Andrew Leigh MP: Speeches & Conversations

The Power of Charitable Advocacy: Three Stories and a Commitment

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

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'

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

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”

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

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

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.

Bumps and breakthroughs: the journey of Australia's merger reforms

On 1 August, I addressed the Committee for Economic Development of Australia on the history of merger reform.

Policy and laws should evolve as the economy evolves. But as history shows, Australia’s ad‑hoc approach to dealing with anti‑competitive mergers hasn’t kept up, lagging best practice in comparable countries.

Full text of the speech can be found here.

The Future of Medicare

On 19 June 2024, I spoke to a symposium organised by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Symposium, on the topic ‘The future of Medicare: research-informed policy for better access and health’. The text of the speech is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-academy-social-sciences-australia-symposium-canberra

 

Discovering What Works: Why Rigorous Evaluation Matters

On 17 June 2024, I spoke to the Australian Evaluation Showcase on the topic ‘Discovering What Works: Why Rigorous Evaluation Matters’. The text of the speech is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-australian-evaluation-showcase-canberra

 

Experimenting for Excellence: Randomised Trials in Human Resources

On 30 April 2024, I spoke at the HR Leaders Forum in Sydney about some of the fascinating findings emerging from randomised trials in the workplace. The full text of the speech is available here: https://ministers.dewr.gov.au/leigh/experimenting-excellence-randomised-trials-human-resources

Healthy Surprises: How Randomised Trials Can Challenge Conventional Wisdom and Debunk Dogma

On 9 April 2024, I spoke at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s Danks Leaders in Science seminar, on the topic “Healthy Surprises: How Randomised Trials Can Challenge Conventional Wisdom and Debunk Dogma”. The text is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-danks-leaders-science-seminar-murdoch-childrens

Unshackling Innovation: Rethinking Non-Compete Clauses for a Dynamic Economy

On 4 April 2024, I addressed the McKell Institute in Sydney on the topic ‘Unshackling Innovation: Rethinking Non-Compete Clauses for a Dynamic Economy’. The text of the talk is available at https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-mckell-institute-sydney-0

 

Harnessing the Data Deluge

On 28 March 2024, I spoke to the Australian Government Data Summit on the topic ‘Harnessing the Data Deluge: The Surprising Power of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence’. The speech text is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-10th-annual-australian-government-data-summit-hotel

Starting with Statistics to Transform Disadvantage

On 27 March 2024, I launched the UnitingCare Child Social Exclusion Report. The speech text is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/launch-2024-child-social-exclusion-report-parliament-house

Canberra launch of “The Shortest History of Economics”

On 6 March 2024, my book “The Shortest History of Economics” was launched in Canberra, via a Canberra Times/ANU “Meet the Author” event, in conversation with ANU Vice Chancellor Genevieve Bell. For more about the book, see https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/shortest-history-economics

 

Sydney launch of “The Shortest History of Economics”

On 4 March 2024, my book “The Shortest History of Economics” was launched in Sydney. University of New South Wales Professor Richard Holden opened the event, and Associate Professor Rachael Meager hosted the in-conversation event. For more about the book, see https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/shortest-history-economics

 

Speaking about “The Shortest History of Economics” on ABC Conversations

In February 2024, I sat down with Richard Fidler on the ABC Conversations program to discuss my new book “The Shortest History of Economics”. The ABC Conversations homepage is https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations

 

Peace at the Policy Table: Australia's Path Forward

On 21 February 2024, I spoke at the Australian Peacebuilding Network Roundtable in Parliament House on the topic “Peace at the Policy Table: Australia’s Path Forward”. The text is available at https://www.andrewleigh.com/peace_at_the_policy_table_australia_s_path_forward

 

From Chance to Change: Leveraging Randomised Trials and Data Science for Policy Success

On 1 February 2024, I delivered a keynote address to the Human Technology Institute Shaping Our Future Symposium at the University of Technology, Sydney. The text is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-human-technology-institute-shaping-our-future

 

Does Sport Unite or Divide Us?

