Andrew Leigh

THE HON JULIE COLLINS MP

MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

MINISTER FOR SMALL BUSINESS

THE HON STEPHEN JONES MP

ASSISTANT TREASURER

MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES

THE HON DR ANDREW LEIGH MP

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT

MEDIA RELEASE 

Friday 14 March 2025

Albanese Labor Government to extend unfair trading practice protections to small businesses 

The Albanese Government will extend a crackdown on Unfair Trading Practices to small businesses after last year’s commitment to protect consumers.   

We heard during consultation on protecting consumers from Unfair Trading Practices that it is important to also extend protections to small businesses, who face power imbalances when dealing with larger businesses. 

This is why the Albanese Labor Government will also address this significant gap in legal protections for small businesses, where thousands of businesses – including in the construction, agriculture and retail sectors – have experienced unfair practices that cause substantial harm. 

The Albanese Labor Government will ensure that small businesses are fairly protected when dealing with large businesses. 

This builds on action we have already taken to level the playing field for Australia’s record 2.6 million small businesses including: 

• extending unfair contract term protections to more businesses and introducing penalties for firms that breach them;  
• improving the Franchising Code of Conduct; and
• delivering new action to improve small business payment times. 

Treasury will consult this year on the design of protections for businesses, including on whether a principles-based prohibition should apply and whether specific unfair trading practices should be targeted to protect small businesses.  

This will complement a statutory review of the amendments to strengthen unfair contract term protections that the Albanese Labor Government legislated in 2022. 

The consultation will consider how Unfair Trading Practice protections can be used to address practices that harm small businesses.  

Noticing the dog that didn't bark

Published in The Canberra Times

12 March 2025  

The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut rates marks a historic moment. Never before have we managed to reduce inflation without a sustained experience of joblessness. In the past, curtailing inflation meant thousands of people thrown out of work – suffering the loss of income and dignity that comes with being unable to find a job. Now, for the very first time, we’ve managed to get price growth down without the human toll of mass unemployment.

To see how remarkable this experience has been, it’s worth going back through how past episodes of inflation have been handled.

In 1973, an oil embargo in response to the Yom Kippur War caused world oil prices to more than double. The global oil price shock pushed annual inflation in Australia to a peak of 18 percent. Unemployment went up from 4 percent to 6 percent, leaving many Australians claiming unemployment benefits for the first time. The combination of double-digit inflation and higher unemployment led to the term ‘stagflation’. Australia entered recession.

Inflation was briefly brought back down in 1977 before a second oil shock hit. The 1979 Iranian revolution caused a drop in global oil production. Again, oil prices doubled. Again, Australian inflation took off, with annual inflation exceeding 10 percent. Again, unemployment rose – this time from 6 percent to 10 percent. In the early-1980s, Australia – like many other countries around the world – went into recession.

Inflation was brought under control, but only briefly. By the mid-1980s, inflation began to increase again, averaging around 8 percent for the second half of the decade. Unemployment, which had fallen to 6 percent by the late-1980s, spiked upwards. The early-1990s recession, caused largely by Australia’s efforts to curb demand and reduce inflation, saw unemployment peak at 11 percent. Factory workers in their fifties were laid off. Some would never work again. Among young people, one in five were unable to find work.

Fast forward to the post-pandemic inflation spike, which has hit countries around the world. In 2023, the UK economy entered recession. In 2024, New Zealand entered recession, and finished the year with unemployment having risen to 5 percent. Canada has also seen a significant rise in joblessness, with the unemployment rate rising through 2024, and now standing at nearly 7 percent.

Why competition reform is more fun than it looks and more significant than you thought

Good morning, everyone. I acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people, the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we meet. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to First Nations people taking part in today’s event.

Thank you to the Economic Society of Australia for the invitation to address the first Economics on the Swan event for the year.

