The Hon. Matt Canavan, Queensland Senator, Media Release, 20 August 2025

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan’s REAL productivity roundtable has delivered frank advice to lift Australia’s freefalling productivity rate.

Senator Canavan convened the real productivity roundtable today to discuss the real issues impacting Australians’ standard of living. Following the insightful discussions and debates, it was clear that Labor’s secret roundtable will be nothing more than a “talkfest”.

Senator Matt Canavan said to make our economy bigger, we need to make our government smaller.

“The only way we can get out of the frankly massive economic hole our country is in is to have frank and open discussions,” Senator Canavan said.

“If we want our economy to be bigger, we need our government to be smaller.

“The overburdensome red tape in our housing sector, construction sectors and others are holding our nation back.

“The ineffective interventions in our energy market, such as the reckless and destructive rush to renewables, and the futile and failing net zero policies, are restricting the latent potential of our great nation.

“We need to stop Canberra from telling people what car they can drive, what power they should use, what food they can even eat.

“It’s time the government actually put Australians first and help them instead of getting in their way.”

The real productivity roundtable also discussed the negative effects of the safeguard mechanism, the need for repeal clauses in government regulations, a need for an independent body to review regulations and more.

The full morning session of the real productivity roundtable can be found on Sky News.