Committee: Productivity in Australia
Date referred: 04 November 2025
Submissions close: 27 March 2026
Reporting date: 30 September 2026

On 4 November 2025, the Senate resolved that the Select Committee on Productivity in Australia be established. 

Terms of Reference

That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on Productivity in Australia, be established to inquire into and report on:

1. the history of productivity growth in Australia in both multifactor and labour terms;
2. objectives for a multi-decade national settlement strategy to achieve a more balanced distribution of population between cities and regional Australia, with a view to enhancing economic resilience, productivity and social cohesion;
3. the current position and opportunities to gain productivity growth;
4. conflicts of interest and structural barriers to sustainable growth;
5. the efficacy of federal competition law;
6. opportunities for the states and territories to drive growth;
7. the impact of regulatory tax burdens on productivity growth;
8. the impact and opportunity of technology;
9. priority opportunities in the market and non-market sectors for productivity growth;
10. Australia's competitiveness and benchmarking against similar nations; and
11. any other related matters.

Discussion paper

The committee has published a discussion paper to guide submitters.

Select Committee on Productivity in Australia - Discussion paper (PDF 149KB)

In addition to the issues outlined in the discussion paper, the committee is hoping to receive evidence on how strategic productivity growth and other policy measures can drive productivity in the environment sector and related industries such as agriculture, forestry and fishing, and mining. This includes identifying avenues to reduce red and green tape and encourage private investment with respect to environmental policy and projects, including environmental sustainability. 
The committee would welcome further submissions, including supplementary submissions from those who have already made a submission to this inquiry, on this topic.