Government economic roundtable: Experts available

MEDIA ALERT

Climateworks Centre experts are available to comment on a range of potential agenda items ahead of and during the government’s productivity and economic reform roundtable (August 19-21), including but not limited to:

Carbon pricing
Superannuation
Road pricing and transport
Energy planning
The National Construction Code and housing

Anna Malos, Climateworks Australia Lead and former Assistant Director at the Climate Change Authority, can discuss carbon pricing and broad climate and energy agenda items. Location: Melbourne

‘Australia’s economy is being reshaped by climate change – a carbon price gives us the direction and focus to build new job-creating clean industries that we can sell to the world. It creates clear incentives for lowering emissions, though not a silver bullet.’

Helen Rowe, Climateworks Transport Program Manager, can talk to road user charging and broader transport topics. Location: Melbourne

‘After years of discussion, road user charging is finally gaining traction. It could be a powerful tool to boost productivity, build economic resilience and help achieve climate goals – in a sector that’s on track to be Australia’s largest source of emissions by 2030.’

‘Road user charging is not just a one-for-one swap with the current fuel excise. If designed well, it could do far more than just plug a revenue gap. The government’s roundtable is the perfect springboard for this conversation to ensure we get the settings right.’

Cassandra Williams, Climateworks Head of Enterprise Programs, with over two decades of experience in the financial services sector, can explore the superannuation elements of the roundtable and broader financial agenda items. Location: Melbourne

‘Right now, the Your Future, Your Super performance test is a quiet but powerful handbrake on climate-aligned investment. If the performance test doesn’t evolve, it won’t just lag behind, it will stand in the way of capital flowing to the productive, resilient, climate-aligned economy Australia is ready to build.’

‘Australia’s $3.9 trillion superannuation system is one of our nation’s greatest economic assets. It lifts GDP, boosts productivity, and could be a game-changer for the clean energy transition – if we let it.’

Kylie Turner, Climateworks Sustainable Economies Lead and decarbonisation expert who can talk to improvements in planning and permitting for renewable energy projects. Location: Perth

‘Flipping the script for renewable energy approvals from a project-by-project basis to an upfront national assessment that balances energy, nature and community could fast-track approvals. A powerful tool at our disposal is digital mapping. It would allow us to identify areas best suited for projects and, importantly, enable early engagement with communities to boost co-benefits and overall buy-in.'

Liam Walsh, Climateworks Food, Land and Ocean Lead. Location: Melbourne

‘Increasing food, fibre and energy production whilst at the same time protecting and restoring nature is a significant economic and societal challenge. Policy reforms in climate, energy and nature are needed at an individual level, but it is also important for Australia to tackle them together. Now is the time to lift our gaze from the individual pieces of the puzzle and look at food, climate and nature together.’

Dr Gill Armstrong, Climateworks Buildings Lead, with more than a decade of experience as a registered architect (UK), who can talk to the National Construction Codes and housing more broadly. Location: Melbourne

Media enquiries contact:

Bri Hudson | +61 492 265 437 | [email protected]

Climateworks Centre bridges the gap between research and climate action, operating as an independent not-for-profit within Monash University. Climateworks Centre develops specialist knowledge to accelerate emissions reduction, in line with the global 1.5°C temperature goal, across Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.