Andrew Leigh

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP 
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury 

The Anger Machine: Rebuilding Community in the Age of Outrage

Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration,
State Library Victoria, Melbourne

Wednesday, 21 October 2026

Introduction

I acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, and pay my respects to all First Nations people present. Thank you to Denis Moriarty and Our Community for the honour of inviting me to deliver this oration.

To a teenager with a growing interest in politics, Joan Kirner was a towering figure. Victoria’s first woman premier. Environmentalist. Education reformer. Essendon supporter. And that’s just one letter of the alphabet.

Her post-political legacy was equally significant. Joan Kirner was an inaugural co-convenor of EMILY’s List Australia, and a central figure in Labor’s 1994 decision to use quotas to bring about gender parity. As our party moved towards equality, it seemed that every time I chatted to a female colleague, she had a Joan Kirner story; a tale of how Kirner had encouraged her to run, supported her through a preselection, or picked up the phone to tell her to ignore an ugly attack.

Person by person, Kirner helped change Labor’s parliamentary ranks so they looked more like the nation we represent. I have seen that change in my own career. When I joined the federal parliament in 2010, Labor’s caucus was 36 per cent women. Now, it is 56 per cent women. The dynamics in the room have shifted too. Women and men in the caucus room are more supportive of one another, more inclined to show vulnerability, and kinder to one another. Gender parity hasn’t just changed the policies we put forward; it’s also changed the way we practice politics. 

And it’s the practice of politics that I want to focus on today, because politics has become a seriously angry business. The Australian Federal Police now receives around a thousand reports of threats against federal politicians a year (Basford Canales 2026). Nine out of ten women seeking office say they have experienced online abuse or intimidation (Women for Election 2026). At the last Australian election, neo-Nazis were allegedly paid to heckle the Prime Minister. 

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC RADIO CANBERRA, BREAKFAST WITH ROSS SOLLY
WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2026

SUBJECTS: Helen Haines; Digital Duty of Care

ROSS SOLLY: So, yesterday we devoted a lot of the show to the terrible, terrible situation in Victoria. And our thoughts are still with everybody involved, but especially, you know, it's a terrible time for politicians, for everybody who are now having to deal with what has become a different world, I guess. Dr Andrew Leigh is actually giving a speech tonight about social media and its responsibilities and how far it's gone. Good morning to you.

ANDREW LEIGH: Good morning Ross, great to be with you.

ROSS SOLLY: Tough day yesterday. Tough 24 hours?

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Minister for Social Services

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury
Member for Fenner 

Alicia Payne MP
Member for Canberra

David Smith MP
Member for Bean  

Connecting people in Canberra this Get Online Week

Tuesday, 20 October 2026

The Albanese Labor Government is supporting digital inclusion and skills for older Australians, with five local organisations in Canberra each receiving $1,000 in funding for Get Online Week.

Across the country, 545 organisations will share in $545,000 to host a Get Online Week event, raising awareness of essential digital skills to help people be safer and more confident online.

Get Online Week runs until 25 October, with events being hosted across the country, including workshops and tutorials, delivered in collaboration with banks, libraries and community organisations.

The below Canberra organisations will be hosting a Get Online Week event to support their work building the confidence, digital skills and online safety of older Australians. 

•    Canberra Seniors Centre Inc.
•    Canberra Burlesque Academy Incorporated
•    COTA ACT
•    Pakistan Australia Friendship Association
•    Support Asian Women's Friendship Association Inc.

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP 
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury 

From Hairdos to Flat Whites: Franchising a Fairer and More Productive Australia

Franchise Council of Australia CEO Roundtable National Convention Centre,
Canberra

Tuesday, 20 October 2026

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, on whose lands we meet, and pay my respects to all First Nations people present. I recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners working in franchising, such as Noonuccal woman Karen Seage, the owner of Snap Underwood, a successful Queensland printing and design business.

Thank you to Jay Westbury and the Franchise Council of Australia for inviting me to open this inaugural CEO Roundtable. I appreciate the Council’s engagement with the government’s reform work, including on retail leasing.

Let me start with a story.

In 1888, a former domestic servant opened a hair salon in Rochester, New York. Her name was Martha Matilda Harper. She had been sent into service at seven, and had spent much of her life looking after other people’s households. Now she was putting her savings, all $360 of them, into a business of her own.

Harper had an unusually persuasive advertisement for her services. Her own hair reached the floor. Customers considering her haircare methods could inspect the evidence before making an appointment.

Most founders have to grow their brand. Harper could brush hers.

Getting customers through the door was harder. Wealthy women were accustomed to having their hair attended to at home. Harper had to persuade them to visit a salon.

As the story goes, Harper found an opening through the music teacher next door. He had no waiting room. She offered her salon to mothers waiting while their children took lessons. While they waited, the mothers could have their hair done (Crockett 2024).

