Andrew Leigh

APPOINTMENT AS A SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER

I am pleased to be appointed by Anthony Albanese as Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury.

Labor has always been the party that drives economic reform in Australia. When the Grattan Institute identified the ten biggest economic reforms of the past generation, six were Labor reforms, three were bipartisan, and only one was a Coalition idea.

The election result does not change the problems in the Australian economy. Living standards and wages have been stagnant for years. The business startup rate is falling. Household debt and government debt have skyrocketed. Australia is missing in action when it comes to global reform of the multinational tax and trading system. Poverty and inequality are too high.

I am eagerly looking forward to working with the economic team, including Jim Chalmers, Katy Gallagher, Stephen Jones and Matt Thistlethwaite. We are pro-growth progressives, committed to Labor values of egalitarianism and opportunity. I also acknowledge the leadership of Australia’s longest-serving Shadow Treasurer, Chris Bowen, a true professional and a great economic reformer.

I am also pleased to be able to continue my engagement with Australia’s charities and not-for-profits as Shadow Assistant Minister for Charities. After a six year war on charities, Australia’s volunteers, donors and community-builders are now bracing themselves for further attacks.

Australia’s charities can be confident that Labor values their work, understands their issues, and will fight back against attempts to muzzle charities or wrap them in unnecessary red tape. Labor recognises the importance of civic community, and will work with Australia’s charities to ensure that ours is a nation of “we”, not just “me”.

ENDS

Authorised by Noah Carroll ALP Canberra.