Three Australian outlets publish commentary questioning the usefulness of “productivity” as a policy target, arguing that it is difficult to measure accurately. The articles say politicians and economists often call for productivity growth, but the concept can be treated as too vague to translate into clear, observable goals. They contend that because productivity is not captured directly in a simple, consistent way, improvement efforts risk becoming rhetorical rather than evidence-driven. The writers point to the challenge of linking broad productivity indicators to specific changes in workplaces, technology, management practices, or economic conditions. Rather than offering a single alternative metric, the commentary focuses on the measurement problem itself, suggesting that without better ways to assess productivity drivers, policy prescriptions may lack precision. Across the three publications, the central theme is that productivity cannot be fully measured “not really,” and this limits how effectively it can guide reforms intended to raise performance and living standards.