Economics is not only a powerful policy tool but a rewarding profession. Among other things, economics provides an opportunity to focus on wellbeing and not just dollars, a chance to be bold and a platform for rigorous evidence (Leigh 2023). And when research and reform come together, economics is more fun than it looks.

Fun can be hard

Dr Rainer Newberry, a geologist from the University of Alaska, came up with the 3‑point fun scale which was adopted by the outdoor adventure community (Strout 2022).

‘Type I Fun’ is fun in the moment. ‘Type II Fun’ is unpleasant in the moment but satisfying in retrospect. ‘Type III Fun’ is not fun at all, even in retrospect. In a Western Australian context, Type I fun might be a pleasant day exploring Rottnest Island.

Type III Fun might be where a four‑wheel drive adventure turns into getting lost in the Gibson Desert, risking the fate of Mr Gibson.

Type II Fun is how I’d think about the Busselton Ironman. Long, hot and gruelling, but satisfying to reflect upon.

Competition reform is like Type II Fun for economists. It is no policy paradise or island stroll. But it is no data desert either. Competition reform is somewhere in between – hard work at the time but worth the effort.

That was the experience of the Hilmer reforms in the 1990s. The process took almost a decade, ideas were contested, and cooperation across governments required constant vigilance. Yet the benefits were massive – equating to a $5,000 boost in average annual household incomes.

New challenges

Today, the Australian economy faces a different set of challenges and a new set of competition reforms are underway.

The Australian Government’s establishment in 2023 of a Competition Taskforce within the Treasury reflects the importance we place on competition reform. We gave the Taskforce – supported by an expert advisory panel – a brief to look at whether Australia’s competition laws, policies and institutions remain fit for purpose.

Already, we have implemented the biggest overhaul of merger laws in half a century, started a process to revitalise National Competition Policy and initiated reforms to check the monopoly and monopsony power of big supermarkets.

Beyond that, we have also been consulting on a new regime to address the anti‑competitive conduct of large digital platforms. The practices of large platforms are presenting an increasing challenge to competition regulators around the world. We have drawn on the recommendations of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in its 5‑year Digital Platform Services Inquiry and the experience of several countries, including the European Union and United Kingdom, which have recently established new laws to regulate platforms on an ex ante basis.

Today’s talk will cover how research and reform have intertwined. First, to build the case for reform. Second, to shape our competition settings. And third, to set us up for economy‑wide reforms, which may be more significant than you think. And I will finish with some thoughts on the future for economic research and competition.

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
ABC AFTERNOON BRIEFING WITH OLIVIA CAISLEY

SUBJECTS: Cyclone Alfred; Ukraine; The Coalition’s promise to limit public servants’ ability to work from home; Tariffs

4 MARCH 2025

OLIVIA CAISLEY: To unpack that and much, much more today, let's bring in our political panel, LNP Senator Paul Scarr and Assistant Minister for Competition Andrew Leigh.

Welcome to you both to the program. There is plenty of news to get through today. Paul let's start with you quickly first. You're in Queensland, which is in the path of Cyclone Alfred.

PAUL SCARR: Yep.

CAISLEY: How prepared is your community?

SCARR: I think the community is as prepared as it can be. There's very close liaison between all three levels of government: the Federal Government, the State Government, the local government authorities. Sandbags are being made available, people are being given warnings and suggestions and recommendations as to how to prepare. And the community's coming together, as Queenslanders always come together, whether or not it's in North Queensland or in the southeast corner, we come together at times like this and help each other.

CAISLEY: And Paul, we just heard there before the WA Premier Roger Cook referring to the American Vice President as a “knob” over that extraordinary argument that took place in the Oval Office over the weekend. Is that an appropriate way for a state leader to be speaking?

SCARR: I don't believe so. I don't believe it is. And I don't believe it's helpful. And from my perspective, I think our focus here in Australia should be on Australia's commitment to the people of the Ukraine, and in respect of that commitment, it's quite bipartisan.