Sparking off my book “Fair Game”, the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia organised a debate with David Rowe on the topic “Does sport unite or divide us?”. You can also listen to it on ABC Big Ideas https://abc.net.au/listen/programs/bigideas/does-sport-unite-or-divide-us-/102960996

Terminator or Star Trek? Shaping the Future of AI

On 20 October 2023, I chaired a panel on artificial intelligence at the SXSW Sydney conference. The panel was titled ‘Terminator or Star Trek? Shaping the Future of AI’, and featured Tracey Spicer, Rodolfo Ocampo and Theresa Anderson.

Changing the World, One Coin Toss at a Time

On 11 October 2023, I spoke to the Evidence and Implementation Summit in Melbourne on the topic “Changing the World, One Coin Toss at a Time”. The full text is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-evidence-and-implementation-summit-melbourne

The Best Medicine: Lessons from Health for Policy Randomistas

On 29 September 2023, I spoke at the Australian Evaluation Society’s annual conference on what policymakers can learn from health. The speech began with the example of the radical mastectomy, a procedure that was needlessly performed on half a million women before a randomised trial revealed the truth. The text is available at https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-australian-evaluation-society-2023-international

 

 

Competition and Artificial Intelligence

On 20 September 2023, I spoke to the McKell Institute in Sydney on the topic “Competition and Artificial Intelligence”. The full text is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-mckell-institute-sydney

Pat Farmer’s Run For The Voice: Pat Farmer in conversation with Joyrah Newman

As part of his run around Australia to raise support for a Voice to Parliament, former Liberal MP Pat Farmer visited Canberra, and held an event at the Australian National University in conversation with Wulgurukaba woman and Indigenous Marathon Foundation graduate Joyrah Newman. The discussion covered ultrarunning, grit, reconciliation and more.

Evaluating Policy Impact: Working Out What Works - National Press Club Address

Data and Evaluation: A Match Made in Policy Heaven

On 15 August 2023, I spoke at the Data for Policy Summit in Canberra. The text of the speech is available here: https://www.andrewleigh.com/data_and_evaluation_a_match_made_in_policy_heaven_speech

Building Community and Building Evidence: 15 Years of the Centre For Social Impact

On 16 August 2023, I spoke at the 15^th anniversary celebration for the Centre for Social Impact in Sydney. The text of the speech is available here: https://www.andrewleigh.com/building_community_and_building_evidence_15_years_of_the_centre_for_social_impact_speech

A More Competitive Labor Party

On 19 July 2023, I spoke to a Per Capita John Cain lunch on the topic of factionalism in the Labor Party. I argued that factional power is at an all-time high, and that it is important for the health of the party to maintain space for people who are not in a faction. The text of the speech is available here: https://www.andrewleigh.com/a_more_competitive_labor_party_speech

 

Emma Johnston’s Fenner Lecture – The Future of Our Oceans

On 7 June 2023, Sydney University marine ecologist Professor Emma Johnston delivered the Fenner Lecture, on the topic of “The Future of Our Oceans”

Better Evaluation Builds a Stronger Public Service: The Australian Centre for Evaluation

On 7 June 2023, I spoke to Roland Wilson Scholars at the Australian National University about randomised trials, and the new Australian Centre for Evaluation. The text of the speech is available here: https://www.andrewleigh.com/sir_roland_wilson_foundation_scholar_symposium_speech

Leadership in an Age of Distraction

On 5 June 2023, I spoke with Kilfinan leaders and mentors, a group comprising people from the charity and business sectors, about the potential for technological distraction to reduce productivity and erode community. Drawing on lessons from agile programming and other high-productivity workplaces, I suggested ways that we might help people engage in deep work and build meaningful connections in an era of smartphones and social media.

Choosing Openness, Yonsei University, Korea

On 2 May 2023, I spoke at Yonsei University in Seoul on the topic ‘Choosing openness: How regional partnerships boost economic dynamism’. The full text of the speech is available at https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-yonsei-university-seoul

Fair Play, Fair Competition & Economic Dynamism

On 5 April 2023, I delivered a short speech at the National Small Business Summit on the role of fairness in competition laws. The full transcript is here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-cosboa-national-small-business-summit-melbourne

Digital Competition and Economic Dynamism

On 17 March 2023, I addressed a conference at Monash University Business School on the theme of ‘Opportunities and challenges of the digital revolution’. The full speech text is available here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/address-monash-university-business-school-melbourne

