Show Notes
You might have heard about the Productivity Commission but what does it do? Richard Aedy speaks with PC Chair Danielle Wood about the work of the PC and how it helps inform government policy. They also discuss the importance of productivity and what Australia can do to get it moving again.
Episode notes What does the PC do? Inquiries: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries Self-initiated research: https://www.pc.gov.au/research Ongoing performance reporting and benchmarking: https://www.pc.gov.au/ongoing Competitive neutrality complaints: https://www.pc.gov.au/about/core-functions/competitive-neutrality
Completed research Housing construction productivity: https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/housing-construction 2025 Report on Government Services: https://www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services Closing the Gap Information Repository: https://www.pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data Competitive neutrality investigation report - Australia Post: https://www.pc.gov.au/competitive-neutrality/investigations/australia-post Advances in measuring healthcare productivity: https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/measuring-healthcare-productivity
Coming soon Review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/mental-health-review#interim Pillars of Productivity Growth Creating a dynamic and resilient economy: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/resilient-economy#interim Building a skilled and adaptable workforce: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/adaptable-workforce#interim Harnessing data and digital technology: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/data-digital#interim Delivering quality care more efficiently: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/quality-care#interim Investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/net-zero#interim Opportunities in the circular economy: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/circular-economy#report
More from The Prodcast with Richard Aedy
PC Commissioner Selwyn Button and host Richard Aedy unpack the progress made towards the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
'Regulatory reform is as close you can get to a silver bullet for Australia's housing affordability challenge' PC Chair Danielle Wood and host Richard Aedy discuss the interim report of the Australian Productivity Commission's housing supply regulations inquiry. Episode notes Interim report - Housing supply regulation | Productivity Commission
PC Commissioner Angela Jackson joins Richard Aedy to unpack the Australian Productivity Commissions' interim report of the GST distribution inquiry - discussing the horizontal fiscal equalisation principle, how the Australian Government collects and distributes the GST pool and the effects of the 2018 GST distribution reforms. Episode notes Read the interim report and share your feedback: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries-and-research/gst-reforms/interim/
PC Commissioner Alison Roberts tells Richard about the importance of care in our lives and the challenges with enhancing productivity in the care economy. The Australian Productivity Commission (the PC), in its interim report 'Delivering quality care more efficiently', highlights that the care sector must be able to respond to our increasingly complex and overlapping care needs in a sustainable way. Alison and Richard discuss the report's draft recommendations to increase the connections across the care economy, improving quality for consumers and helping Australia provide high-quality care more efficiently. Episode notes Read the interim report: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/quality-care/interim Building a skilled and adaptable workforce: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/adaptable-workforce/interim Harnessing data and digital technology: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/data-digital/interim Investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/net-zero/interim Creating a more dynamic and resilient economy: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/resilient-economy/interim Growth mindset: how to boost Australia's productivity: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/five-productivity-inquiries
In this episode, Commissioner Catherine de Fontenay and Richard discuss the focus of the PC's interim report - strengthening the adaptability of Australia’s workforce. They explore the draft recommendations from the report 'Building a skilled and adaptable workforce' for building better foundational skills for school students; making it easier for people to go back to formal training; better resourcing work-based training for small business employees, and policy reform for better occupational entry rules.