Andrew Leigh

Senator The Hon Katy Gallagher  
The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP
David Smith MP
Alicia Payne MP 

Joint Media Release

MAKING MEDICARE STRONGER FOR CANBERRANS  

Today, the largest investment in bulk billing in the 40-year history of Medicare takes effect thanks to the Albanese Labor Government, with the tripling of the bulk billing incentive for local GPs.

Bulk billing is the beating heart of Medicare.

After nine years of cuts and neglect by the former government, bulk billing rates have declined sharply and it’s never been harder or more expensive for Australians to see a GP.

This historic investment means in Canberra, there will be a 34% increase in the payments to a bulk billing GP.

On top of our investment in bulk billing, we are investing in an $1.5 billion indexation boost across the board to Medicare rebates, increasing the amount that doctors receive for Medicare services and reducing pressure on GPs.

The Albanese Government is committed to making it more affordable for you and your family to get the health care you need.  

Quotes attributable to Senator Katy Gallagher. 

“Our historic investments into bulk billing will make a big difference in Canberra.

“Doctors’ groups have called this a “game-changer” and GPs have said this will help them maintain and even shift back to bulk billing.”

Quotes attributable to the Hon Andrew Leigh MP, Member for Fenner: 

"When I speak to doctors and nurses in my electorate the need for more support for Medicare to make bulk-billing sustainable is the first thing they raise.

“Labor's always backed Medicare in and these investments are very welcome after nine years of Coalition neglect."

Quotes attributable to Dave Smith MP, Member for Bean: 

“Bulk billing is a significant issue in my community. It needs to be addressed.

“I welcome this initiative and look forward to seeing this make a real difference on the ground.”

Quotes attributable to Alicia Payne MP, Member for Canberra: 

“Canberra has some of the lowest rates of bulk billing in the country, and Canberrans know how hard it can be to find a bulk billing doctor.”

“The Government’s historic investment in bulk billing means more children, families, pensioners and concession card holders in Canberra will have access to the universal, prompt and world class medical care they deserve.”

CREATING A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT SECTOR: HAVE YOUR

In its continued commitment to support the not-for-profit sector, the Albanese Labor Government is pleased to announce the release of an Issues Paper to start a conversation about the Not-for-Profit Sector Development Blueprint.

First announced in October 2022, the Blueprint will provide a roadmap for Government reform and sector-led initiatives to boost the sector’s capacity to support and connect Australian communities.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the release of the Issues Paper by the Blueprint Expert Advisory Group is central to hearing from everyone on how to strengthen the not‑for‑profit sector for consideration in developing the Blueprint.

“Australia’s not-for-profit sector contributes deeply to the social, civic, economic, cultural and environmental dimensions of life in Australia,” Minister Rishworth said.

“We thank the Blueprint Expert Advisory Group members and advisors representing the sector who are leading the development of the Blueprint.

STRATEGIES FOR STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY

ANU Crawford Leadership Forum
Australian National University, Canberra

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people on whose lands we meet, and pay respects to all First Nations people present today.

It is a pleasure to be joining a distinguished panel, led by Professor Janine O’Flynn, and speaking alongside Dr Jeni Whalan and Ms Padma Raman.

It is only fitting that the organisers chose to hold this forum on Halloween, because the issues we face are ghoulish.

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index, the world entered a ‘democratic recession’ in 2016, and is yet to recover. Russia, Peru, Turkey and Myanmar are among the nations whose democracy scores have slumped. Pollster Afrobarometer reports that the share of Africans who prefer democracy to any other form of government has fallen from 75 percent in 2012 to 66 percent.

Joint media release with
The Hon Jim Chalmers MP 
Treasurer

APPOINTMENTS TO COMPETITION TASKFORCE ADVISORY PANEL

The Albanese Government has appointed seven experts in business, government, law and economics to advise on competition policy settings to build a more dynamic and productive economy.

Kerry Schott, John Asker, Sharon Henrick, David Gonski and John Fingleton will join Danielle Wood and Rod Sims on the expert advisory panel for the new Competition Taskforce.

The Taskforce has been established in Treasury to provide continuous advice on whether Australia’s competition policy settings are fit for purpose in the face of the big shifts underway in our economy.

Greater competition is critical for lifting dynamism, productivity and wages growth, putting downward pressure on prices and delivering more choice for Australians dealing with cost-of-living pressures.

LISTENING TO AUSTRALIA’S CHARITY SECTOR

Over the coming weeks, I will hold a series of town hall meetings to meet with charity sector representatives, and continue Australia’s largest-ever charity consultation.

The Australian Government values the expertise and the contributions of the charity and non-profit sector, which constitutes almost one-tenth of the economy, and over one-tenth of employment.

In the wake of the disconnection crisis, the pandemic and the Coalition’s war on charities, Australia’s charities and non-profits need support to continue their essential work in building stronger, fairer communities.

Shortly after the Albanese Government came to office, I conducted the largest charity consultation in Australian history, hosting town hall meetings in every state and territory capital city and online.

This year, I have held further charity sector town hall meetings in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Launceston. The purpose of these meetings is to share ideas on how we can rebuild community trust and engagement, and to reinforce the Albanese Government’s commitment to partner with the sector to build a more connected Australia. 

MULTINATIONAL TAX FAIRNESS

The Australia Institute, 2023 Revenue Summit
Parliament House, Canberra

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, the traditional owners of these lands, and recognise all First Nations people present today. 

My thanks to the Australia Institute for hosting the 2023 Revenue Summit. It’s a pleasure to be back with you in person, having spoken at last year’s Revenue Summit.

