MELBOURNE, August 7, 2013 — Industry and government must recommit to Australia's competitiveness by striving for sharper productivity, BHP Billiton CEO Andrew Mackenzie told a business lunch hosted here at the Sofitel Melbourne by the Asia Society Australia. Mackenzie also predicted increasing demand for global commodities as China moved to a consumption-driven economy.

In an upbeat address, his first in Australia since assuming his role in May, Mackenzie told the function, "We expect even stronger growth in the demand for commodities."

"Only a handful of countries, of which Australia is one, can currently deliver the volume of resources required for Asia's continued economic growth.

"But Australia must compete hard against both existing and emerging suppliers.

"Australia is in pole position to do so, with decades of mining experience, a highly skilled workforce, a track record of innovation, proximity to Asia and great geology and infrastructure. But these will not be enough.

"Industry and policy makers must now re-commit to Australia's future competitiveness to make sure Australia remains a supplier of choice and captures the substantial economic benefits available for current and future generations. So we must all get much sharper at productivity."

Mackenzie acknowledged that the bulk of the productivity challenge sat at industry's feet.

"We are focused on working smarter to produce more from our ore bodies, plant and machinery," he said.

But governments had to rise to the challenge.

"Their role is to provide: efficient regulatory systems; foreign, fiscal and trade policies that encourage stability and open markets; and a modern industrial relations framework that draws employees and employers onto the same page so that all sign up to a team that wants to win.

"All of us must now move quickly from words to action so that all our nation's strengths are directed towards urgent and ground-breaking pro-productivity reforms. History shows: get this right and Australia and Asia benefit."

Reported by Benjamin Haslem

Read full speech (PDF)

Video: Highlights from Andrew Mackenzie's speech (10 min., 55 sec.)

Video: Complete speech (18 min., 39 sec.)

Video: Introduction by the Hon Warwick Smith AM (4 min., 21 sec.)

Media Coverage

"BHP Billiton confident of Chinese demand", Peter Ker, The Age, 20 November 2013 (also appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald)
"BHP calls on government to push up Australia's productivity", Owen Jacques, Fraser Coast Chronicle, 9th August 2013
"BHP shuns China price cut plea", Barry Fitzgerald, The Australian, 8 August 2013 (pdf)
"BHP keeps the faith in resources", Peter Ker, Brisbane Times (also in The Sydney Morning Herald), 8 August 2013
"BHP seeks home advantage", Malcolm Maiden, Canberra Times, 8 August 2013
"Time for talks on burden of tax: BHP", Matt Chambers, The Australian, 8 August 2013
"BHP boss confident about Australia’s future in resources", Ryan Newman, ninemsn, 8 August 2013
"Saintly decision in Tiger country", The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 August 2013
"New BHP Billiton chief executive Andrew Mackenzie says demand for Australian resources to rise", Herald Sun, 7 August 2013
"Whole country benefits from mining: BHP", Peter Ker, The Age, 7 August 2013
"Australia must fix productivity to meet China's commodity demand: BHP", Matt Chambers, The Australian, 7 August 2013
"BHP boss calls for tax reform", SBS, 7 August 2013
"Business in 90 Seconds", ABC News, 7 August 2012
"BHP's CEO Sees U.S. Shale Expansion as Mineral Demand Grows", Elisabeth Behrmann, Bloomberg, 7 August 2013
"Commodities demand to soar: Mackenzie", AAP, 7 August 2013