Andrew Leigh

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, and Treasury

Assistant Minister for Employment

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TV INTERVIEW
SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA, POLITICS NOW

WEDNESDAY, 26 MARCH 2025

SUBJECTS: The Albanese Labor Government Budget, non-competes.

TOM CONNELL: Well one of the inclusions in Labor's budget was non-compete clauses. They claim this will be a big increase for people's wages. Joining the panel now for more budget reaction on that, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh. In his own words, he's been banging on about this for a while. Welcome to the panel. Yes, everything you say off air is on air too in this show. So, non-compete clauses - a lot of people will sort of go, alright, has that got anything to do with me? What's a specific example that you've picked up because you've been very focused on this. You don't have to put names in there, of a non-compete that just had to go in your view?

ASSISTANT MINISTER LEIGH: So, we heard the story of a 17 year-old dance instructor who was being harassed by her workplace. She moved to a competing dance studio and then got a letter from the former employer saying that she'd breached a clause that said she couldn't work in another dance studio within 15 kilometres for 18 months. These clauses were originally applied only to executives, but are now being applied right across the economy, not just in the boardroom, but also in the mailroom.

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER

MINISTER FOR FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
SENATOR FOR THE ACT

THE HON ANDREW LEIGH MP

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY 
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT

ALICIA PAYNE MP

MEMBER FOR CANBERRA

DAVID SMITH MP

MEMBER FOR BEAN

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP
PARLIAMENT HOUSE

WEDNESAY, 26 MARCH 2025

SUBJECTS: Federal Budget; ACT; National Security Office Precinct project; Dutton’s cuts to services; infrastructure investment; Services Australia staffing levels; bulk billing.

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR FINANCE: It's great to be here the day after the Budget to talk about all of the important investments made in the Budget, the announcements made and their impact here in the ACT. And I'm so pleased to be joined by all of the Labor Members of Parliament for Canberra here with Andrew Alicia and Dave. They'll all go through some specific initiatives as it relates to their areas. At a high level, for the ACT, obviously, the approach with this Budget in pretty uncertain times was to look at how we could provide some relief to households. We're doing that with our tax cuts, but also with those important investments in Medicare, in cheaper medicines, in HECS debt relief, all of those areas which are so important to households as they're going through pretty difficult times. The Budget shows that the economy is at a turning point, that there's a lot of optimism in this Budget in terms of the forecast and the way forward, and we tried to build on that with the investments that we help households through some of these costs of living pressures.

Now there's a range of areas where we have made specific investments in Canberra, but I would draw on two, and I know my colleagues will have something else to say. Obviously, the public service is a big driver of economic activity in the territory. Rebalancing and resourcing the public service has been a key feature of the Albanese Government for this entire term, making sure the APS is fit for service and fit for purpose, and we have done that, and you'll see that continue in this Budget. We're not going to be intimidated by the opposition's reckless attacks on the public service or their threats of cuts, our view is you have to have a well-resourced public service in order to deliver the outcomes that the Australian people expect, and you see that in this Budget. On the other the other point I'd raise is I've heard some criticism about lack of infrastructure spending. The single biggest project in the territory right now is federally Government funded. It's the National Security Office precinct. It is a multi-year billion-dollar investment, plus into the act to make sure that we have the facilities we need in national security and to keep Australians safe, but also that we are investing in our local economy. We also have the AIS rebuild underway, and we've got our investments in light rail as well, and this Budget contains funding in all of those areas. I'll hand to my colleagues now I'll hand to Andrew, and then you'll hear from all of them, and then happy to take questions.

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES, TREASURY AND EMPLOYMENT, DR ANDREW LEIGH: Thanks, Katy. I think what this budget illustrates is that when you've got a remarkable finance minister like Katy Gallagher, who hails from the territory, then Canberra gets a fair deal. People remember the Liberals last budget, where the ACT got just a fifth of our fair share of infrastructure spending. Now that's changed with projects like the National Security Precinct and other important projects my colleagues will talk about there's some exciting competition reforms in the Budget, but I'll leave that to questions if you have them.

Free To Move - Reforming Non-Compete Clauses

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP 

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury

Assistant Minister for Employment

Matters of Public Importance Debate

House of Representatives

26 March 2026

You have to hand it to the Shadow Treasurer. Really, you do have to hand it to him because he doesn't have it himself. The fact is that this bloke has a three-part plan: (1) criticise Labor; (2) pause; and (3) hope no-one asks him for point 3! He's continuing as he has this entire term— a policy-free zone. Tomorrow night, we're going to hear more spin than substance from the Leader of the Opposition—the man whose only serious policy proposal has been that Australians should spend $600 billion on a madcap nuclear fantasy that won't deliver until the 2040s.

In last night's budget, you heard Labor put forward our positive economic plan: a new tax cut for every taxpayer, more energy bill relief, growing wages, even cheaper medicines, cutting student debt, strengthening Medicare, making it easier to buy and rent a home, permanent free TAFE and a fair go for families and farmers. You'll hear much more about that from the other Labor speakers in this debate.

