Episode #432
The nasty secret buried in Australian workers' contracts
Non-compete clauses suppress wages, reduce productivity and stifle innovation. Now, the federal government is looking to ban them for most workers. The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the pernicious impact of non-compete clauses and the federal government’s new legislation seeking to ban them for 9-in-10 workers. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 8 September. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest edition in the Vantage Point series, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble . Guest: Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury and Federal Member for Fenner // @aleighmp Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Reform to non-compete clauses and other restraints – draft legislation , Department of Treasury Consultation Hub Government seeks to ban non-compete agreements for most workers by Jack Thrower, The Point Live (September 2026) New data shows many businesses are now using non-compete clauses – and that’s bad for workers by Jack Thrower, the Australia Institute (February 2024) The great unbinding: non‑competes, freedom and the future of competition , Sydney Institute address by the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP (September 2025) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au . Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
