Andrew Leigh MP: Speeches & Conversations
Politikk og nyheterVitenskapThis podcast features speeches and conversations with Andrew Leigh, the federal member for Fenner in the Australian Parliament. Andrew is an economist, author and triathlete. His website is andrewleigh.com. Authorised by Andrew Leigh MP, Gungahlin Place, Gungahlin ACT 2912.
Siste episoder av Andrew Leigh MP: Speeches & Conversations podcast
- The Politics of Abundance and the Perils of Zero-Sum Thinking (00:27:26)
On 24 September 2025, I spoke at the Australian National University on new research about the dangers of zero-sum thinking. The speech transcript is here: https://www.andrewleigh.com/speech_the_politics_of_abundance_and_the_perils_of_zero_sum_thinking_24_september_2025
- Startups for Growth (00:11:51)
Description: On 17 September 2025, I spoke to the Ecosystem Startup leaders lunch at UTS Startups, Sydney on the topic of “Startups for Growth”. A transcript is available here:https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2025/speeches/address-ecosystem-startup-leaders-lunch-uts-startups-sydney
- The Great Unbinding: Non-Competes, Freedom and the Future of Competition (00:24:20)
On 16 September 2025, I spoke at the Sydney Institute, discussing how scrapping non-compete clauses for most workers is good for freedom and fairness. Read the full speech: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2025/speeches/address-sydney-institute
- Fair Work in the Age of AI (00:09:54)
On 3 September 2025, I spoke on “Fair Work in the Age of AI” at the ACTU’s Seizing the Opportunities of AI While Protecting the Fair Go Symposium in Canberra. The transcript is available here:https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2025/speeches/address-seizing-opportunities-ai-while-protecting-fair-go
- Open Trade: Australia’s Strength (00:17:03)
On 8 August 2025, I spoke at the Asialink Leaders Summit in Canberra on the value of free trade to Australia, and the case against tariffs. Transcript: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2025/speeches/address-asialink-leaders-summit-canberra
- Launching “Heads and Tales”, a history of coins (00:08:15)
On 6 August 2025, I launched Granville Allen Mawer’s delightful book “Heads and Tales” at the Royal Australian Mint. The text of the speech is available at: https://www.andrewleigh.com/speech_the_heads_we_know_the_tales_we_didnt
- Government as a Learning Machine: Using Randomised Trials to Improve Productivity (00:22:40)
On 29 July 2025, I spoke at the AFR Government Services Summit on the topic “Government as a Learning Machine: Using Randomised Trials to Improve Productivity”. The speech transcript is available at: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2025/speeches/address-afr-government-services-summit-canberra
- The Shortest Histories of Everything: Andrew Ford and Andrew Leigh in conversation (00:51:02)
Recorded live at the Sydney Writers’ Festival on 23 May 2025, I sat down with composer and writer Andrew Ford to discuss our latest books — The Shortest History of Music (Ford) and The Shortest History of Economics (Leigh). We explored how to distil complex subjects without losing their essence and why brevity can still hold truth.
- How economics underpins change for the worse and the better: Conversation with Richard Holden (00:49:40)
On 23 May 2025, I spoke with Economics Professor at UNSW Sydney, Richard Holden at the Sydney Writers' Festival where we unpack the causes and consequences of economic inequality.
