Mind the gap

Leigh said one of the most direct ways to reduce inequality was by lifting wages and ensuring job security, something the government had delivered for 2.6 million Australians.

He said these pay rises had ensured that minimum wage workers were not left behind as the cost of living rose. 

“Furthermore, our government has tackled insecure work by introducing stronger protections for casual employees who want to transition to permanent work, establishing minimum standards for gig economy workers, and enforcing ‘same job, same pay’ provisions to prevent labour hire workers from being exploited.

“These reforms help ensure that Australians can rely on stable incomes, reducing the financial precarity that fuels inequality.” 

Leigh said tax policy played a crucial role in shaping economic fairness.

He said the introduction of the stage three tax cuts had allowed a wider range of the population to keep more of what they earned while ensuring that the system remained progressive. 

“By maintaining a fair and responsible tax structure, we can fund essential public services while ensuring that the most fortunate Australians contribute their fair share.” 

Leigh said a strong, targeted welfare system was essential to reducing inequality.

He said the government had implemented several measures designed to help people in need and prevent them becoming trapped in cycles of disadvantage, including:

• increasing JobSeeker and other income support payments

• expanding eligibility for higher JobSeeker rates for those aged over 55

• increasing rent assistance by more than 40 per cent to help counter rising housing costs.

• supporting single parents by extending access to the parenting payment, making it easier to balance work and caregiving responsibilities without falling into poverty.

Leigh described housing inequality as one of the most pressing economic issues currently facing Australia.

He said the government had responded by undertaking the largest investment in social and affordable housing in more than a decade.

Measures included the Housing Australia Future Fund, designed to relieve homelessness and housing stress by delivering more than 55,000 new social and affordable homes. 

Leigh said the government had also introduced measures designed to strengthen the rights of renters, including:

• minimum rental standards

• limiting rent increases to once a year

• requiring genuine grounds for eviction.

“By making renting fairer and ensuring more Australians have access to stable, affordable housing, we are creating a foundation for economic security and social mobility.” 

Leigh said breaking the cycle of inequality started with education.

“That’s why we have delivered cheaper childcare for 96 per cent of families with children in early education – an investment that not only reduces financial strain but also ensures that more children, regardless of their family’s income, start life with the educational support they need.”

Leigh said the government had also ensured that all schools were funded to the schooling resource standard and committed to providing more than 500,000 free TAFE places.

“By making education more accessible, we are expanding opportunities for people from all backgrounds, ensuring that no one is locked out of good jobs because they cannot afford the necessary training.”

Leigh said it was impossible to address economic inequality without considering gender inequality.

Measures he said the government had introduced to help close the gender pay gap and ensure that women were not financially penalised for taking on caring responsibilities included:

• significant pay rises for workers in female-dominated industries such as aged care and early childhood education

• expanding paid parental leave to 26 weeks by 2026

• adding superannuation to government-paid parental leave.

“The gender pay gap is still too high, but it is also at an all-time low.” 

Leigh said inequality was exacerbated when essentials became unaffordable, which is why the government had delivered targeted cost-of-living measures, including:

• $300 in energy bill relief for every household

• cheaper medicines that allow edmillions of Australians to buy two months’ worth of prescription medication for the price of one

• ensuring that HECS-HELP loans would never grow faster than wages, reducing the financial burden on young Australians starting their careers. 

Leigh said that by expanding investment in renewable energy and breaking down barriers to new market entrants, the government was helping to reduce energy costs for consumers while ensuring a transition to a cleaner economy.

“High energy prices disproportionately impact low-income Australians, and our efforts to foster a more competitive and efficient energy market are directly reducing cost-of-living pressures,” he said.

Leigh said low-income Australians faced shorter life expectancies and higher rates of chronic illness.

He said the government had responded by:

• making the largest investment in bulk billing in Medicare’s history

• restoring affordable access to GPs

• establishing new urgent care clinics and expanding mental health services, ensuring that healthcare is based on need, not wealth.

Leigh, who is the author of Battlers and Billionaires, said a truly fair economy was one where businesses compete on a level playing field and where consumers and small businesses were not left behind.

“Monopolies increase inequality by transferring resources from consumers (the many) to shareholders (the few),” he said.

“The Albanese government has prioritised competition reform to prevent market concentration from deepening inequality.” 

Leigh listed strengthening competition in the grocery sector as one of the government’s key achievements.

“By increasing regulatory oversight and cracking down on anti-competitive behaviour by major supermarket chains, we are ensuring fairer prices at the checkout.”

Leigh said an overhaul of merger laws and a revitalised National Competition Policy was also putting downward pressure on prices and increasing fairness.

“This approach reflects our commitment to an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.” 

Leigh said government policies must be grounded in evidence, not ideology.

He said the creation of the Australian Centre for Evaluation and plans to expand the use of randomised controlled trials in policymaking, reflected the government’s commitment to ensuring that every dollar spent on social programs delivered real results.

“By rigorously evaluating what works, we can scale up the most effective initiatives, ensuring that public investment leads to meaningful reductions in inequality.”