Andrew Leigh MP: Speeches & Conversations

Interview on ABC RN Breakfast to discuss my summer reading. 

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

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

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-...

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

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.

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...

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  

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 .

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 limi...

On 9 April 2022, I spoke with Robyn Williams on the Science Show about my recent book, ‘What’s the Worst That Could Happen? Existential Risk and Extreme Politics’.

On 6 April 2022 in Melbourne, I delivered the biennial Stan Kelly Lecture, named by ‘modest member’ Bert Kelly after his father. The talk was hosted by the Economic Society of Australia’s Victorian branch, and was titled ‘Engaged Egalitarianism: Why the Australian Recovery Must Prioritise Openness’. It will be published in the journal Economic Papers.

Speaking in Melbourne on 7 April 2022, I announced Labor’s plan to double philanthropy by 2030, drawing on the stories of Alfred Nobel’s premature obituary and my grandfather Keith Leigh. It’s an ambitious goal, but if we have a government that collaborates with charities and donors, it’s achievable.

Speech delivered at the Paul Ramsay Foundation in Sydney on 23 March 2022. If you’re interested in this topic, you may wish to check out my book Randomistas: How Radical Researchers Changed Our World”.

On 17 January 2022, I discussed my new book, ‘What's the Worst That Could Happen? Existential Risk and Extreme Politics’ with Julian Huppert at a Cambridge University event, jointly hosted by Jesus College and the Cambridge Centre for the Study of Existential Risk.

On 21 December 2021, Andrew chatted with ABC Brisbane’s Steve Austin about ‘What’s the Worst That Could Happen? Existential Risk and Extreme Politics’.

What's the Worst That Could Happen - A Conversation with Brain Schmidt.

Talking with Chris Bowen about his book 'Labor People'.

On 10 November 2021, the Global Commission on Evidence to Address Societal Challenges (for which I’m a commissioner) held a panel discussion to preview the report’s findings. The speakers Julian Elliott, Davina Ghersi, Jenn Thornhill Verma and Andrew Leigh. For more details, see https://www.mcmasterforum.org/networks/evidence-commission/stay-connected/events/event-item/global-commission-on-evidenc...

Abul Rizvi is one of Australia’s foremost experts on immigration, having served at senior levels in the immigration department. We talked about his new Monash University Publishing book “Population Shock”, which dives deeply into the economics and politics of migration. You can buy a copy here: https://publishing.monash.edu/product/population-shock/

Andrew Wear in conversation about his new book 'Recovery'. You can check out Andrew's book here .

Talking with Richard Marles about his new book on the Pacific, 'Tides That Bind'. You can check out the book here .

Kate Thwaites discussing her new book ' Enough is Enough ', co-authored with Jenny Macklin.