- Consumer Trust in a Fast-Changing Australia (00:14:26)
On 27 June 2025, I gave a keynote address at the National Consumer Congress in Melbourne, titled ‘Fair Go, Fair Markets: Consumer Trust in a Fast-Changing Australia’. The transcript is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2025/speeches/address-2025-national-consumer-congress-melbourne
- The Progressive Productivity Agenda (00:32:26)
On 25 June 2025, I spoke at a McKell Institute event in Sydney, setting out the Progressive Productivity Agenda. A transcript is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2025/speeches/address-mckell-institute-sydney
- The Abundance Agenda for Australia (00:38:11)
On 3 June 2025, I gave a speech at the Chifley Research Centre in Melbourne titled “The Abundance Agenda for Australia”. The transcript is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2025/speeches/address-chifley-research-centre-melbourne
- Molten Ambitions: Building a Low-Carbon Future, One Tonne at a Time (00:11:37)
On 26 May 2025, I launched the Superpower Institute’s report “A Green Iron Plan for Australia”. The text of the speech is here: https://www.andrewleigh.com/molten_ambitions_building_a_low_carbon_future_one_tonne_at_a_time
- Stronger Together: How Co-operatives Build a Fairer Economy (00:12:54)
On 20 March 2025, I delivered an opening address at the Co-Op Federation Assembly titled “Stronger Together: How Co-operatives Build a Fairer Economy”. Transcript: https://www.andrewleigh.com/speech_stronger_together_how_co_operatives_build_a_fairer_economy
- The Least of These: Dignity, Justice, and the Fight Against Inequality (00:17:35)
On 19 March, I spoke to the Catholic Social Services Australia Conference on the topic “The Least of These: Dignity, Justice, and the Fight Against Inequality“. Transcript: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-catholic-social-services-australia-conference-sydney
- From Monopoly to Lego: Building a More Competitive Economy From the Ground Up (00:17:31)
On 19 March 2025, I spoke at a Corones’ Law Competition Reform event on the topic “From Monopoly to Lego: Building a More Competitive Economy From the Ground Up”. Transcript: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-corones-law-competition-reform-event-sydney
- Understanding Evidence: Can we face the truth about the truth? – 2025 Fenner Lecture with Brian Schmidt (00:56:14)
Every year I host the Fenner Lecture to encourage more young Canberrans to get excited by a career in science. 2025's lecture is titled, "Understanding Evidence: Can we face the truth about the truth?" presented by former ANU Vice Chancellor Brian Schmidt. Brian Schmidt AC FAA FRS FTSE is Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at the Australian National University. For his work on the accelerating universe, Brian Schmidt was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics, jointly with Adam Riess and Saul Perlmutter. Schmidt has worked across many areas of Astronomy including studying supernovae, gamma ray bursts, gravitational wave transients, exo-planets, and metal poor stars. The event was recorded 18 March 2025 at the Kambri Cinema, ANU. Download the slides from the 2025 Fenner Lecture by Brian Schmidt.
- Why Competition Reform Is More Fun Than It Looks and More Significant Than You Thought (00:23:13)
On 11 March 2025, I spoke to the Economic Society of Australia WA Branch’s ‘Economics on the Swan’ speaker series on ‘Why Competition Reform Is More Fun Than It Looks and More Significant Than You Thought’. Transcript: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-economics-swan-economic-society-australia-wa-branch
- The Power of Charitable Advocacy: Three Stories and a Commitment (00:08:06)
On 12 November 2024, I spoke at an Australian Democracy Network event hosted by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, on the topic “The Power of Charitable Advocacy: Three Stories and a Commitment”. The text of the speech is available here.
- Anti-Monopoly: Competition Policy for a Dynamic Economy (00:14:40)
On 11 November 2024, I spoke at the Competition Policy for the Modern Economy Conference in Sydney on the topic “Anti-Monopoly: Competition Policy for a Dynamic Economy”. The text is available here.
- Sydney launch of 'Battlers and Billionaires: The Updated Story of Inequality in Australia' (00:31:49)
On 23 October 2024, I joined technology entrepreneur and philanthropist Cliff Obrecht for an in-conversation event launching my new book, 'Battlers and Billionaires: The Updated Story of Inequality in Australia'. Thanks to the University of Sydney and Professor Julie Cairney for hosting the event.
- Caught in the Middle: How Market Concentration Hurts Farmers (00:28:51)
On 29 October 2024, I gave a talk to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences titled ‘Caught in the Middle: How Market Concentration Hurts Farmers’. The full text is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-australian-bureau-agricultural-and-resource-economics
- Canberra launch of “Battlers and Billionaires: The Updated Story of Inequality in Australia” (00:54:34)
On 15 October 2024, I joined Benevolent Society CEO Lin Hatfield-Dodds for an in-conversation event launching my new book, “Battlers and Billionaires: The Updated Story of Inequality in Australia”. The event was part of the ANU-Canberra Times Meet the Author series.
- Discussing Battlers and Billionaires with Richard Glover (00:15:15)
On 10 October 2024, I joined Richard Glover on ABC Sydney to discuss my new book, "Battlers and Billionaires: The Updated Story of Inequality in Australia".
- A Symphony of Impact (00:16:26)
On 6 August I gave the keynote address at the Philanthropy Australia Conference in Adelaide. Like great music, philanthropy has the power to uplift and transcend, inspire and delight. Full text is available here.