Andrew Leigh 2022

Today the Government will introduce landmark reforms to Parliament to overhaul Australia’s merger rules, another big step towards further boosting competition and productivity in our economy.

This legislative package is the biggest reform to Australia’s merger settings in almost 50 years.

The Albanese Government has reappointed Dr David Gruen AO as the full‑time Australian Statistician to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for a further five years, beginning on 11 December 2024.

Dr Gruen has served as the Australian Statistician since 2019, providing outstanding leadership of the ABS through a unique period in history.

In mid‑1998, a year after the election of the Blair government, I decided that I’d hop on a plane and see it up close. I’d just finished up an intense year as a judge’s associate, working for Justice Michael Kirby on the High Court of Australia, and wanted a break. In Australia, John Howard had just begun what would become the second‑longest Prime Ministership in Australian history.

The Albanese Government is taking action to fight shrinkflation in our supermarkets and retail sector by strengthening the Unit Pricing Code to make it easier for Australians to make accurate and timely price comparisons.

The Government will also introduce substantial penalties for supermarkets who do the wrong thing and breach the Unit Pricing Code.

Thank you to each of you – randomistas and non‑randomistas alike – for taking the time to join us today.

MURRAY JONES:

The Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Assistant Minister for Employment as well, Dr Andrew Leigh, joins me this morning. Good morning, Andrew. How are you?

ANDREW LEIGH:

Very well, Murray, great to be with you.

JONES:

Today, I will travel to the United Kingdom to discuss rigorous policy evaluation with experts and policymakers.

Rigorous policy evaluation is an important tool for creating opportunity and addressing inequality. The meetings will be a valuable chance to exchange ideas with a jurisdiction that has been a leader in the field of evidence‑based policymaking.

KAREN MIDDLETON:

Hi, I’m Karen Middleton, Guardian Australia’s Political Editor coming to you from the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples.

ROSS SOLLY:

GARY ADSHEAD:

Dr Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Competition, joins me on the line now. Thanks very much for your time, Andrew.

ANDREW LEIGH:

Pleasure Gary, great to be with you.

ADSHEAD: