Australian PM and Treasurer confirmed for Economic and Social Outlook Conference

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey have been confirmed as speakers at the 2014 Melbourne Institute-The Australian Economic and Social Outlook Conference.

The two day conference on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 July 2014 is in its ninth year and continues to be Australia’s leading platform for public policy discussion.  A key focus of the conference, held at Melbourne University, is to address pertinent issues and examine global headwinds that Australia faces.

‘Pathways to Growth’ is the theme of this year’s conference and highlights of day one of the conference include a debate between Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews MP and opposition spokeswoman the Hon Jenny Macklin MP on the age of entitlement. Treasurer Joe Hockey will give a speech over lunch on the government’s finances while the Prime Minister will give a speech over dinner at the MCG.

Professor Ross Garnaut AO will be one of the panelists to open the second day of the conference on the subject of emissions, while Paul Howes, national secretary of the AWU will speak later in the day on the subject of a productive workplace.  Lunch on the second day will focus on politics with leader of the opposition Bill Shorten MP outlining Labor’s plan to secure victory at the next election.

‘The consistent thread running through all our previous conferences have been that continued policy reform can enrich Australia’s overall well-being while providing opportunities for all. This is a unique forum bringing together leading politicians, bureaucrats, academics and non-government organisation representatives’ highlighted the Director of the Melbourne Institute, Professor Deborah Cobb Clark.

Further information about the conference can be viewed at: melbourneinstitute.com/