the author of several books. He is a columnist for The Age and has been the Economics Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald since 1978. In 2008, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia.
He has been awarded honorary doctorates by Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, the Australian National University and his alma mater, the University of Newcastle.
RSNSW Provocations and Inspirations: 19 August 2025
“Solving Australia’s Productivity Crisis”
Ross Gittins AM FRSN FASSA
Economics Editor
The Sydney Morning Herald
https://www.royalsoc.org.au/events/lunchtime-series-provocations-and-inspirations-august-2025/
The presentation commences at 04:43
Timing Marks:
00:00:00 Introduction: Emeritus Professor Christina Slade, President, Royal Society of NSW
00:04:43 Presentation: Ross Gittins, Economics Editor, SMH
00:41:32 Q&A Session: moderated by Dr Donald Hector AM FRSN, Royal Society of NSW
01:14:13 Vote of Thanks: Emeritus Professor Lindsay Botten FRSN, Vice-President, Royal Society of NSW
01:16:14 Meeting Close
Summary: The issue of productivity growth in Australia is now front and centre of the Australian Government’s economic policy framework. Productivity improvement has been at a virtual standstill for the last decade, and there is broad agreement that this has to change if Australia is to maintain its prosperity.
But the debate over what to do about productivity has been hijacked by too many people with axes to grind. Yet there are sensible conclusions to be drawn about the causes of our lack of productivity improvement and possible steps we can take to improve matters.
Ross Gittins is one of Australia’s leading economic commentators and the author of several books. He is a columnist for The Age and has been the Economics Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald since 1978. In 2008, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia.
He has been awarded honorary doctorates by Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, the Australian National University and his alma mater, the University of Newcastle.
