Rudd spells out agenda for prosperity

CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has pointed to a boost in productivity growth as being key in the nation's recovery from the global financial crisis.

Rudd, addressing the Australian Industry Group's (Ai Group) annual dinner at Parliament House in Canberra, said the creation of a seamless national economy could be achieved through changes to the regulatory and competition framework under the Council of Australian Governments.

There must be infrastructure investment to build the networks necessary to increase exports, as well as investment in innovation through projects such as the national broadband network.

Investment in skills training and tax reform to ensure Australia had an internationally competitive system to encourage investment and job creation were also essential , he said.

Rudd said the Government needed to look at ways of carving more out of global growth.

- AAP