It’s time to shape the national debate on revenue and tax reform.

The Australia Institute’s Revenue Summit brought together economists, policy and taxation experts to discuss revenue raising options to meet Australia’s public spending needs.

Thursday, 6 October 2022 | Australian Parliament House, Canberra.

Keynote speeches:

• Rod Sims AO | Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy ANU and Former Chair of the ACCC [video | speech | transcript]
• Sally McManus | Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions [video | transcript]

Speakers include:

• Hon Stephen Jones MP | Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Financial Services [video | transcript]
• Bernie Fraser | Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia [video | transcript]
• Professor Miranda Stewart | Professor of Law, University of Melbourne Law School [video | transcript]
• ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr | ACT Treasurer [video]
• Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP | Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Federal Member for Fenner
• Dr Richard Denniss | Executive Director, the Australia Institute

> Crossbench MPs Panel [video]
Chaired by Laura Tingle, ABC 730 chief political correspondent
Senator Barbara Pocock AM | Greens Finance, Employment & Public Sector Spokesperson; Zoe Daniel MP | Independent Member for Goldstein; Allegra Spender MP | Independent Member for Wentworth; Shane Rattenbury | ACT Greens leader, ACT Attorney General

> Panel #1 – Revenue for Public Services [video]
Chaired by Katharine Murphy, Political Editor, Guardian Australia
Annie Butler | Federal Secretary, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation; Toby O’Connor | National Council CEO, St Vincent de Paul Society; Tim Washington | CEO Jetcharge; Chair, Electric Vehicle Council; Assoc Prof Elizabeth Hill | University of Sydney; Deputy Director, Gender Equality in Working Life Research Initiative

> Panel #2 – Options for Increasing Revenue Collection [video]
Chaired by Eliza Littleton, Research Economist, the Australia Institute
Professor Andrew Scott | Politics and Policy, Deakin University; Convenor, Nordic Policy Centre; Assoc Prof Janine Dixon | Economist, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University; Assoc Prof Ben Phillips | Associate Professor, Centre for Social Research and Methods, ANU; Assoc Prof Shumi Akhtar | University of Sydney Business School

Download full program [PDF].

Demand for a larger public service is only going to continue growing. Future challenges—tackling climate change, providing higher quality aged care, and improving childcare accessibility—will all require more government spending.

A bigger role for government requires more tax to carve out space in the economy. After decades of focusing on spending cuts, efficiency dividends and budget emergencies it is time to confront the fact that many of Australia’s problems flow directly from the choice to be one of the lowest taxed countries in the developed world.

We need a tax system that is fit for purpose, that raises revenue in a more efficient and equitable way.

Tax is not just the price we pay to live in a civilised society, it’s the way we shape the civilisation we want to live in. The pandemic has demonstrated that strong public services are essential to a robust economy, cohesive society, and the wellbeing of current and future Australians. If we are to meet the current and future needs of the community, we need a sustainable revenue base.

Read the Australia Institute’s Raising Revenue in Australia report for an in-depth analysis of Australia’s tax system and principles to guide its reform.