The Federal Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable is being pitched as a major event to turbocharge the nation’s economy, but new research shows three in four Australians haven’t even heard of it.
YouGov polling commissioned by AMPLIFY also found when the roundtable was explained, 60% of Australians were not confident it would lead to any meaningful change in addressing productivity.
AMPLIFY is calling on the Federal Government to pursue ambitious, people-driven reforms that result in tangible outcomes – it cannot simply be a tick-and-flick exercise.
This issue hits every Australian household but too often, governments propose solutions that pit different parts of the community against each other. The Treasurer can avoid that by bringing everyday Aussies, not just big business and vested interests, to the table.
“This roundtable can’t just be a talkfest limited to the Canberra bubble — not when the issue is being felt in every Australian home,” AMPLIFY CEO Georgina Harrisson said.
“Australians are doing it tough — with rising bills, higher housing costs and lower productivity. The government can’t afford to waste this moment on words alone; we need action that delivers real wins in people’s pockets.”
Ms Harrisson said the government needed to do far more to bring the voices of everyday Australians into the discussion.
“When the community don’t trust or feel understood by their political representatives, it is more important than ever to be reaching out and letting them in to the conversations that affect them most,” she said.
“These results are a warning sign. If leaders don’t actively engage the public, they risk leaving Australians feeling even more disconnected from the people elected to serve them.
“We know from talking to our community that Australians do want to be involved — but only if they believe their voices will be heard. This polling shows they clearly feel disconnected from the conversation. AMPLIFY have demonstrated the incredible capacity the community have to contribute, if only the Government will let them.”
More Australians believe that increasing housing supply is the most important way to improve productivity – ahead of other factors – and view it as at least as important as investing in traditional drivers, such as education, skills and training.
“We are in a housing crisis and Australians are crying out for the government to do more. The nation is failing to meet housing targets and there is a desperate need to build more houses,more quickly,” Ms Harrisson said.
“Increasing housing supply would not only support more Australians have a secure roof over their head, it would boost the nation’s productivity.”
Key Facts
- 73 per cent of Australians did not know or were unsure about the government’s Economic Reform roundtable
- Only 29 per cent are confident the roundtable will lead to meaningful change with 60 per cent not confident
- 65 per cent believe improving productivity will result in most Australians working harder with most of the benefits going to employers
- While being sceptical about what it means for them, most Australians, 67 per cent, believe a focus on productivity will result in more employment opportunities for Australians
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Methodology
YouGov conducted a nationally representative online survey of 1,501 Australian voters on behalf of Amplify between 1st and 10th August 2025,. Full details are provided in the methodology statement.
The poll is compliant with the Australian Polling Council’s requirements. The margin of error on the effective sample size is 3.1%.
About AMPLIFY
AMPLIFY is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, community organisation that brings together everyday Australians to debate and discuss policy solutions to the big problems facing the nation.
Through nationwide events, online discussions, and expert collaborations, AMPLIFY empowers citizens to actively participate in shaping policies on critical issues like housing, trust in institutions, and generational equity. AMPLIFY is where Australians come together to explore diverse perspectives, build consensus and drive meaningful policy change. For more information: amplifyaus.org.