By Kat Wong and Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

A much-hyped economic summit has had a “collegial” start, with consensus reached around the need to cut nuisance tariffs and upskill workers.

Discussions around the federal government’s economic reform roundtable were shrouded in secrecy on Tuesday, with attendees not even allowed to bring mobile phones into the cabinet room at Parliament House.

But the mood was positive, according to participants who poked their heads out during the lunchtime break.

“I thought that both conversations were really quite constructive, and I think the treasurer did a good job in steering the conversation,” Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black told reporters after the opening day’s second session.

The assessment would be music to the ears of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who earlier promised to strive for consensus to achieve long-lasting change.

“Political change, whether it’s in the economy, social policy or the environment, is likely to be more successful and more entrenched and more lasting when people come with us on that journey,” he said in his opening address.

While reviving stagnant productivity was identified by Treasurer Jim Chalmers as the main aim of the roundtable, day one of the three-day summit was focused on improving Australia’s economic resilience amid increasing global challenges.

Shiro Armstrong, a professor of economics at ANU who addressed the roundtable on global uncertainty, said the mood was “extremely constructive”.

“I think the chairing was spectacular. Everyone had time to talk, nothing was rushed and really collegial between all the different interests,” he told Sky News.

Mr Black said there was consensus around removing more nuisance tariffs, after the government abolished almost 500 import levies, including for toothbrushes, dishwashers and menstrual products, in its last term.

About 300 different nuisance tariffs still remained that raised about $15 million in revenue but cost the economy more than $150 million, he said.

Developing the skillset of Australia’s workforce was another focus of the roundtable.

Independent MP Allegra Spender said there was agreement around the need to train workers to adapt to the changing economy, including in using AI.

Participants recognised businesses needed to play a role training their workers, but there was division on how to incentivise employers to do this.

Unions proposed charging employers a levy to provide skills, Mr Black said, but businesses preferred an incentive for employers to bring on more apprentices.

“We stressed the importance, instead of using the stick of a levy, of trying to incentivise employers with a carrot,” he said.

While there were lots of points of agreement at a top level, it was important over the next three days to translate that into agreement on specifics, Mr Black said.

Dr Chalmers said the roundtable would be “three days to inform three budgets – and beyond”.

“If there are solutions to the big challenges we face, I’m confident all the people in this room can help us find them,” he said in his opening remarks.

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock delivered a presentation outlining Australia’s declining productivity performance.

Productivity will feature more prominently on the second day, before budget sustainability and tax reform close out the roundtable on Thursday.

Shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien, who is also attending the roundtable, said it was Dr Chalmers’ biggest test since he entered parliament.

“He has made it very clear to the Australian people that he will turn the stats around on living standards,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Australia has experienced the biggest decline in living standards of all developed nations as a direct consequence of this government’s actions.”