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Hi Vicky,
It’s been a busy few weeks in the office - the first two sitting weeks of Parliament, plenty of pop-up offices, and our first Politics in the Pub since the election. Amongst all of this, a huge focus of mine has been preparing for the Treasurer’s three-day Economic Reform Roundtable, kicking off tomorrow morning in Canberra.
I’ll be one of a handful of MPs in the room, alongside around 40 other attendees from across the community: trade unions, business representatives, academics, climate groups and civil society.
My role is clear: to push for long-term decision making that is based on evidence and informed by the community. That is the sort of reform you have told me to champion.
To ensure I can best contribute to the roundtable, my team and I have been working hard over recent weeks to consult widely. I’ve convened roundtables on tax reform and venture capital, met with climate advocates and members of the creative industries, and spoken with many of you out and about in Wentworth. I’ve also worked through hundreds of pages of submissions.
The insights you’ve shared have directly shaped the priorities I’ll take into the Roundtable. Thank you for making your voices heard. Ahead of tomorrow, I want to update you on what I’ll be advocating for.
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At my Tax Roundtable in Canberra. Talking tax can be fun!
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Looking back
My Tax Reform Roundtable
In July, I hosted a Tax Reform Roundtable in Canberra, bringing together leaders from business, academia, civil society and the environment sector. While we never expected instant consensus, we found common ground on some critical issues:
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Smoothing the tax burden across generations – so we can shift the tax burden away from young, working Australians to other stages in life when people are more financially secure
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Collecting a fairer share from resources – ensuring Australians benefit properly from our non-renewable assets like our gas exports.
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Simplifying business taxes – especially for small and medium enterprises, where complexity and compliance costs are a huge drag
Community Consultation
Alongside this, I’ve been consulting widely across Wentworth. Here’s what I’ve heard so far:
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Climate groups want to see the clean energy transition delivered at the lowest cost. That means reforming the EPBC Act, which is failing our environment while also dragging out approvals - delaying clean energy projects and making the transition more costly than it should be.
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Start-ups and venture capital investors have told me that our rules need to be smarter to allow for easier access to capital and less red tape, so Australia can compete globally.
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Small business owners have said they’re frustrated by complexity. They want to cut unnecessary regulation that is making it harder to grow and employ people.
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Arts and media leaders are worried about AI and its impact on the creative sector. They want to ensure there is a fair return for their work.
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Young working Australians have told me how it feels like even though they've worked hard, got good jobs and are trying their hardest - they're struggling to hit the same milestones as their parents.
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A productive session talking small business at the Bondi Chamber of Commerce.
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Looking forward: The Treasurer's Roundtable
What is the Roundtable?
All of this preparation has been to ensure I can add the greatest value at the Economic Reform Roundtable this week. So what is this Roundtable, and why does it matter?
The Roundtable will run over three days and its purpose is to build agreement on how we:
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Get the economy working better - improving productivity so we can raise wages and living standards without everyone having to work longer hours. Productivity is about working smarter, not harder - finding ways to get more from the same effort.
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Make Australia more resilient - preparing for future shocks like climate change, natural disasters, or global instability, including wars that affect energy, supply chains and security.
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Make the budget sustainable – ensuring the government can pay for essential services like health, aged care and the NDIS without piling debt onto future generations. Right now, too much spending is on autopilot, and if we don’t act, the bill will be left to our children and grandchildren.
What I'll be pushing for
At the table, I’ll be advocating for five priorities:
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A serious process on tax reform - not another review that kicks the can down the road, but a roadmap for achievable change.
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Smarter regulation - cutting duplication and delays, especially in housing and clean energy, while uploading strong standards.
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Better management of government spending - particularly in the NDIS and care economy, where we need innovation and a focus on prevention to ensure long-term sustainability.
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A lowest-cost climate transition - by backing smart, market-based solutions that cut emissions efficiently. We also need to scale up investment in clean energy so we can take advantage of the opportunity to become a global leader.
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Managing the AI transition - making sure artists and workers benefit from the technology so we can manage disruption responsibly.
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Why this matters
I am optimistic this won’t be just another Canberra talkfest - and that’s what I’ll be holding the government to account on. From the family trying to buy their first home, to our kids navigating a world shaped by AI, to the small business owner tied up in red tape - the choices we make now will shape Australia’s prosperity for decades.
While we won’t be allowed phones in the room at the Roundtable, I’ll be keeping our community updated at the end of every day so keep an eye out on my socials! We'll also be sending an email at the end of the 3-days to provide a summary on the key takeaways.
In the Media
As always, if you have any feedback you'd like to share with me please don't hesitate to reach out. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Warm regards,
Allegra Spender MP
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Allegra Spender MP Federal Member for Wentworth
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