Media releases
Our media releases provide informative statements for media outlets and the wider-community about our broad range of work.
For media enquiries, call Simon Kinsmore on 02 6240 3330 or email media@pc.gov.au.
Governments falling short on Closing the Gap commitments
Released 26 / 07 / 2023
Australian governments do not appear to have grasped the nature and scale of change required to accelerate improvements in life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Trade and assistance review exposes rising industry assistance
Released 20 / 07 / 2023
Assistance to Australian industry – money spent by governments to support Australian businesses – rose to $13.8 billion in 2021-22, according to the Productivity Commission’s annual Trade and Assistance Review (TAR) released today.
Closing the Gap annual update reveals mixed progress and significant data gaps
Released 12 / 07 / 2023
The Productivity Commission today released the third Annual Data Compilation Report, which provides a point-in-time snapshot of progress against the targets and indicators in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Annual productivity bulletin examines recent productivity trends
Released 10 / 07 / 2023
The Productivity Commission’s 2023 Bulletin unpacks the 4.6% decline in labour productivity for the 12 months to March 2023, and finds that the decline could be driven in part by the unwinding of COVID-19 related effects...
A focused Future Drought Fund for a changing climate
Released 13 / 06 / 2023
The interim report invites further views on the Commission’s initial findings and recommendations on ways to improve the operation and design of the Future Drought Fund (FDF).
Productivity Inquiry sets out priorities to advance prosperity
Released 17 / 03 / 2023
If Australia is to continue to grow its economy and increase individual prosperity, productivity policy should focus on key emerging trends like the shift towards service industries, according to the final report of the Productivity Commission’s 5-year Productivity Inquiry.
Extended unpaid leave will not plug Australia's carer gap
Released 28 / 02 / 2023
Providing workers with an entitlement to extended unpaid carer leave would benefit a small number of workers and care recipients but would not make a material difference to Australia’s carer gap.
Report on Government Services 2023
Released 24 / 01 / 2023
The Report on Government Services provides important information to help governments and the community understand the efficiency and effectiveness of key services to the community.
Still lessons to be learned to improve student outcomes
Released 20 / 01 / 2023
The Productivity Commission’s Review of theNational School Reform Agreement (NSRA) recommends redesigning the agreement to focus more attention on lifting students’ academic results and supporting students’ wellbeing.
Government action needed because two in three Indigenous-style souvenirs are fake
Released 13 / 12 / 2022
The Productivity Commission is calling for the Australian Government to introduce legislation that will enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to protect important aspects of their cultures from being misappropriated in visual arts and crafts.
Regulating for direct employment not the answer for aged care
Released 21 / 10 / 2022
A new report by the Productivity Commission has found the use of independent contractors in aged care gives older Australians more choice and is helping them stay in their own homes longer.
People at heart of productivity
Released 13 / 10 / 2022
The Productivity Commission’s sixth interim report in its 5-year Productivity Inquiry investigates how workers can boost the nation’s productivity.
Getting more value from education
Released 04 / 10 / 2022
High-quality school and tertiary education systems are vital for a productive workforce. But despite increased investment in schools, foundational skills such as writing and numeracy have stagnated. Employment rates for university and VET graduates have also fallen in recent years.
Tackling Australia's housing affordability problem
Released 30 / 09 / 2022
Australia has a housing affordability problem, with many Australians struggling to rent or buy a home, according to the Productivity Commission’s review of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (NHHA) released today.
Time to take the handbrake off Australia's productivity
Released 28 / 09 / 2022
Overcoming challenges presented by climate change and an increasingly unfavourable global trade and investment landscape will be necessary to reinvigorate Australia's business environment and accelerate productivity growth.
Innovation by the many, not just the few
Released 26 / 09 / 2022
With only between one and two per cent of Australian businesses producing new to the world innovation, consideration must be given to how to help the other 98 per cent adopt and adapt existing technologies and practices to improve performance...
Reforms needed to lift student outcomes
Released 14 / 09 / 2022
To lift student outcomes the Commonwealth and States and Territories need to forge a new agreement focused on driving effective change in our schools and classrooms.
Container port underperformance costs all Australians
Released 09 / 09 / 2022
Lifting productivity at our container ports could save business and consumers $605 million each year. Reform could achieve consistent, high performance, according to a draft report released by the Productivity Commission today.
Australia's data and digital dividend
Released 23 / 08 / 2022
Digital technologies and data are increasingly important for Australia’s economy. Policies that promote digital innovation and adoption are needed to drive productivity growth.
Assistance efficacy vital for meeting challenges to Australia’s prosperity
Released 05 / 08 / 2022
With the cost of living rapidly rising, Australia near full employment, and significant challenges to the global economic landscape, there has never been a more important time for the Commonwealth to ensure that assistance to industry is efficient and effective.