Faculty of Business and Economics Melbourne Institute

Towards Opportunity and Prosperity Conference Papers 2002

DAY 1 THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2002
Official Opening: Governor General
Welcome
[ presentation ]
His Excellency the Right Reverend Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBE, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Government House
Session 1: Plenary
Setting the Scene: Australia's Past, Present and Future
Prioritising Equity in Australian Development: Lessons From the First Century of Federation
[ paper & presentation ]
Professor Ross Garnaut AO, Professor of Economics, Asia Pacific School for Economics and Management, The Australian National University
Measuring Australias progress
[ presentation ]
Mr Dennis Trewin, Australian Statistician, Economic Statistics, Australian Bureau of Statistics
An Agenda for the Future
[ presentation ]
Dr John Schubert, President, Business Council of Australia
The Policy Challenges
Mr Paul Kelly, International Editor, The Australian
Session 2: Roundtables
2A: Productivity and Growth in Australia
Productivity Growth in Australia: Are we enjoying a miracle?
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Mr Dean Parham, Assistant Commissioner, General Research, Productivity Commission
Australia's Growth Prospects: Lessons from the Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Growth Theory
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Professor Steve Dowrick, ARC Senior Research Fellow, Department of Economics, The Australian National University
2B: Inequality in Australia: Trends and Causes
The effects of changes in family composition and worklessness on the distribution of income in Australia
[ paper ]    [ presentation ]
Associate Professor David Johnson, Deputy Director, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne and

Dr Roger Wilkins, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne
The Growth of Jobless Households and the Polarisation of Employment in Australia
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Professor Peter Dawkins, Director and Ronald Henderson Professor, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne and

Ms Rosanna Scutella, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne
Trends in Income and Wealth Inequality in Australia
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Professor Ann Harding, Director, NATSEM, University of Canberra
The Myths of the Welfare State
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Mr Mark Latham, Assistant Shadow Treasurer
2C: Population, Fertility and Immigration
The Ageing Population in Australia: Demographic Projections and the case for a population policy
[ paper ]
Professor Peter McDonald, Head, Demography Program, RSSS, The Australian National University
The case for expanding the population
[ no paper provided ]
Ms Katie Lahey, Executive Director, Business Council of Australia
Prospective demographic change and Australias policy agenda for the 21st century
[ paper ]
Professor Ian McDonald, National Australia Bank, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, The University of Melbourne
Population, Immigrationand the Environment
[ no paper provided ]
Mr Philip Toyne, Director, EcoFutures
1.00 2.30pm
Lunch: Premier of Victoria
The need for a population policy
[ presentation ]
Mr Steve Bracks, Premier of Victoria
Session 3: Roundtables
3A: The Trade Practices Act: Are We Becoming a Branch Office Economy?
Can our successful multinationals be run from Australia?
[ paper ]
Mr Stan Wallis, Chairman, Coles Myer
The Trade Practices Act
[ paper ]     [ abstract ]
Professor Allan Fels, Chairman, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Offshore Investment by Australian Firms: Survey Evidence from the Productivity Commission
[ presentation ]
Mr Garth Pitkethly, First Assistant Commissioner, Productivity Commission
Should the four pillars policy in the banking industry be abolished?
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Professor Ian Harper, Professorial Fellow, Economics and Public Policy Melbourne Business School, The University of Melbourne
3B: The New Labour Market (2.30pm 4.10pm)
Industrial Relations Reform and the Consequences for Working Time, Job Security, Productivity and Jobs
[ paper ]    [ presentation ]     [ handout HILDA ]
Professor Mark Wooden, Professorial Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute, The University of Melbourne
Job Stability, Job Security and Job Satisfaction
[ paper ]
Professor Jeff Borland, Department of Economics, The University of Melbourne
Workplace Reform: The Governments agenda
[ no paper provided ]
Mr Tony Abbott MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Has enterprise bargaining been a success and comments on the workplace reform agenda
[ presentation ]
Ms Sharan Burrow, President, Australian Council of Trade Unions
How is Industrial Relations Reform Progressing in Australia?
[ paper & presentation ]
Mr Lyndon Rowe, Acting Chief Executive, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
3C: The Environment: Should we Sign the Kyoto Protocol?
Why we should sign the Kyoto Protocol
[ paper ]
Professor Ian Lowe, School of Science, Griffith University
Why we shouldnt sign the Kyoto Protocol
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Professor Warwick McKibbin, Division Head, Asia Pacific School for Economics and Management, The Australian National University
The need for major change in environment policy
[ paper ]
Mr Don Henry, Executive Director, Australian Conservation Foundation
Towards a sustainable energy policy for Australia
[ presentation ]
Mr Greg Bourne, Regional President, BP Australasia
Session 4: Plenary
Globalisation: World Trade, Living Standards and Inequality
Prospects for Further Trade Liberalisation
Mr Mike Moore, Director-General, World Trade Organisation, Geneva
Questions to Mike Moore
Mr Alan Wood, Economics Editor, The Australian
Australias Interests in the WTO
[ presentation ]
Mr Gary Banks, Chairman, Productivity Commission
Globalisation and Poverty
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Dr Ken Henry, Secretary, Department of the Treasury
Global Competition, Workers and the Gap Between Rich and Poor: An American Perspective
[ presentation ]
Dr Gary Burtless, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution, Washington Dc
The Impact of Globalisation on Poverty in Australia
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Mr Peter Davidson, Senior Policy Officer, Australian Council of Social Services
7.15 for 7.45pm
Gala Dinner
The Australian Economy Past, Present and Future
[ paper ]
Keynote Speaker
Mr Ian Macfarlane, Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia

DAY 2 FRIDAY 5 APRIL 2002
Session 5: Roundtables
5A: Knowledge, Education, Science and Innovation
The role of innovation and education in economic growth
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Professor Steve Dowrick, ARC Senior Research Fellow, Department of Economics, The Australian National University
Towards a Science and Technology Policy for Australia
[ presentation ]
Dr Robin Batterham, Chief Scientist, Department of Industry Science and Resources
Policy Issues for Australia's Education System: Evidence from International and Australian survey research
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Dr John Ainley, Deputy Director and Head of Policy Research Division, Australian Council for Educational Research and

Dr Gary Marks, Principal Research Fellow, Australian Council for Educational Research
5B: Unemployment
Working out solutions: Labor's review of employment policy
[ paper ]
Ms Jenny Macklin MP, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Full Employment: The Five Economists Plan Revisited
[ paper ]
Professor Peter Dawkins, Director and Ronald Henderson Professor, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research and

Dr Michael Keating AC, Visiting Fellow, Economics Program, RSSS, The Australian National University
Labour market deregulation and unemployment
[ presentation ]
Professor Judith Sloan, Commissioner, Productivity Commission
5C: Issues in Health Policy
Private Health Insurance and the PBS: How effective has recent government policy been?
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Professor Jeff Richardson, Director, Health Economics Unit, Centre for Health Evaluation Program, Monash University
The Role of the Private Sector In the Health System
[ presentation ]
Ms Mary Ann O'Loughlin, Director, Allen Consulting Group
Reforming the Incentive Structure in the Australian Health System
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Dr Richard Scotton, Health Economist
Session 6: Roundtables
6A: The Business Cycle and the Economic Outlook
The Australian Business Cycle
[ paper ]    [ presentation ]
Mr Don Harding, Assistant Director, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne
Discussant of Don Hardings paper
[ paper ]
Dr David Gruen, Head of Economic Research Department, Reserve Bank of Australia
The near-term economic outlook
[ paper ]    [ presentation ]
Dr Peter Summers, Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne
Commentator:The economic outlook
[ presentation ]
Mr Chris Richardson, Director, Access Economics
6B: Welfare Reform: The Case of Lone Parents
The Welfare Reform Agenda as it affects lone parents
Senator Amanda Vanstone MP, Minister for Family and Community Services
Lessons from the US experience
[ presentation ]
Dr Gary Burtless, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution
Work incentives and labour supply of lone parents
[ paper ]
Professor Alan Duncan, Professor of Microeconomics, School of Economics, University of Nottingham
How much reform do we need?
[ paper ]
Dr Elspeth McInnes, President, National Council for Single Mothers and Their Children
6C: Reforming the Higher Education System
Challenges in Higher Education Policy
[ presentation ]
Dr Brendan Nelson MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training
The case for deregulating higher education
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Professor Alan Gilbert, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Melbourne
Positive and Negative Aspects of University Funding Arrangements
[ paper ]
Professor Bruce Chapman, Director, Centre for Economic Policy Research, The Australian National University
Priorities in Higher Education Reform
[ paper ]
Emeritus Professor Peter Karmel AC CBE, Chair of the Board, Institute of the Arts, The Australian National University
12.30 2.15pm
Lunch: The Leader of the Opposition
Opposition's view of the important policy issues confronting Australia
[ presentation ]
Mr Simon Crean MP, Leader of the Opposition
Session 7: Roundtables
7A: The Economics and Politics of Economic Reform
Competition Policy and Economic Reform: The Way Forward
[ paper ]
Mr Graeme Samuel, President, National Competition Council
Telstra: Should it be privatised?
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Dr Rod Maddock, Head of Equities Research, Premium Financial Services, Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Tax Reform: An unfinished agenda?
[ paper ]     [ presentation ]
Professor John Freebairn, Head Department of Economics, The University of Melbourne
The politics of economic reform
[ paper ]
Mr Ian Henderson, Political Correspondent, The Australian
7B: Work and Family Conflicts and Fertility: Implications for Public Policy
Fertility and Work/Family Policies, Australia and the U.S.
[ paper ]    [ presentation ]
Professor Robert Drago, Department of Labor Studies and Industrial Relations, College of Liberal Arts, Pennsylvania State University
Comments and Round-table discussion

Putting family values before market values
[ presentation by Mr Wayne Swan MP ]
Professor Peter McDonald, Head, Demography Program, RSSS, The Australian National University

Mr Tony Abbott MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

Mr Wayne Swan MP, Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services

Senator Natasha Stott Despoja MP, Leader of the Australian Democrats
7C: Ageing and Retirement
The Economic Impact of an Ageing Population: An International Perspective
[ presentation ]
Dr Gary Burtless, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution
The Ageing Population in Australia: Policy Implications
[ presentation ]
Kevin Andrews MP, Minister for Ageing
Retirement and Superannuation Policy in Australia
[ paper ]    [ presentation ]
Dr Vince FitzGerald, Executive Director, Allen Consulting Group
Session 8: Plenary
Towards Opportunity and Prosperity: The Way Ahead
Towards Opportunity and Prosperity
[ no paper provided ]
Mr Tony Abbott MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Towards Opportunity and Prosperity
[ presentation ]
Ms Jenny Macklin MP, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Are the Government and/or the Opposition on the right track
Mr Paul Kelly, International Editor, The Australian
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