And before the last election, the Coalition Government had a very strong position with respect to assisting the people of Ukraine and Ukraine's right to its sovereignty, its own secure sovereign borders, and that policy has continued, notwithstanding there was a change in government after the last election. So, I think we should focus on what Australia's policy is.

CAISLEY: And Andrew, what did you think?

ANDREW LEIGH: Well, US politics is endlessly interesting, and it's always tempting to express your view every time something happens over in the US. But we're really focused right now on the challenges that Australia faces.

As Paul said, preparing for Cyclone Alfred, which is looking like making landfall either on Thursday or Friday of this week.

I would urge any of your viewers who are able-bodied to consider signing up for EV CREW, a great on-the-ground operation which allows you to help out in the local community.

And as Paul said, there's bipartisan support for Ukraine. Australia has given $1.5 billion in assistance, of which $1.3 billion is military aid.

THE HON ANDREW LEIGH MP
Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, and Treasury
Assistant Minister for Employment
MEMBER FOR FENNER

ALICIA PAYNE MP
MEMBER FOR CANBERRA

DAVID SMITH MP
MEMBER FOR BEAN

TRANSCRIPT

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
PRESS CONFERENCE
CANBERRA
TUESDAY, 4 MARCH 2025

SUBJECTS: Historic reforms to support community foundations.

GENEVIEVE JACOBS, CEO HANDS ACROSS CANBERRA: Thank you all for coming. I put out the call to our fellow charities yesterday to say could we form a posse? So, could we get community foundations and local charities together? Because this is obviously an incredibly important announcement from the Assistant Minister.

We're delighted to have Assistant Minister Leigh, who's also the Member for Fenner here with us at the premises that we share with Bendigo Bank, for the headquarters of Hands Across Canberra. Also, the Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne, and the Member for Bean, David Smith, and a whole representative floor of the people who do good, good for the community in Canberra.

And also our wonderful guests, the CEO of Community Foundations Australia, Ian Bird and Krystian Seibert who has come to us from Philanthropy Australia, who both flew down for this occasion.

ALICIA PAYNE, MEMBER FOR CANBERRA: Good morning, I am Alicia Payne, the Member for Canberra. It’s wonderful to be here this morning with so many representatives of really important organisations here in Canberra that do such important work for our community.

And, of course, Genevieve Jacobs from Hands Across Canberra and Ivan Slavich, here at Bendigo Bank, who do so much work for our community, for this really great announcement from Andrew Leigh as part of the important work he's doing around philanthropy and charities. And great to be here with him, and also David Smith, the Member for Bean. Now I’ll hand over to Andrew Leigh.

ASSISTANT MINISTER ANDREW LEIGH: Well thanks Alicia. It is great fun being a parliamentary representative alongside Alicia and Dave, who are just so immersed in their communities. Dave, who has done the big walk with Menslink – Ben Gathercole, thank you very much for all the work that you do. Alicia, who is so deeply involved in her community. We've got representatives here from Project Independence. Glenn Keys, thank you very much for being here today. From St John's Ambulance, from Karinya House, from Cancer Council ACT and from many other organisations. Thank you all for being here to support this important announcement around community foundations.

MEDIA RELEASE

A NEW ERA FOR COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS

4 March 2025

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen Australia’s philanthropic sector through historic reforms to support community foundations.

Community foundations pool donations from individuals, businesses and institutions to fund local initiatives and address community needs. A community foundation operates as a permanent, independent trust, investing funds to generate ongoing grants for charities and grassroots projects within a specific region.

With the publication of the Taxation Administration (Community Charity) Guidelines 2025, our new pathway to deductible gift recipient status for these community based charities is now established.

By fostering local giving and collaboration, community foundations strengthen social cohesion and drive long-term, place-based change.

Community foundations are located across Australia, in regions including Bass Coast, Geelong, Mackay, Alice Springs, the Eyre Peninsula, Albany and Fremantle. Community foundations support a wide range of initiatives, including education, mental health, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and disaster recovery.