In the 1976 movie ‘All the President’s Men’, Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward meets his secret source – Deep Throat – in a dark underground carpark.

Woodward is investigating a break-in at the Democrat National Committee headquarters in the Watergate building in Washington DC. It’s a story that will lead to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

‘Just follow the money,’ Deep Throat tells the journalist before merging back into the shadows.

It’s a simple but sound principle.

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC MELBOURNE MORNINGS WITH RAF EPSTEIN
THURSDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2023

SUBJECTS: Inflation; Rate of immigration to Australia; Housing Australia Future Fund; Rental inflation.

RAF EPSTEIN (HOST): Inflation is higher than people thought it would be. It's not as high as last year, according to the ABS figures yesterday, but it's high enough, high enough to have many people thinking you will get another rate rise in two weeks' time. And, of course, part of inflation is rent, and rents are going up faster than at any time in the last 14 years. Andrew Leigh is Assistant Minister for Treasury. He's part of Anthony Albanese's Government and one of the MPs in Canberra. Andrew Leigh, good morning.

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CHARITIES, COMPETITION, TREASURY AND EMPLOYMENT ANDREW LEIGH: Morning, Raf. Great to be with you.

EPSTEIN: Do we have too many people coming?

LEIGH: I think we've got some catch-up migration, which is flowing from the borders being closed during the pandemic. You speak to businesses around the country and they're crying out for more workers. Many of those workers Raf are then unlocking opportunities for Australians. The genius of the Australian migration system, which makes it better than the migration system in many other countries, is that we’ve brought in workers to fill gaps rather than to supplant existing workers. And in many parts of Australia, we've still got job vacancies exceeding the number of people who are unemployed. It is quite extraordinary to still have unemployment below 4 per cent. It's only happened in 19 months since the current unemployment series began in the late 1970s, and 16 of those 19 months have been under this government.

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TV INTERVIEW
SKY NEWSDAY WITH TOM CONNELL
TUESDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2023

SUBJECTS: Doubling philanthropy; superannuation bequests; the legislated purpose of superannuation; artificial intelligence.

TOM CONNELL (HOST): Welcome back. Well, Australians are known as the people that give relatively generously. The Labor Government thinks that could be more so, there is an aim to double our philanthropy by the year 2030. Joining me live is Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh on that very topic. So, a meeting today around that because we have the goals and then we have how we get there. How are you going to get there? What's the aim here? Is it just give generously or is it about tax incentives? What can you do here?

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CHARITIES, COMPETITION, TREASURY AND EMPLOYMENT ANDREW LEIGH: Well, Tom, we're aiming to boost giving right across the spectrum, everywhere from Kids in Philanthropy to workplace giving, to boosting giving by high net worth individuals. We've got a Productivity Commission review, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to look at the philanthropy settings. What's great is to have in the Parliament today a whole range of generous foundations, donors and charities talking about how we can work together to address some of Australia's most pressing social problems. It's about building community, it's about connecting people. I spoke today about the fact that an Australia without charities would be an Australia without community sport, without the arts, without the support for the disadvantaged and the environment. Charities do so much remarkable work in the community. And the government's aim to double philanthropy by 2030 aims to give them resources to do even more.

THE CASE TO DOUBLE PHILANTHROPIC GIVING

Philanthropy Australia: Philanthropy Meets Parliament
Parliament House, Canberra

Tuesday, 24 October 2023

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people the Traditional Custodians of the land we are meeting on, and pay my respects to all First Nations people present.

As a Canberra, I'd like to welcome you here to the nation's capital, to the bush capital and to the social capital of Australia. Canberra does strikingly well on a range of social capital metrics. And I hope while you're in town, you'll have a chance to get out and about and enjoy some of that Canberra community spirit.

I’ve been asked today to talk about the case for double giving. One way to start is to think about what Australia would look like without charities and not-for-profits.

What if there were no charities or not-for-profits in Australia? Immediately many people who are disadvantaged, who are homeless or struggling with family violence would have nowhere to turn to. Aged care centres and childcare centres would close down. We'd see an immediate collapse of the arts: music, dance and theatre.

Suddenly, on a Saturday morning, a whole lot of parents would be wondering what to do with their kids, because there wouldn't be those sporting activities that are being run by Australia's charities. Our local environment would be worse off without the community groups that support local bush regeneration projects. Medical research would be slowed. In the case that disaster struck, Australia would be less resilient without charities and not-for-profits.

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
6PR MONEYNEWS WITH KARALEE KATSAMBANIS
MONDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2023

SUBJECTS: ATO’s Multinational Tax Avoidance taskforce; benefits of competition policy in assisting small businesses and the Royal Australian Mint's recent win at the Mint Directors Conference in Canada.  

KARALEE KATSAMBANIS (HOST): I'm always delighted to catch up with this gentleman, the Honourable Dr Andrew Leigh, who is Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury and Employment. Good evening, Dr Leigh. 

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CHARITIES, COMPETITION, TREASURY AND EMPLOYMENT ANDREW LEIGH: Good evening, Karalee, great to be with you. 

​KATSAMBANIS: Well it's lovely to be with you too, and I thought we'd do a bit of a round-up this evening because there's a lot of things happening, you're in charge of a lot of portfolios and you're always very accessible here for our West Australian listeners and to tell us what's going on. 

So I thought we'd sort of kick off with one of the things that is one of your babies I should say, but what's been happening with the multinational tax amendments and the things that are going on there and the various measures that are being progressed by the Government?