Australia's Brisbane Summit challenge: Securing G20's future

On 19 August 2014 CEDA released its G20 policy perspective, Australia's Brisbane Summit challenge: Securing G20's future. The report examines the role, effectiveness and processes associated with the G20, specifically looking at the issues of international governance, financial regulation and taxation regulation.

CEDA Chief Executive Professor the Hon. Stephen Martin said the report, examines the relevance of the G20, whether it still has a role to play and if so, how further potential can be realised.

"Our report has found that, despite suggestions to the contrary, the G20 absolutely still has a role to play in tackling major economic challenges," Professor Martin said.

"However, the CEDA report also highlights it is vital that issues such as financial system regulation and taxation reform - where substantial progress through the G20 has been achieved already - must be addressed with renewed rigour following the Brisbane Summit," he said.

CEDA Chief Executive, Professor the Hon. Stephen Martin said the report examines the relevance of the G20, whether it still has a role to play and if so, how further potential can be realised.

"Our report has found that, despite suggestions to the contrary, the G20 absolutely still has a role to play in tackling major economic challenges," Professor Martin said.

"However, the CEDA report also highlights it is vital that issues such as financial system regulation and taxation reform - where substantial progress through the G20 has been achieved already - must be addressed with renewed rigour following the Brisbane Summit," he said.

"While issues such as Russia's participation in the Summit are critical, it is important that the focus on key economic reforms is not overshadowed or lost."

Professor Martin emphasised that the world economy is still fragile, particularly with respect to global finance, and the focus for the Summit agenda therefore must concentrate on what policy decisions and actions need to be considered to mitigate against another potential GFC.

Read media release - CEDA report: Fragile world economy means G20 can't be just a talkfest
Download the report - Australia's Brisbane Summit challenge: Securing G20's future (pdf)

Chapters and authors

Can the G20 ever realise its potential?

Professor Mark Beeson

This chapter explores the potential and the limitations of the G20, and discusses Australia's role in the G20 Summit in Brisbane.

Unfinished agenda: The Brisbane G20 Summit and global financial reform

Dr John Edwards

This chapter explores the global financial reform agenda that began after the Global Financial Crisis, and considers how this agenda may progress during the G20 Summit in Brisbane.

The role of the G20 in taxation regulation

Professor Kerrie Sadiq

This chapter explores the status of the current programs designed to address global tax avoidance, critiques the role that the G20 plays in the reform agenda, and considers the part that Australia will play in the process.

Live stream event and forums

Report launch in Brisbane Tuesday, 19 Brisbane 2015

CEDA's G20 report was launched at an event in Brisbane on 19 August, with contributing authors, RBA Board Member, Dr John Edwards and Professor Kerrie Sadiq from QUT.

Watch videos - G20 report launch

Perth - Wednesday, 20 August 2015

Speakers:

• Professor Mark Beeson, Professor of International Politics, Murdoch University
• Dr John Edwards, Board Member, Reserve Bank of Australia
• Andrew Smith, Country Chair, Shell Australia; Member, B20 2014 Australian Leadership Group

Sydney - Tuesday,  26 August 2015

Speakers:

• Dr John Edwards, Non Resident Fellow, The Lowy Institute for International Policy, Member, CEDA Council of Economic Policy
• Mark Konza, Deputy Commissioner International - Public Groups and International, Australian Taxation Office
• The Hon. Mark Vaile AO, Chairman, Whitehaven Coal
• Professor Glenn Withers AO, Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Member, CEDA Council of Economic Policy and CEDA Board of Directors

Melbourne - Thursday, 4 September 2015

Speakers:

• Dr John Edwards, Lowy Institute for International Policy and the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy at Curtin University
• Robert Milliner, B20 Sherpa and Senior Advisor, UBS
• Grant Wardell-Johnson, Head of the Australian Tax Centre, KPMG