The Centre for Optimism has called on the Prime Minister to open the Productivity Round Table with a simple, transformative question to every participant: "What makes you optimistic?"
This question reframes dialogue away from deficit language and crisis framing. Instead, it grounds discussion in possibility, resilience, and shared opportunity.
"Even being asked that question 'What makes You Optimistic' lifts people," said Victor Perton, The Centre's Chief Optimism Officer. "It causes them to look for the bright side, which is deeply energising. Imagine what could be unleashed if the nation's most influential leaders began their conversation about productivity by naming what gives them optimism."
The Prime Minister has already set the tone. He has said, "I want a country where hope and optimism are the major emotions projected from our national government to the Australian people." Speaking of the Round Table, he emphasised that it was "an opportunity to build optimism, strengthen national confidence, and ensure Australians can look to the future with belief in our shared capacity to achieve."
That spirit of optimism has been expressed too by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox, and Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Bran Black. Mr Willox captured the mood when he said, "I go into these talks with some optimism that we can shift the dial on some key policy settings."
The Centre for Optimism also recommended embedding optimism as an explicit national strategy. This includes establishing an Australian Centre for Optimism as a bipartisan initiative embedded in government to restore confidence, measure progress through a National Optimism Index, and guide national storytelling. Such a body would send a clear signal that optimism is central to Australia's future prosperity and cohesion.
Complementing these optimism-focused reforms, The Centre proposes further practical measures to boost productivity and innovation. These include a National Fourth Industrial Revolution Plan integrating AI, 3D printing, and 6G technologies; an Optimistic Experimentation Fund to support grassroots innovation; migration reforms to attract skills for future capabilities; significant reskilling partnerships with education institutions; opportunity engines to tackle pressing challenges like housing, healthcare, and climate change; and broadening the remit of the National Cabinet to foster collaboration and innovation across government.
The Evidence and the Optimism Framework
The Centre's recommendations are grounded in a substantial body of evidence and a coherent framework:
- The Optimism Principle shows that "the answer to life's most pressing questions is optimism," which underpins leadership, innovation, and resilience.
- The Optimistic National Narrative is a clear-eyed and forward-looking story of Australia that highlights resilience, progress, and potential, countering pessimism in public debate.
- The Optimism Economy demonstrates that optimism is a strategic economic force, fuelling productivity, innovation, and investment.
- The Optimism Effect: The University of Sydney Business School research "The Optimism Effect" shows that optimism, particularly producer optimism, directly fuels productivity and innovation through greater investment in research, development, and business growth.
A good vision to support is the City of Melbourne's M2050 Summit aspiration of being "the most optimistic city." If a city can commit itself to optimism as a defining strength, why not a country? The Centre for Optimism believes that Australia can aspire to be known globally as the most optimistic nation in our region or the world.
Science and common sense align: when the national mood becomes more optimistic, productivity rises, innovation flourishes, and Australia becomes an even more attractive destination for business investment.
Call to Action
The Productivity Round Table is a unique opportunity to set a new tone for national reform. By beginning with the question "What makes you optimistic?" and embedding optimism as a core national strategy, Australia can restore confidence, fuel innovation, and lead the world as the most optimistic country it can be, or in our region or the world.
What makes You Optimistic?
About us:
The Centre for Optimism is a Melbourne-based international community committed to fostering optimism and modelling infectiously optimistic leadership.