How Uncompetitive Markets Hurt Workers

On 2 March 2023, I delivered a speech at a Per Capita event (hosted by Maurice Blackburn), titled “How Uncompetitive Markets Hurt Workers”. The full text of the speech can be found here: https://www.andrewleigh.com/how_uncompetitive_markets_hurt_workers_speech_melbourne

Choke Point Capitalism with Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow

On 16 February 2023, I spoke with Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow about their new book, “Choke Point Capitalism”. The event was held at the Australian National University, as part of the ANU / Canberra Times ‘Meet the Author’ series. Thanks to the ANU for permission to post this podcast recording.

What Andrew Leigh is reading this summer

Interview on ABC RN Breakfast to discuss my summer reading. 

Market Power and Markups: Malign Markers for the Australian Macroeconomy

On 7 December 2022, I gave the fourth of my competition reform talks. This one focused on markups, and was delivered at the Sydney Institute. The full text is available here: https://www.andrewleigh.com/address_to_the_sydney_institute_speech_sydney

Launching ‘The Whitlam Era’ book

On 2 December 2022, at the National Press Club, I launched Scott Prasser and David Clune’s edited book ‘The Whitlam Era’. The speech text is available at https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/book-launch-whitlam-era-national-press-club-canberra

Health Inequalities in the COVID Pandemic

On 23 November 2022, I delivered the WD Borrie Lecture at the Australian Population Association Conference, held at the Australian National University, on the topic “Health Inequalities in the COVID Pandemic: Evidence from Australia”. The text of the speech may be found here: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/wd-borrie-lecture-australian-population-association-conference

Economic Dynamism: A Global Perspective

On 14 November 2022, I delivered the Warren Hogan Lecture at the University of Sydney, on the topic of ‘Economic Dynamism: A Global Perspective’.

In Conversation with Frank Bongiorno about his new book ‘Dreamers and Schemers’

On 2 November 2022, Frank Bongiorno joined me on stage in Canberra to discuss his new book, ‘Dreamers and Schemers: A Political History of Australia’. The event was held as part of the ANU / Canberra Times Meet the Author series.

A zippier economy: Lessons from the 1992 Hilmer Competition Reforms

On 17 October 2022, Andrew Leigh delivered a talk in the Sydney Ideas series – Sydney University’s flagship speech series. Here is a summary: “In October 1992, Prime Minister Paul Keating announced the establishment of a major independent inquiry into competition policy in Australia. Fred Hilmer’s review sparked the National Competition Policy reforms, which was followed by a surge in productivity. Thirty years on, Andrew Leigh will look at what lessons the Hilmer Review and National Competition Policy can teach us. After the worst decade of income growth in the post-war era, Leigh argues that it is vital to prioritise competition. Globally, regulators are actively looking at what Louis Brandeis famously called ‘the curse of bigness’, and considering how excessive market concentration might harm consumers, hurt workers, and reduce economic activity. A zippier economy requires more startups, more mobility, and more innovation.”

 

Fair Game - What can sport teach us about justice and virtue?

I joined Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens on The Minefield to discuss my new book Fair Game, and to answer the question: What can sport teach us about justice and virtue?

 

Learn more: Fair Game – Monash University Publishing

 

Launching ’Fair Game’ in Sydney

Launching ’Fair Game’ in Melbourne

A More Dynamic Economy

On 25 August 2022, I delivered the Fred Gruen Lecture at the Australian National University on ‘A More Dynamic Economy’. The text of the talk is available at https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2022/speeches/fh-gruen-lecture-australian-national-university-canberra.

Discussing the Morality of AI with Toby Walsh (ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author Series)

On 10 May 2022, Toby Walsh was in conversation with Andrew Leigh, discussing Toby’s new book ‘Machines Behaving Badly: The Morality of AI’. Toby, a world-leading researcher in the field of artificial intelligence, examines the ethical issues we face in a future dominated by artificial intelligence. Is Alexa racist? Can robots have rights? What happens if a self-driving car kills someone? What limitations should we put on the use of facial recognition? Can we build moral machines? The conversation took place as part of the ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author Series, in association with Harry Hartog Bookshop.