Andrew Leigh

Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury and Employment, and Federal Member for Fenner in the ACT. Prior to being elected in 2010, Andrew was a professor of economics at the Australian National University. He holds a PhD in Public Policy from Harvard, having graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours in Arts and Law. Andrew is a past recipient of the Economic Society of Australia's Young Economist Award and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences.

His books include Disconnected (2010), Battlers and Billionaires: The Story of Inequality in Australia (2013), The Economics of Just About Everything (2014), The Luck of Politics (2015), Choosing Openness: Why Global Engagement is Best for Australia (2017), Randomistas: How Radical Researchers Changed Our World (2018), Innovation + Equality: How to Create a Future That Is More Star Trek Than Terminator (with Joshua Gans) (2019), Reconnected: A Community Builder's Handbook (with Nick Terrell) (2020), What's the Worst That Could Happen? Existential Risk and Extreme Politics (2021), Fair Game: Lessons From Sport for a Fairer Society and a Stronger Economy (2022) and The Shortest History of Economics (2024).

Andrew is a keen Ironman triathlete and marathon runner, and hosts a podcast called The Good Life: Andrew Leigh in Conversation, about living a happier, healthier and more ethical life. Andrew is the father of three sons - Sebastian, Theodore and Zachary, and lives with his wife Gweneth in Canberra. He has been a member of the Australian Labor Party since 1991.

Books

"The Good Life: Andrew Leigh in Conversation"

Our society places a lot of emphasis on 'smarts' but not enough on 'wisdom'. In this podcast, Andrew seeks out wise men and women to see what they can teach us about living a happier, healthier and more ethical life.

You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast app. 

Thanks to The Podcast Reader magazine, many episodes of The Good Life podcast have been transcribed, and you can read them here.

"Andrew Leigh MP: Speeches and Conversations" (the other podcast)

Andrew also maintains a podcast of major speeches and conversations podcast which you can find on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.

Principles of Politics

Andrew’s office adheres to ten principles:

1. How we practice politics can be as important as the policies we pursue. Since this is politics, we’ll never be universally popular. But we should treat co-workers, constituents and colleagues with respect and dignity. This is especially important when dealing with vulnerable constituents.
2. Our communications should try to engage with the better instincts of Australia, to tell stories, make new arguments, and convey fresh facts. When we dumb down debates and demonise our opponents, progressives lose. When we enrich the public conversation, we win.
3. None of us would be here without the Labor Party. It is Australia’s oldest and greatest political party, and will outlast all of us. We have a responsibility to cherish its traditions, make it stronger and more democratic, and help Labor win elections.
4. When we cannot help someone, we should tell them honestly, and use that time to help others; particularly the most disadvantaged.
5. We should be working on the most important things possible – big ideas, critical questions, major community issues. The only way to get the space to do this is to say no to less important priorities. We can do anything, but we cannot do everything.
6. Experimenting is good, and learning from our mistakes is healthy – but only if we share what we’ve learned with our team and our Labor colleagues.
7. Envy and hate are two of the biggest timewasters in politics. Media coverage is a means, not an end. Working in politics is a privilege, and we’re lucky to do it. Our office should be the positive, respectful and safe work environment we would want for every employee in the country.
8. Wherever possible, we should draw on the strengths of diversity, and collaborate with colleagues on policies, campaigns and events. Labor is the party of “we”, not “me”.
9. Don’t apologise for spending time with friends and family, exercising or reading fiction. Not only is socialising important in itself; a well-rounded life helps us do our jobs better. Strive for calmness, balance and gratitude.
10. Act ethically, crack jokes when we can, and keep a sense of perspective. The typical career lasts around 80,000 hours. Let’s make them count.