Prior to this reform, community foundations have faced barriers attracting donations from private ancillary funds, which are used by individuals and families for private giving. Community foundations have also been constrained from directly supporting community groups that don’t have deductible gift recipient status.

THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP

MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

THE HON DR ANDREW LEIGH MP

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

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 27 February 2025

Measuring the true value of Australia’s natural environment

The Albanese Labor Government has today released the first set of National Ecosystem Accounts which will help Australians better understand the value of nature to our economy and our wellbeing.

The accounts will inform the Government’s policies and decision-making processes to better measure the impacts of our actions to the environment.

The estimates measured the contribution of some of Australia’s land, freshwater and marine ecosystems to the economy in 2020-21. It shows us:

• the storage of 34.5 million kilotonnes of carbon in grasslands, native forests, savannas and mangroves, worth over $43 billion
• the delivery of 955 gigalitres of self-extracted surface water for agricultural use in production, worth over $125 million
• saving more than 4,000 coastal properties from damage worth over $57 million through natural protection by mangrove ecosystems

The accounts track changes in Australia’s diverse ecosystems, across almost 1.4 billion hectares. Close to half of our land area is made up of desert or semi desert landscapes.

Making Cents: Celebrating 60 Years at the Royal Australian Mint

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT, CANBERRA

FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2025

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people on whose lands we meet today, and all First Nations people present. Thank you, and welcome to the voice of Trixie Heeler, Myf Warhurst. It’s wonderful to have you as part of this special occasion.

A big thank you to the Royal Australian Mint and Acting CEO Emily Martin for hosting this event, and to all of you – coin collectors, visitors, Mint staff, and Canberrans – for being here today.

Today, we celebrate 60 years of the Royal Australian Mint—a milestone that reflects not only the passage of time but also the evolution of our nation's currency, craftsmanship, and innovation.

The story of Australian coinage is one of transformation and progress. When the Mint opened its doors in 1965, Australia was on the cusp of a historic shift – from the familiar imperial system of pounds, shillings, and pence to a modern decimal currency.

Proposals to adopt decimal currency emerged shortly after Federation, but it was not until Leslie Melville’s 1957 Decimal Currency Council report that momentum began. The new Currency Act was enacted in 1963, and the public were asked what to call the new currency. Suggested names included ‘Austral’, ‘Oz’, ‘Boomer’, ‘Emu’, ‘Deci-mate’, ‘Kwid’, ‘Kanga’, ‘Digger’, ‘Dinkum’ and ‘Roo’. Some rue the fact that we eventually went with ‘dollar’.

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

THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2025

SUBJECTS: Swing voting; Peter Dutton's share trading scandal; Brindabella Christian College; National Charitable Fundraising Principles

ROSS SOLLY, HOST: Dr. Andrew Leigh, good morning to you.

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

SOLLY: Good to be with you too. I've got a few things I want to talk with you about. How are you, by the way? Are you well?

LEIGH: Terrific. Just got back from a lovely run. Terrific to be out in the Canberra bush.

SOLLY: How many K's this morning, just out of interest?

LEIGH: I did 14 this morning.

SOLLY: 14. And your splits?

LEIGH: I was doing sprints. I think my quickest sprints at the moment are about a 4:20 per k, which is not very good. I had a race on the weekend.

SOLLY: What were you doing? Did you have a block of cement tied to your back or something? No, that's actually. That's actually very good. Now, Dr. Andrew Leigh, interesting. In our poll so far this morning, I don't know what you take away from this, but so far I'm just updating it. 82% of people voting in our poll are saying they would vote exactly the same way this time around as they did three years ago. I guess you'd take that as a positive.

LEIGH: I was thinking last time I analysed this as an academic, about 10% of people switched votes from one election to the next. Obviously, a lot of people are going in opposite directions and so the overall swing is never 10%, but the average from the elections I was looking at was about 10%. So, you've got a swingier poll than average.