Rudd promises more talk on economy Kevin Rudd today made a big announcement on the struggling economy. He will talk about it with Big Unions and Big Business and agree to things he does not specify: KEVIN Rudd has called for a new productivity pact between business, unions and the federal government to boost the economy. The Prime Minister announced the initiative, which would mirror the prices and income accord struck between unions and the Hawke Labor government 30 years ago, during a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra. The pact would form part of a national agenda to boost Australia's competitiveness. "The truth is, if we are to drive a new national competitiveness agenda we need to have government, business and unions working as much as possible together - pushing in the same strategic policy direction for the overall wellbeing of our national economy," Mr Rudd said. Why not call a 2020 Ideas Summit, all over again?