Business grew. Women from other cities wanted access to the same treatment. Harper had to work out how to expand while preserving the quality of the service.

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
2CC RADIO CANBERRA, BREAKFAST WITH STEPHEN CENATIEMPO
TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2026

SUBJECTS: Helen Haines; NACC; Jacqui Lambie

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Alright, time to talk federal politics with the Member for Fenner and the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, Dr Andrew Leigh. Andrew, good morning.

ANDREW LEIGH: Good morning Stephen.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: I want to touch on that National Anti-Corruption Commission for a moment. I mean, my criticism from the beginning – and I know it was Helen Haines’ baby – but there's no evidence of any wholesale corruption at a federal level because you guys are all largely arm's length from anything like that. Secondly, there are already agencies that can investigate corruption. And thirdly, if we've seen from around the states with their anti-corruption bodies, they become political star chambers. And this could come back to, you know, it might work for your government at the moment, but eventually you'll get voted out, and then it'll come back to bite you on the backside?

ANDREW LEIGH: Stephen, I'm very happy to talk about that. First of all, I want to say that Helen Haines’ attack is something that's really shaken up politics today.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Yeah.

ANDREW LEIGH: She is an extraordinarily kind person. On the topic you talked about, she's been a strong campaigner for anti-corruption bodies. I remember that wonderful moment when Bridget Archer crossed the floor to support Helen Haines’ motion on the Anti-Corruption Commission. And Helen put her arm around Bridget's shoulders as they walked out of the chamber together. She's a truly decent person. One of the things she did just before yesterday's attack was to put out a statement welcoming the new appointment of the new head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. So, it's an issue that'll really define her. And she's just thought of as one of the most decent people in the Parliament. She’s always got a smile…

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Yeah. And it's interesting you say that because when you look at the independents within the Parliament, most of them do come under scrutiny for their, I guess, ideological positions. Helen Haines seems to be the one that is universally respected by everybody.

ANDREW LEIGH: She's a bush midwife, grew up in a town of 95 people, used to run around barefoot in the paddock. I got to know her when we started Parliamentary Friends of Cycling in 2020. Dave Sharma, Helen Haines and I were the three co-chairs of that. Her office is near mine at the moment and so we'd walk down to Question Time together, and yes, she's just a real ray of light in Parliament. Somebody who is always thinking about her constituents, which is what makes this attack so shocking. If it can happen to Helen, you know, it could happen to anyone.

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TV INTERVIEW
ABC AFTERNOON BRIEFING, WITH PATRICIA KARVELAS
FRIDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2026

SUBJECTS: Australia-Europe free trade agreement; Trusts

PATRICIA KARVELAS: For a view from the government, I want to bring in the Assistant Productivity Minister, Andrew Leigh. Andrew Leigh, welcome.

ANDREW LEIGH: Thanks Patricia, great to be with you. 

PATRICIA KARVELAS: Where do you go from here now that the Coalition seems to be opposing this with a lot of, you know, strong words? Does it mean it's dead or do you have to pursue trying to convince The Greens?

ANDREW LEIGH: Patricia, it's worth remembering that negotiations kicked off under the Coalition, with Malcolm Turnbull describing it as a great day and then Trade Minister Steve Ciobo saying it would be good for growth and for jobs. This is an agreement with our third biggest two-way trading partner, which secures tens of thousands more tonnes of exported beef and sheep meat. 

It is a deal which is terrific for the Australian economy, and I'm still confident of its passage. We've already had a couple of Liberal Senators on background saying to the ABC that they don't agree with Senator Matt Canavan's position. Matt Canavan, of course, is a protectionist. When he became leader of the Nationals, he talked about the virtue of tariffs. That's the old Blackjack McEwen ‘protection all round’ approach from the Nationals. It's not suitable for a modern economy. It's not the road to prosperity. Tariffs are a tax on Australians and Matt Canavan's idea of permanent tariffs for Australia is as daft as his notion that we ought to block a trade deal with our third biggest trading partner.

Condolence Speech – Bruce Baird

House of Representatives,
Parliament House

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

I rise to pay tribute to Bruce Baird and offer my condolences to his family. Bruce Baird was my local member of parliament when I was growing up. Before I had any experience of elected officials, I knew him as somebody who took an interest in his community and in the people he represented. As a 19- or 20-year-old, I decided I wanted to become a Justice of the Peace, and you had to apply to your state member of parliament. It was Bruce Baird who happily nominated me to become a Justice of the Peace.

