Bold Ideas for a Defining Decade.

On Thursday 2 November, the Melbourne Institute and The Australian proudly presented the 2023 Economic and Social Outlook Conference. The Conference is the only national forum of its kind that provides leading politicians, bureaucrats, academics, and policy and industry analysts with a platform to tackle the critical issues facing Australia today. The theme at last year’s conference was ‘Bold Ideas for a Defining Decade’ and explored how policy and economic innovation can help achieve this vision for the nation.

Photo highlights from the conference can be seen below.

Photos courtesy of Casamento Photography

2023 Economic & Social Outlook Conference

Download the 2023 program

Thursday 2 November

7:30am - 8:30am

Registration

8:30am - 9:00am

Welcome to Country and Opening

9:00am - 9:30am

Keynote presentation- Treasurer of Australia

The Hon Dr. Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer of Australia
Q&A moderated by Mr. Tom Dusevic, National Chief Reporter, The Australian

9:30am - 10:30am

Full employment and low inflation: Can we pull it off?

Dr. Pradeep Philip, Lead Partner, Deloitte Access Economics
Dr. Luci Ellis, Chief Economist, Westpac
Mr. Innes Willox AM, Chief Executive, Australian Industry Group
Moderated by Mr. Tom Dusevic, National Chief Reporter, The Australian

10:30 - 11:00am

Morning tea

11:00am - 11:45am

Energy transitions for becoming a renewable energy superpower

Ms. Samantha McCulloch, Chief Executive, Australian Energy Producers
Associate Professor Leslie Martin, the University of Melbourne
Ms. Tania Constable PSM, Chief Executive Officer, Minerals Council of Australia
Moderated by Mr. Perry Williams, Business Editor, The Australian

11:45am - 12:15pm

The role of competition in a defining decade

Ms. Gina Cass-Gottlieb, Chair, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

12:15pm - 1:00pm

Easing the housing supply squeeze and making homes affordable for all Australians
(Concurrent session)

Mr. Adam Bandt MP, Federal Member for Melbourne, Leader of the Australian Greens
Mr. Nathan Dal Bon, Chief Executive Officer, Housing Australia
Mr. Mike Zorbas, Chief Executive, Property Council of Australia
Professor Lisa Cameron, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research
Moderated by Ms. Jenna Clarke, Associate Editor, The Australian

12:15pm - 1:00pm

An inclusive society: Employment, ageing, and health (Concurrent session)

Ms. Natalie Siegel-Brown, Commissioner, Productivity Commission
Professor Peter Yu, Vice-President (First Nations), Australian National University
Professor Yuting Zhang, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research
Professor Guyonne Kalb, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research
Moderated by Mr. Stephen Lunn, Social Affairs Editor, The Australian

1:00pm - 2:30pm

LUNCH

Keynote presentation - Prime Minister of Australia

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia
Q&A moderated by Ms. Claire Harvey, Editorial Director, The Australian

Presentation - Mr. Nick Lovering, School Principal, Katherine High School
Q&A moderated by Ms. Claire Harvey, Editorial Director, The Australian

2:30pm - 3:25pm

Education & skills for the future

Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson, Shadow Minister for Education, Senator for Victoria
Mr. Richard White, Chief Executive Officer, WiseTech Global

The Hon Grace Grace MP, Queensland Minister for Education
Professor A. Abigail Payne, Director and Ronald Henderson Professor, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research
Moderated by Ms. Helen Trinca, The Deal Editor and Associate Editor, The Australian

3:25pm - 4:05pm

Ensuring dividends from migration

Dr. Martin Parkinson AC PSM, Chancellor, Macquarie University

Ms. Judith Sloan, Contributing Economics Editor, The Australian
Professor Joanna Howe, Associate Dean (Research), Adelaide Law School
Moderated by Professor Roger Wilkins, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research

4:05pm - 4:15pm

Afternoon tea

4:15pm - 5:00pm

Foundations for growth & productivity

Professor Ian Harper AO, Dean and Director, Melbourne Business School
Dr. Stephen King, Commissioner, Productivity Commission
Professor Guay Lim, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research
Moderated by Ms. Judith Sloan, Contributing Economics Editor, The Australian

5:00pm - 6:00pm

The new global disorder: Overseas trade and global integration

Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC KC FASSA FAIIA, Distinguished Honorary Professor, Australian National University
Professor Michael Wesley, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Global, Culture and Engagement, the University of Melbourne
Moderated by Mr. Cameron Stewart, Chief International Correspondent, The Australian

6:00pm - 6:20pm

Closing comments

Professor Paul Kofman, Dean and Sidney Myer Chair of Commerce, Faculty of Business and Economics, the University of Melbourne.

6:20pm - 8:00pm Cocktail reception

Prime Minister of Australia

Treasurer of Australia

Federal Member for Melbourne

Image for Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate

Image for Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson

Shadow Minister for Education, Senator for Victoria

Chief Executive Officer, Housing Australia

Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research

Chair, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Associate Editor, The Australian

Chief Executive Officer, Minerals Council of Australia

National Chief Reporter, The Australian

Chief Economist, Westpac

Image for Professor the Hon Gareth Evans

Distinguished Honorary Professor, Australian National University

Minister for Education,Queensland

Editor-in-Chief, The Australian

Dean and Director, Melbourne Business School

Editorial Director, The Australian

Associate Dean (Research), Adelaide Law School

Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research

Commissioner, Productivity Commission

Dean, Sidney Myer Chair of Commerce, Faculty of Business and Economics, the University of Melbourne

Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research

School Principal, Katherine High School, 2022 Menzies School Leader Fellowship

Social Affairs Editor, The Australian

The University of Melbourne

Chief Executive
Australian Energy Producers

Chancellor of Macquarie University

Director and Ronald Henderson Professor, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research

Partner, Deloitte Access Economics

Commissioner, Productivity Commission

Contributing Economics Editor, The Australian

Chief International Correspondent, The Australian

The Deal Editor and Associate Editor, The Australian

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Global, Culture and Engagement, The University of Melbourne

Chief Executive Officer, WiseTech Global

Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research

Business Editor, The Australian

Chief Executive, Australian Industry Group

Vice-President (First Nations), Australian National University

Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research

Chief Executive, Property Council of Australia

The Melbourne Institute–The Australian Economic and Social Outlook Conference is Australia’s premier public policy event.

2023 Economic & Social Outlook Conference

6:20pm - 8:00pm Cocktail reception

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