Andrew Leigh

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

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RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC RADIO CANBERRA, MORNINGS WITH SASKIA MABIN
MONDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2026

SUBJECTS: Housing, ACOSS report, building approvals hit four-year high under Albanese Government

SASKIA MABIN: Joining us now on the line is Dr Andrew Leigh, the Member for Fenner. Good morning and welcome to you.

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

SASKIA MABIN: Thanks for being here. These numbers are really concerning. I mean, that's a significant amount of money that's going towards tax concessions for landlords and nowhere near enough on housing programs, while we know that homelessness and people struggling to pay rent are issues that are just getting worse and worse. Is this something that's top of the agenda for you?

ANDREW LEIGH: Well Saskia, it's important to recognise that the reason that this research was made possible is that Jim Chalmers revamped the Tax Expenditures and Insights Statement upon coming to office, providing much more information about the details of the tax expenditures we have –breaking that down by income and by gender and by industry. So that's to get more information out there because we do believe that a sensible conversation around tax is worthwhile. Jim Chalmers said in an interview on ‘The Monthly’ recently that he was impatient but not impetuous for tax reform and understands the value of the community conversation there. At the same time, we're doing a huge amount on housing. We just had figures out in January on building approvals and dwelling approvals. New home starts hit a three and a half year high, building approvals hit a four year high. So what we're doing in order to get more housing built is working, but there's a lot more to be done on that front.

SASKIA MABIN: At the moment, according to ACOSS, fewer than 2 per cent of homes here in Australia being built for social housing. The OECD has called on the government to boost its investment in social housing. You've just referred to a little bit of the work that the government is doing. How will that change the dial?

ANDREW LEIGH: Yeah, I mean, we had that nine-and-a-half-year period under the Coalition where effectively the federal government stepped back from the social and affordable housing game. And because housing takes a while to build, that takes a while to overcome that deficit that built up under the Coalition years. We're on-track to deliver 55,000 social and affordable homes through initiatives such as the Housing Australia Future Fund, an innovative way of unlocking new finance to fund homes for those who most need them. And we're ensuring that we get those costs down through working with the states for planning and zoning approvals, pausing changes to the National Construction Code. We've now got inflation in construction costs well down. It was 17 per cent a year when we came to office, now it's down to 2 per cent. So, that makes a big difference for people who are looking to build homes and also for the work that the governments are doing, both ACT and federal government here in Canberra.

The Hon Jim Chalmers MP
Treasurer

The Hon Daniel Mulino MP
Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Financial Services

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

Review of thin capitalisation reforms

30 January 2026

We have tasked the Board of Taxation to undertake an independent review of the Albanese Government’s thin capitalisation reforms.

Our thin capitalisation reforms target the excessive use of debt deductions to avoid paying tax in Australia, and are in line with the OECD’s best practice guidance.

These reforms are all about ensuring multinationals pay a fairer share of tax in Australia.

When multinationals exploit loopholes to pay less tax, they’re gaining an unfair advantage over local businesses.

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

Support For Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary To Prepare For H5 Bird Flu

30 January 2026

The Albanese Government is investing $185,000 to safeguard native species at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, in response to the threat of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5 bird flu).

Australia is the only continent that remains free from H5 bird flu. Its rapid global spread, primarily through the movement of migratory birds, has led to significant impacts on poultry, wild birds and some mammal species overseas. Cases have also been detected in people. If H5 bird flu reaches Australia it could significantly impact agricultural industries, wildlife including threatened species, and communities.

Last November, testing confirmed the presence of H5 bird flu in samples collected from southern elephant seals on Heard Island, a remote sub-Antarctic Australian external territory more than 4,000km south-west of Perth.

Today’s funding announcement will support Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary to boost critical biosecurity measures, to protect the eastern quoll from a potential future outbreak in Australia.

Julie Collins MP
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Member for Franklin

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

28 January 2026

Horticulture Code of Conduct Review 

The Albanese Labor Government is committed to a strong horticulture industry in Australia and is today announcing that Mr Chris Leptos AO will lead an independent review of the Horticulture Code of Conduct. 

Horticulture is Australia’s third largest agriculture industry, with production value forecast to hit a record $18.9 billion this financial year, and exports on track to hit another record of $4.4 billion. 

