Andrew Leigh

SPEECH, FEDERATION CHAMBER

THURSDAY, 24 MAY 2018

During my lifetime we in Australia have decriminalised homosexual acts between consenting adults. We have removed many forms of institutionalised discrimination against LGBT+ Australians. And we have belatedly legislated same-sex marriage.

There is more to be done in Australia, but there is much more to be done around the world. According to the ILGA's 2017 report, as of May 2017, 72 states continue to criminalise same-sex consensual activity—that is, more than one-third of the world's nations. There are currently eight nations in which the death penalty is imposed as a punishment for same-sex consensual sexual acts.

SPEECH - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WEDNESDAY, 24 MAY 2018

There is a reason the government ran out of speakers on this debate. There is a reason the Treasurer had no-one behind him. It's because this government is, deep down, ashamed of the package they have. They're ashamed that we on this side of the House are offering tax cuts which are better, bigger and fairer than theirs. On budget night, the Treasurer cunningly put together two sets of tax cuts—a set that comes in in about six weeks time and a set that comes in in about six years time. The set that come in in about six weeks time would, according to the Grattan Institute, make the tax system more progressive. That's why Labor is happy to support those tax cuts due to take effect in six weeks time. In fact, we won't just back them. We'll do better. We will offer an average Australian an additional $400 a week compared to those opposite.

SPEECH - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TUESDAY, 22 MAY 2018

There's one thing worse than right-wing ideologues, and that's unoriginal right-wing ideologues who have to borrow their tax-cutting strategy from overseas. The story of this government's personal income tax plan originates in United States Republican law, with people like Irving Kristol and Grover Norquist. To see the origins of this, you need to look back to the Bush tax cuts implemented in 2003, which saw 53 per cent of the cuts going to the top one per cent. American taxpayers making $10 million or more pocketed an average of $1 million a year. But, in order to hide from the American people the impact of that tax cut, a short-term stimulus was put in place, and so everybody saw an immediate handout but, over the long run, it was the most affluent who received the most.

Launch of National Volunteer Week 2018

Parliament House 

21 May 2018

[Acknowledgements omitted]

When I think back to my childhood, volunteering is among the most memorable things I did. Working with the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers to build a track in Nowra. Standing in Hornsby shopping centre dressed in a clown suit, selling juggling balls to raise money for Oxfam. Volunteering at Redfern Legal Centre and the ACT Welfare Rights Centre as a law student and junior lawyer.

But while we have this huge strength for volunteering which Minister Tehan has referred to, the overall statistics suggest a problem. As Australia has become more ‘disconnected’ on a range of dimensions. So too, volunteering has fallen. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that the share of people who volunteered in the past year has fallen from 36 per cent to 31 per cent. We need to turn that trend around. That’s why Labor leader Bill Shorten after the last election made the historic decision of creating a portfolio for charities and not for profits, recognising that volunteering doesn't sit neatly within environment, law or social services but spans all of those areas and much more.

BILL SHORTEN, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

ANDREW LEIGH, SHADOW ASSISTANT TREASURER AND SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMPETITION AND PRODUCTIVITY

When it comes to servicing your car, one size doesn't FIAT all

Ten Daily, 21 May 2018

A Mazda 6 that couldn’t get a software update. A Nissan X Trail where the power windows couldn’t be reset. A Kia Cerato where the faulty engine control unit needed a special PIN.

Modern cars are computers on wheels, and every day, independent mechanics are dealing with the software that runs them. From suspension control to anti-lock braking, parking guidance to smart cruise control, the typical passenger vehicle has 25 to 50 central processing units.

E&OE TRANSCRIPT

TELEVISION INTERVIEW

SKY NEWS AM AGENDA

MONDAY, 21 MAY 2018 

SUBJECTS: AGL and Liddell, Climate change and energy costs, Income tax cuts, Labor’s Your Car, Your Choice policy.

KIERAN GILBERT: With me now the Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Andrew Leigh. Your reaction to this news from AGL I'm thinking many of us would have predicted it but the Alinta offer knocked back by AGL and they don't want any further part of it?

ANDREW LEIGH, SHADOW ASSISTANT TREASURER: Kieran, we know the solution to Australia's energy and climate needs isn't to extend ageing coal fired plants - it's to invest in a whole different suite of renewables. AGL's plan has been acknowledged by the Australian Energy Market Operator - it’s a mix of gas, renewables and demand management. We need to make sure that we've got more renewables in the system. That ensures that we meet our climate targets, but it also makes sure that we are able to have sustained energy production.

GILBERT: The regulators though did also suggest that, in terms of a transition at least, it would be preferable and it would provide insurance if AGL were to keep Liddell open or if it were to be offloaded. That was certainly the Government's hope?

LEIGH: That's the Government's hope, but I differ with you from saying that that's the energy market operator’s recommendation. The energy market operator hasn't recommended an extension of Liddell's life. What this is about is an internal fight within the Liberal Party - the coal dinosaur faction who want to see taxpayers money go to subsidising coal fired plants. That's not good for energy prices in Australia and certainly not good for our carbon emissions. Carbon emissions have continued to rise under a Prime Minister who once said he wouldn't lead a party as committed to climate change as he was.

TRIALS CHANGING LIVES

Friday, 18 May 2018 - The Daily Telegraph

It’s no ordinary courtroom. If former drug users take a step forward – by finding a job, staying off drugs or graduating from the program – the judge leads the court­room in a round of applause. When one man, a former heavy user and dealer, graduated from the program to the applause of the courtroom, he wept. ‘You were the first people who gave me a chance.’

If applauding drug users makes you uneasy, you’re not the only one. When the NSW Drug Court was proposed in 1999, the nation was in the grip of a heroin epidemic. Many people thought that harsher sentences were the only answer. Many experts, including former Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery, were sceptical that the Drug Court would work.

CENTRAL COAST RECONNECTED FORUM A SUCCESS

Central Coast charities and not-for-profits came together today to exchange ideas on boosting social capital and community engagement at another successful ‘Reconnected’ roundtable.

While the Turnbull Government is working in Parliament to stifle the voice of our charities, Labor is listening to the sector to hear how we can ensure our communities have stronger bonds and louder voices.

REPORT ON INVESTIGATION INTO THE AUSTRALIAN TAX OFFICE

Over a month ago, Labor leader Bill Shorten called for an investigation into the Australian Tax Office after troubling allegations were raised by a joint Fairfax Media-Four Corners investigation.

The Turnbull Government heeded our call, announcing an urgent investigation.

Labor calls on the Government to provide an update on that investigation, including the release of the report conducted by Treasury.

MAKE UP YOUR MIND, MR MORRISON

Scott Morrison is again refusing to stand by his own Budget figures, this time hiding behind the Treasury as he dodges calls to release year-by-year costings of his income tax measures beyond the forward estimates.

Scott Morrison told ABC’s Insiders yesterday that:

Barrie Cassidy: So you are saying to the Parliament that it’s unreasonable to ask for year-on-year costings?

Scott Morrison: No, the Treasury in fact say that the within year estimates beyond the Forward Estimates are not reliable.

But if the figures are unreliable, why is the Budget website spruiking a tax relief calculator providing estimates to people beyond that four year period?

The website says someone earning $1 million a year will get an ongoing benefit of $7225 a year from 2024-25. Why don’t we get to know how much it will cost the budget per year?