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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(100)

New world, same Reserve Bank

There’s a war on Iran choking global oil supplies, an artificial intelligence boom, and a US president torpedoing the global trading system, but inflation simply MUST be normal, according to the RBA. ...

1 Loka 30min

How the NT won Australia's race-to-the-bottom on online gambling regulation

Australia’s multibillion-dollar online gambling industry is effectively regulated by a Northern Territory body with no full-time staff, says Independent MLA Justine Davis. On this episode of Follow th...

30 Syys 28min

Placid Trump-Xi summit bucks Washington ‘consensus’ of ever-rising tensions

Last week’s Trump-Xi meeting delivered few tangible outcomes, but is a bigger shift in US-China relations under way? On this episode of After America, Professor James Laurenceson joins Dr Emma Shortis...

28 Syys 26min

What’s the point of inflation?

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains what’s really driving inflation in Australia and why interest rates aren’t actually the only way to control it. This episode was recorded...

28 Syys 17min

Will Australia "keep up and succeed"? Lessons from the Intergenerational Report

Artificial intelligence dominates the latest Intergenerational Report – but are multi-decade predictions about the rapidly changing technology any more than just a stab in the dark? On this episode of...

24 Syys 30min

The promise of a future: it’s time to phase out fossil fuels

Despite dire warnings from the scientific community and Australia’s Pacific neighbours, the federal government isn’t getting the message. On this episode of Follow the Money, Tuvalu Minister for Clima...

23 Syys 36min

Where are the red lines? Australia, genocide and international law

A new suite of legislation aims to ensure that Australia doesn’t fund, arm or invest in illegal settlements, war crimes or genocide – but the federal government has blocked an inquiry into the bills. ...

21 Syys 29min

What’s the point of progressive politics?

The Prime Minister said he wants to promote ‘progressive patriotism’ – but his policies tell a different story. In this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard explains the dangers of centrism and what ...

21 Syys 22min