by Innes Willox, Chief Executive, Australian Industry Group

As published in The Australian, Wednesday 12 August, 2026

Next week marks the one-year anniversary of the Economic Reform Roundtable. Over three days last August, the Treasurer convened 46 leaders from government, business, unions and civil society to chart Australia’s next phase of economic reform. I was one of them. 

The Roundtable produced ten reform directions, all sensible responses to Australia’s needs: reducing regulatory burden, better integrating national markets, accelerate housing and investment approvals, lift skills, encourage AI adoption and confront the dysfunctions of the tax system. 

Business was hopeful that Australia now had a reform map. The test was would government implement it? 

One year on, delivery is mixed. Very mixed. Government has made progress on the low hanging fruit, but the long-term plays are fitful at best.