The Code regulates trade between growers and traders of wholesale unprocessed fruit, vegetables, nuts and herbs, to ensure transparency and clarity of transactions. 

The review will examine potential improvements to the Code and allow stakeholders to consider competition issues facing the sector. 

Mr Leptos, who brings extensive corporate and government experience, will consult with stakeholders across the horticulture supply chain over coming months. 

Growers, traders, industry bodies and government agencies are encouraged to consider the review’s consultation paper and respond with their suggestions about how to improve the Code and its operation.  

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

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RADIO INTERVIEW
2CC RADIO CANBERRA, BREAKFAST WITH STEPHEN CENATIEMPO
TUESDAY, 27 JANUARY 2026

SUBJECTS: Australian of the Year Awards

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

ANDREW LEIGH: Good morning Stephen, are you keeping cool?

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Yeah, I'm trying. Movie cinema is a good place. You'd go and see that Super Progressive movie, wouldn't you?

ANDREW LEIGH: I haven't gotten to see a movie for quite a while now. But one of my boys said that Marty Supreme, the new ping pong movie, is pretty good.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Okay, fair enough. Yeah, I haven't been to the movies. Actually, I took my nephew to see one not that long ago, and I can't even remember what it was. The Australians of the Year were announced on Sunday night. And I think, you know, I was very critical of the Australian of the Year award a number of years back but we seem to have got it back on-track and this year's recipients have done some extraordinary work. But you had a chance to talk to three of the four recipients at the ceremony on Sunday night and talked about what platform they want to – or where they want to take their award. And because we know that for the next 12 months, they'll use their position to sort of push a certain avenue or subject matter. And you had a chance to discuss that with them?

ANDREW LEIGH: Yeah, I had a real privilege of spending some time with all of the nominees. So there's four categories, eight jurisdictions, there are 32 of them who spend the weekend together in Canberra not knowing who's going to win. So you get to talk to many of them about what they'd do if they did win. And Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who's our Australian of the Year, first Aussie astronaut, she's going to be focusing a lot on STEM. She's really concerned that the number of kids studying physics and maths has been falling in Australia and that it's important to inspire the next generation, as she got it just by looking up at the stars.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Because I…

ANDREW LEIGH: And Nedd Brockmann. Oh sorry, go on.

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

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC RADIO PERTH, MORNINGS WITH DAMIAN SMITH
MONDAY, 26 JANUARY 2026

SUBJECTS: Albanese Government helping Australians get a fairer deal at the checkout

DAMIAN SMITH: Now, when you go into the supermarket and buy something on special, there is always that sneaking suspicion that maybe the discount price is really just the normal price. It's hard to know if you're actually getting a good deal. Well, the federal government is thinking about tightening up the rules that supermarkets have to abide by. Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition and I spoke to him a short time ago.

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

DAMIAN SMITH: What is the problem that you're trying to solve here? What concerns are you trying to address?

ANDREW LEIGH: The big two supermarkets have substantial market power. They've got a bigger share of the market in Australia than in many comparable countries. As they say in Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and one of those responsibilities is transparency with consumers. The ACCC Supermarkets Inquiry found that current pricing and promotional practices sometimes make it too hard for customers to assess value for money, and it suggested a couple of reforms that we're consulting on.

One is for large supermarkets to be required to publish prices online and to ensure that web scraping technology can be used so you can have online comparison tools. Another is for very large supermarkets to have to provide members with six-monthly information summaries for loyalty programs so you can see in dollar terms what you're getting. And a third, which is more relevant to people in regional areas, is for all supermarkets, including remote stores, to have to publish prices in-store.

DAMIAN SMITH: Okay. So some of those aspects, I mean, do they touch on this issue that a lot of people tell us about, which is that you buy something which is supposedly a discount, but it actually turns out to be more like the regular price? It's a little hard to tell whether something is genuinely discounted or not?

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

2026 Australian of the Year Awards
Welcome Reception

Australian War Memorial, Canberra

23 January 2026

Good evening everyone.

Thank you for that generous Welcome to Country. I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Custodians of this land, and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

I also acknowledge John Foreman AM, Chair of the National Australia Day Council, the Board and CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO; the 2025 Australian of the Year recipients and alumni; and, most importantly, the remarkable finalists for the 2026 Awards.