Then, in 1995, with the Labor Party looking for suitable cannon fodder to run in one of the safest Liberal seats in the land, I put my hand up for Labor Party preselection, expecting that I would be running against Bruce Baird. He stepped down as the member for Northcott, and I found myself standing against Barry O'Farrell. At the age of 22, I secured an eight per cent swing for the Labor Party, which I was confident at the time was entirely due to the fluoro posters that we nailed up onto telegraph poles and our enthusiastic campaigning. I suspect, in retrospect, though, that eight percentage points was about the size of Bruce Baird's personal vote, which shifted to us with a new Liberal candidate on the field. Bruce Baird's departure, I suspect, did far more for my electoral prospects than any number of leaflets—and Barry O'Farrell was still elected with a 24 per cent margin, which kept my achievements in perspective.

It said a lot about Bruce and his role as a state MP that people saw him beyond his party affiliation, that they trusted him as their state MP. He made big achievements in state parliament. As a New South Wales minister, he carried the responsibilities of transport and, as many others have mentioned in this debate, helped secure Sydney's bid for the 2000 Olympics. Later, as the federal member for Cook, he brought his experience to the parliament, and it is a loss to this parliament that he didn't have the opportunity to serve as a minister in this place. He continued making serious contributions to public life long after leaving elected office.

The Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP
Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Minister for Social Services

The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP 
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA 
14 OCTOBER 2026

TOPICS: Addressing financial abuse; Response to PJC report; Experience of victim-survivors; Coerced directorships; Child support, AI; Parliamentary language

MINISTER DANIEL MULINO: Good morning, it's really good to be here with so many colleagues for a really important issue and the release of the Government response to a really important report.

I just want to acknowledge I'm standing next to the Minister for Social Services, Minister Tanya Plibersek, and it's been really important to work with her on this report, this response, but on many of the issues covered today.

Michelle Rowland, the Attorney General, wasn't able to be here, but she's also been very heavily involved in the development of this response.

We have Ministers Ged Kearney and Andrew Leigh here today as well who have been involved in a number of actions that have already been undertaken, and I want to acknowledge Deb O'Neill and Zaneta Mascarenhas who have been on the PJC at the time when this report was developed and have been instrumental in progressing a lot of these ideas.

We've got Dan Repacholi in his envoy role, his Special Envoy role, he's been involved in a lot of these issues as well, and there are so many other members of the Caucus here. I want to acknowledge and thank all of them for being here. It reflects the importance of these issues.

Today we're here to talk about financial abuse. Financial abuse is an insidious crime which affects a lot of people, particularly women in our community. It's all too often invisible but it can have really devastating consequences.

It can take many forms: financial control, controlling someone's access to money, incurring debts in someone's name, controlling the financial system in a way that it takes the form of abuse. And we need to take action on a regulatory front to deal with this.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on finance and corporations submitted a very important report on this set of issues which included 61 recommendations, and today we respond formally to those recommendations, accepting and supporting, or supporting in principle 58 of those recommendations.

The Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP
Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services

The Hon Michelle Rowland MP
Attorney-General

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Minister for Social Services

The Hon Ged Kearney MP
Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence

The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury

Albanese Government Advancing Reforms To Combat Financial Abuse

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

The Albanese Government is strengthening protections for victim-survivors of financial abuse through reforms across superannuation, tax, corporate accountability, and child support.

Today, the Government has tabled its response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services inquiry into financial abuse, supporting, or supporting in principle 58 of its 61 recommendations.

Financial abuse is a serious form of domestic and family violence that can leave victim-survivors facing long-term financial hardship, debt and reduced economic security.  

The Government is committed to ensuring that financial institutions, regulators, and professional service providers play their part in preventing abuse and supporting victim-survivors.

As part of this work, today we are also releasing a consultation paper on reforms to take action against perpetrators of financial abuse who use the tax and social security systems to create debts as a form of coercive control.

The consultation will consider options to provide targeted relief and better respond where coercion, fraud, or other abusive conduct has caused significant financial harm. 

The Hon Andrew Leigh MP 
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury 

Will AI Increase Inequality?

Third JPMorgan AI Conference,
Sydney / Melbourne

Online Address

Tuesday, 13 October 2026

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, on whose lands I am speaking with you today, and pay respects to all First Nations people present.

Thank you for the chance to address you today. For my topic, I’ve picked a question that’s been rattling around my head – and perhaps yours – over the past year. ‘Will AI increase inequality?’.

As someone who’s been working on inequality as both a professor and a politician, this strikes me as a question that matters economically.

It’s likely that AI will have substantial aggregate effects. The Australian Treasury (2026) says that ‘AI is the next major general-purpose technology that will push out the global productivity frontier and reshape the global and Australian economies.’

The Productivity Commission (2025) estimates that AI could lift the level of Australia’s multifactor productivity by more than 2 percent over the next decade.

But the question of who gets the benefits is crucial – whether you’re a citizen, a policymaker, or a business leader.

Let’s start with a practical example.

Imagine a customer support agent, two months into the job.