Why does Australia have a productivity problem? - podcast

<p>Improving economic productivity is crucial for raising living standards, and Australia’s productivity growth has been sluggish for years. When the Reserve Bank hiked interest rates to a 15 year high last week, the governor, Michele Bullock, even described productivity as ‘doing nothing’.</p><p>The chair of the Productivity Commission, <strong>Danielle Wood</strong>, speaks with political editor <strong>Tom McIlroy</strong> about the policy challenges of encouraging AI integration, improving housing affordability and managing the impacts of the climate crisis</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/22/australia-intergenerational-report-2026-economy-birth-rate-baby-bonus">Australia’s economic challenges are mounting as deaths start to outnumber births. But ‘baby bonus’ policies would be pointless – Nicki Hutley</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/06/consumer-confidence-index-interest-rate-rise-australia-rba-housing-renter-mortgage">Australian consumer confidence plunges to worst level since 1990s after RBA rate rise</a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2026/oct/09/why-does-australia-have-a-productivity-problem-australian-politics-podcast">Continue reading...</a>