Andrew Leigh

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TV INTERVIEW
SKY NEWS AFTERNOONS WITH KIERAN GILBERT
THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2023

SUBJECTS: Cost of living; Bulk billing rebate; Charity town halls; Clean energy investment; Blueprint for the future of the not-for-profit sector.

KIERAN GILBERT (HOST): Joining me live in the studio is the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Dr. Andrew Leigh.

Thanks for your time. The Prime Minister is saying cost of living is the number one game, we do know there are lots of other issues and those international headwinds, but that's the main issue dominating most people's time and focus right now in Australia.

​ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CHARITIES, COMPETITION, TREASURY AND EMPLOYMENT ANDREW LEIGH: Well, the world's throwing a lot of price pressures at us right now, Kieran. And through oil prices, through supply chain challenges flowing out of the war in Ukraine. We know that inflation is high and we're doing all we can to work alongside the Reserve Bank in reining it in. So, you just had inflation figures coming down that showed very clearly that if it wasn't for the government's measures, childcare costs would have gone up 13 per cent. Instead they went down 6 per cent. That energy price inflation and inflation in other areas was lower than it would have been had the government not taken those responsible cost of living measures.

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TV INTERVIEW
2CC CANBERRA BREAKFAST WITH STEPHEN CENATIEMPO
THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2023

SUBJECTS: Bulk billing rebate; Charity town halls; Competition Review Taskforce.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO (HOST): Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition Charities Treasury and the Member for Fenner. Andrew, I need a bit of common sense after that, mate.

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CHARITIES, COMPETITION, TREASURY AND EMPLOYMENT ANDREW LEIGH: I'm sure you do, Stephen. Here I am.

CENATIEMPO: Thank you. Now, there's a couple of things I want to talk about this morning. The changes to the GP bulk billing rebates, just explain to us exactly what's happening here, because the headline is "tripling the bulk billing incentive", but it doesn't necessarily apply to everybody, does it?

LEIGH: So, this applies to patients who are bulk billed, which is about two-fifths of GP visits in Canberra, three-fifths nationally. And it means that for a GP who sees a bulk billed patient, the rebate they get from the government has gone up 34 per cent. That's the biggest increase in the bulk billing incentive since the inception of Medicare. It's a massive investment in Medicare and in sustaining bulk billing. That's critical for children, for pensioners, for people on those concession cards across Canberra and time of a cost of living crisis, it's absolutely critical that we put money back into people's pockets and sustaining bulk billing is one way we're doing that.

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TV INTERVIEW
ABC NEWS BREAKFAST WITH EMMA REBELLATO
THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2023

SUBJECTS: IMF recommendations to reduce inflation; Government policies to respond to cost-of-living crisis; RBA decision on interest rates.

EMMA REBELLATO (HOST): Well, the International Monetary Fund has urged Australia's Reserve Bank to increase the official cash rate further citing the need to reduce inflation to the target rate of two to three per cent as soon as possible. Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh joins us now from Parliament House in Canberra.

​Good morning to you.

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

​REBELLATO: So, are the alarm bells ringing within the government now?

​LEIGH: We've been very concerned about the global inflation crisis and the effect that it's having on Australians. In the last budget, we brought down a range of cost-of-living measures designed to work in tandem with the Reserve Bank in order to bring inflation back into the target band. So, for example, just in the last quarter, you saw the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting that if it hadn't been for our measures, then childcare costs wouldn't have gone up seven per cent. Instead they went down 13 per cent. And similarly, in the case of rents, they reported that our changes to Commonwealth Rent Assistance had put downward pressure on inflation. Likewise for energy prices with our energy bill relief package.

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.