I want to focus my remarks today on non-compete clauses, which are an important part of Labor's competition reforms. The fact is, if you had a competition agenda, then you would be pretty worried about something called a non-compete clause. The clue is in the name. These are affecting real people across Australia. Let me start with a couple of stories.

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, and Treasury

Assistant Minister for Employment

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC RADIO CANBERRA, DRIVE WITH GEORGIA STYNES

WEDNESDAY, 26 MARCH 2025

SUBJECTS: The Albanese Labor Government Budget, non-competes.

STYNES: Our guest is the Labor Member for Fenner, Dr Andrew Leigh, who has been listening into this previous conversation and joins us. Good afternoon.

LEIGH: Good afternoon Georgia, great to be with you.

STYNES: Yeah, nice to be with you too. Do you acknowledge that there were some forgotten people in this budget that a lot of the measures seem to be aimed towards, well, either people who are paying tax or business?

LEIGH: Well in our previous budgets, we've raised the JobSeeker rate, we've increased Commonwealth Rent Assistance by over 40%. We have prioritised those who are doing it tough by supporting increases to the minimum wage and supporting increases to aged care workers and early childhood workers. Our tax cuts are directed towards everyone. So, everyone earning over $45,000 receives that same benefit over the two tax cuts. Somewhere around $10 a week in conjunction with our previous tax cut totals around $50 a week or $2,500 a year. So, we've looked to deliver egalitarian reforms at the same time as focusing on the long run productivity challenge that our predecessors left us with.

Fairer, Smarter, Stronger: What the 2025 Budget Delivers

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP 

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury

Assistant Minister for Employment 

Canberra Business Chamber and Institute of Public Accountants Online Budget Breakfast

Wednesday, 26 March 2025

It’s terrific to be with you and I'm sorry we're not meeting in person in the Great Hall today. I acknowledge that I’m on Ngunnawal land today, and acknowledge all First Nations people joining us.

Thank you to the Canberra Business Chamber and the Institute of Public Accountants for again putting on this event, which is really a fixture in the Budget calendar. I've done your event many times. I enjoy it more in person than virtually, but it is a real pleasure to be able to engage with the Canberra business community.

Let me start off with where we are in a global context, then go to a couple of the key measures in the Budget and finally finish up by asking the question: ‘What does the Budget meant for Canberra?’

If we look around the world, uncertainty is up. We've always lived in an uncertain world, but policy uncertainty is combining with geopolitical uncertainty. At this moment, we've seen a range of our counterpart economies go into recession as they've sought to battle inflation. The UK and New Zealand have suffered recessions, and many other economies around the world have experienced quarters of negative growth as they sought to tame the global cost of living challenge. Australia, uniquely in our history, has managed to bring inflation down into the Reserve Bank's target band without a significant rise in unemployment. We should be collectively extraordinarily proud of this. It's not the story of the 70s, the 80s or the 90s, where taming inflation meant increasing unemployment.

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER

MINISTER FOR FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
SENATOR FOR THE ACT

THE HON ANDREW LEIGH MP

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY 
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT

ALICIA PAYNE MP

MEMBER FOR CANBERRA

DAVID SMITH MP

MEMBER FOR BEAN

MEDIA RELEASE

Fourth Albanese Government Budget Delivers For Canberra

Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Labor is continuing to deliver for Canberra through the Albanese Government’s fourth Budget which will confirm more than $400 million in cost-of-living relief, critical infrastructure, community investments for all Canberrans.

Following a decade of neglect under the former Liberal National Government, Labor has spent the last three years ensuring Canberra and Canberrans get their fair share. This budget builds on that commitment.

Building upon key investments in previous Budgets, including funding the light rail, national institutions, and improving the health of the Upper Murrumbidgee River, this Budget brings Labor’s total investment in the ACT almost $2 billion since coming to government.

Key investments for the ACT in the Government’s Budget include:

• A sixth Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, located in Woden
• Over $50 million for roads in the ACT
• $331 million over 10 years for ACT schools
• An additional $50 million for our hospitals
• Continued investment in secure and permanent jobs within the APS

THE HON CATHERINE KING MP
MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The HON ANDREW LEIGH MP

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY 
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT

ALICIA PAYNE MP

MEMBER FOR CANBERRA

DAVID SMITH MP

MEMBER FOR BEAN

MEDIA RELEASE

$50 million for further upgrades to Monaro Highway

Tuesday, 25 March 2025

The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future, investing in the transport infrastructure Canberrans need to support a growing city. 

Since coming to government, we’ve been backing Canberra – upgrading roads, investing in light rail and building bike paths and walkways to make journeys safer, smoother and more enjoyable. 

We’re investing another $53.5 million as part of the 2025-26 Federal Budget to support the next stage of growth and ensure projects across the territory can actually be delivered. This includes:

• $30 million to complete the Monaro Highway Upgrade 
• $20 million to complete a final business case and commence detailed investigations for the Monaro Highway Upgrade Stage 2  
• $3.5 million to complete the duplication of Gundaroo Drive 

The Monaro Highway upgrade is a long-term series of road improvements which are delivering improved safety, freight efficiency and faster and smoother commutes for ACT residents.

