The Australian Innovation Community

The speech by Prime Minster Kevin Rudd to the New Agenda for Prosperity Conference, Melbourne University, not only highlighted his Government’s commitment to innovation but outlined in broad strokes its plans for long term economic change. These were centred on the three “P”s: “productivity, workforce participation and population growth.” You can read the complete speech here:

• “Towards a Productivity Revolution, A new Agenda of Micro-Economic Reform for Australia“

It touches on plans for new work-place relations system in 2010, computers for every Year 9 to 12 students, tax reform targeted at giving people more incentive to work, and the need for immigration to keep Australia young. On innovation he said, “We are also reviewing Australia’s whole national innovation system, with the goal of making the changes necessary to foster greater investment in research and development and build a stronger culture of innovation in businesses.” He also highlighted the great importance of building a high-speed National Broadband Network, calling broadband “a fundamentally transforming technology of the future” and saying that “our ability to engage in the global digital economy of the twenty first century will be a key driver of our productivity growth.” He also declared that he was determined to lead “a reformist government” that will develop “innovative, long-term solutions to Australia’s long-term economic challenges.” To discuss the topic in our forums click here.