On behalf of Patrick Gorman, the Assistant Minister responsible for Honours policy, I also acknowledge Members of the Order of Australia and all recipients of Australian Honours with us tonight.

Welcome to Canberra.

If you’ve travelled from interstate, thank you for making the journey. For many of you, this may be the last time you’ll come to Canberra without being asked to give a talk or give evidence to a parliamentary committee. Please enjoy that rare freedom.

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

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC RADIO ILLAWARRA, MORNINGS WITH NICK RHEINBERGER
FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY 2026

SUBJECTS: Albanese Government helping Australians get a fairer deal at the checkout

NICK RHEINBERGER: Good luck keeping shopping trolley full of groceries under a few hundred dollars these days, as feeding a family or sometimes just yourself can be expensive. Now, we know inflation has shot food prices up, but despite the ACCC releasing a report last year – never directly accusing the Big Two of price gouging – it said there was very little incentive for them to compete vigorously.

The federal government's just released a consultation paper, and they've got a few ideas when it comes to improving the transparency of pricing and they want your feedback. Joining me now is Dr Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury. Andrew Leigh, good day.

ANDREW LEIGH: G'day Nick, how are you?

NICK RHEINBERGER: Not too bad. What does this consultation actually explore, and how might it help reduce prices?

ANDREW LEIGH: Well, this is another step in our measures to hold the big supermarkets to account Nick. As you said, they've got a pretty big market share – about two-thirds of the market, and even with the entry of Aldi, they've maintained that significant market share. So, this consultation will explore a range of proposals, including requiring large supermarkets to publish prices online, to allow web scraping technologies for price comparison tools.

We're looking at whether very large supermarkets should provide members with more information about the monetary value of their loyalty programs and whether all supermarkets - and this particularly applies to those smaller remote stores - should be required to publish prices in-store.

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

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC RADIO CANBERRA, DRIVE WITH JAMES FINDLAY
TUESDAY, 20 JANUARY 2026

SUBJECTS: The Albanese Government’s Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism bills; Gun Law Reform; National Gun Buyback Scheme; Helping Australians get a fairer deal at the checkout; ACT aquatic facilities

JAMES FINDLAY: It's been a big day in politics again. Just a day of discussions and compromise really, for the hate speech laws that will pass Parliament – that's what's being reported. Let's get straight into it. Dr Andrew Leigh is the Member for Fenner and the Assistant Minister for Competition. Dr Leigh, we'll get to your call for consultation about supermarket competition in just a moment, because I know it's something that you want to chat about today, but what has the Government had to compromise with the hate speech bill to get the support from the Liberal Party today?

ANDREW LEIGH: Well James, we've stripped out the vilification component of these laws. It was specifically recommended by the Antisemitism Envoy, it was publicly supported by the Opposition at the time, but it's clear that the Opposition now won't support that in the Parliament, and so we've stripped out that part of the laws.

The rest of the laws have gone through the House today. They're with the Senate, and we're expecting to have them back in the House for a vote at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.

JAMES FINDLAY: Okay, okay. So, Senate for amendments to the bill?

ANDREW LEIGH: Who knows what the Senate does.

JAMES FINDLAY: Who knows what the Senate does?

ANDREW LEIGH: I don't really speak Senate, that's Katy Gallagher's expertise. But I expect that both the legislation established and the national gun buy‑back scheme and the legislation which cracks down on hate, division, radicalisation, hate preachers and the like, those two bills will pass the Senate sometime today.

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

Putting Consumers First - Consultation On Price And Loyalty Program Transparency

20 January 2026

The Albanese Government is taking further steps to help Australians get a fairer deal at the checkout. When families have the right information in front of them, they can compare prices with confidence, make informed choices and save money.

Today we are releasing a consultation paper on new requirements for supermarkets to improve transparency about prices, promotions and loyalty programs. These proposals directly respond to recommendations from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Supermarkets Inquiry, which found that current pricing and promotional practices often make it too difficult for consumers to assess value for money.

We are seeking community and stakeholder views on proposals to require:

• all supermarkets, including remote stores, to publish prices in-store
• large supermarkets to publish prices online, ensure web-scraping technologies can be used by third parties like online comparison websites and apps, and display minimum information about promotions, supported by record-keeping requirements
• very large supermarkets to provide members with six-monthly information summaries for loyalty programs.