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, and Treasury

Assistant Minister for Employment

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
2CC CANBERRA, WITH STEPHEN CENATIEMPO

TUESDAY, 25 MARCH 2025

SUBJECTS: Budget, renewable energy, energy bill relief, Coalition rorts, supermarkets, competition and dynamism.

CENATIEMPO: Let's talk federal politics with the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, and the Member for Fenner, Andrew Leigh. Good morning.

LEIGH: Good morning Stephen. Happy Budget day!

CENATIEMPO: Well look, I’ve got to say I hate Budget week Andrew, but I thank you anyway, I want to ask you something - your role as Assistant Minister for Treasury. What does that mean? How does that tie into the overall Treasury, Treasurer, finance portfolio, etc.

LEIGH: I'm part of the Treasury economics team, and I have particular responsibility for the issues of competition, multinational tax, for the Mint and for the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

CENATIEMPO: Okay. Now the Budget will be handed down tonight. Now pox on both your houses. I mean, this is going to be a cash splash which all budgets leading into elections are, and the Opposition has basically said they will match every dollar. Isn't it time for some responsible economic management rather than just throwing cash around that we don't have?

LEIGH: Well Stephen, in less than three years we've reduced Liberal Party debt by $177 billion.

Federation, Finance and the Fine Art of Fiscal Fisticuffs

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP 

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury

Assistant Minister for Employment 

National Schools Constitutional Convention 

Australian Parliament House Theatrette

25 March 2025

Good afternoon everyone,

Or as Alfred Deakin might have said if he were around today:

"Welcome to the most fiscally fraught federation on earth"

On behalf of the Prime Minister and the Education Minister, I'm delighted to welcome you to the National Schools Constitutional Convention.

This year, we have 120 students from schools across the country, including those who have travelled long distances, like students from Katherine High School in the Northern Territory, Hedland Senior High School in WA, and Longreach State High School in Queensland.

You join over 3,000 students who have participated in this convention since it began in 1995.

You’re here because of your curiosity, your drive, and your interest in how our country works. Your schools and communities are proud of you, and you should be proud too.

I want to thank your teachers and acknowledge Emeritus Professor Clement Macintyre from the University of Adelaide, who will be guiding you through these discussions, and recognise Professor Kim Rubenstein, Professor Anne Twomey and Dr Angela Jackson. I also want to thank the National Curriculum Services, who work hard each year to make this event happen.

 The Hon Andrew Leigh MP

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, and Treasury

Assistant Minister for Employment

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC RADIO CANBERRA, BREAKFAST WITH ROSS SOLLY

FRIDAY, 21 MARCH 2025

SUBJECTS: Cracking down on the supermarkets to get a better deal for Australians

ROSS SOLLY: So, as I mentioned earlier, and you've heard in the news - confirmation in this ACCC report that our supermarkets are among the most, if not the most profitable in the world. Which I guess we should celebrate. But we also learn from this report that those same supermarkets failed to pass on the full benefits of cost savings during the cost of living crisis. The report also paints a pretty grim picture of the chances of anything changing any time soon. Unless more competition is introduced, it is likely to remain as is. Because I tell you what, there's been plenty of big sticks waved at those supermarkets, but they still continue to do very, very well profit wise and it doesn't seem to be a lot of changes happening to help out shoppers. Dr Andrew Leigh of course, Member for Fenner, also Assistant Minister for Competition joins us this morning. Andrew Leigh, good to chat with you again.

ANDREW LEIGH: Great to be with you.

ROSS SOLLY: So I guess we should. Should we celebrate that our supermarkets are so profitable?

ANDREW LEIGH: No, I think it’s a real concern. Certainly we've seen supermarket margins rising over the last five years, especially on packaged goods. One of the troubling things about this report is that it finds that the big two have increased their market share over the last 17 years since the ACCC last did a deep dive into grocery competition. We’ve seen Metcash shrinking, and the ACCC doesn't see a significant threat from Amazon. So it does appear that the duopoly have strengthened their power, and some evidence that both have been playing tag team instead of tug of war.

ROSS SOLLY: But which - surely that's illegal?

ANDREW LEIGH: Well, some of the specials are particularly questionable. There's analysis in ACCC report which shows oscillating specials for certain products. Coles has it on special one week, then Woollies. It seems a curious pattern to be going on.

ROSS SOLLY: Is that collusion then? You can’t do - can you do that Andrew Leigh? Is that what you're alleging this morning?

ANDREW LEIGH: Well, I'm just relaying what's in the ACCC report Ross, and I need to be careful over things which could ultimately lead to legal action. But this is a very careful analysis of pricing data. They've analysed over 1 billion prices. This is a data deep dive that we haven't seen beforehand. And what the report reflects is a lot of the concerns that our policies have reflected. We’ve got the mandatory Food and Grocery code, which will come into place next month – which the Coalition voted against. We've been funding CHOICE to give shoppers more information, clamping down on shrinkflation with the Unit Pricing Code and working with the states and territories with planning and zoning, which is a big thing the ACCC flagged.