“He is nearly unbelievably intelligent, articulate, personable and intellectually energetic… Just about the perfect political package.”  But NOEL BEDDOE discovers that Andrew Leigh also knows when to keep his thoughts to himself. 

The member for the northern Canberra seat of Fenner since 2010, Dr Andrew Leigh holds a dazzling array of university qualifications and former postings in law, education and public policy, the pinnacle a PhD from Harvard.

He has authored 10 books and co-authored two and written far too many scholarly treatises for me to be able to count.

He’s worked in company law, as professional associate to Justice Michael Kirby at the High Court and lectured at the ANU (ultimately serving as professor of economics there).

He’s now the member for Fenner and Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury. He is still yet to reach his intellectual peak.

We met in his office in central Gungahlin.

Firstly, the office – the reception area is tiny, big enough to hold two clients’ chairs; it is dominated by a large but decrepit cardboard carton into which have been placed various items of foodstuffs, clothing, toys, items intended, I guess, to be distributed by the Red Cross.

Andrew wore bright blue cotton trousers and an open neck shirt; his inner office is cluttered with various large electronic devices; there are some personal photographs but no art works, no library.

By intention or chance (intention is my guess) this is a workplace that says: “There’s nothing glamorous about us; we’re here to get work done”.

He is tall and whip-thin – at age 53 he still runs marathons. We talked for 30 minutes; the impression he creates in discussion is of coiled energy and total concentration.

His family, grandparents and parents, all were or are committed members of the Methodist then Uniting churches.

Some took underprivileged in to give them a secure home – migrants, First Nations people; he remembers fascinating conversations when he visited.

Were tensions when Andrew accepted his own atheistic views and revealed them? Never; his parents remain good friends of his.

Apart from family, major contributors to his development? He holds Kirby very highly: “I learned from Justice Kirby that he was never afraid to be held mistaken when he took a stance; he never dismissed the thought that history may well prove him right. He was totally authentic – he acknowledged that he was gay when that was even a tougher act than it is today.”

Also predecessor Bob McMullan – “He’s only ever a phone call away; I do try not to bother him too much.”

He has never joined a faction in parliament. Regrets?

“I am completely committed to my role. As a member of government I have assured access to all ministers; I can take recommendations to them across portfolios and be guaranteed an audience, an opportunity to convince using evidence. And I love representing the people of Fenner.”

Not quite an answer to what I’d asked, but that’s okay.

Failings in the ACT? The appalling recidivism rates of our indigenous in custodial incarceration?

“The Federal government hasn’t responsibility for ACT custodial matters…”

Yes, but as a senior resident citizen?

In response he took me through a number of matters that I already knew about – First Nations policy, Closing the Gap, incarceration rates featuring in Labor policy. All very informed but what does he think about our ACT rates? I think I know, but he didn’t tell me.

When it suits him, Dr Leigh knows how to keep his thoughts to himself.

I mentioned my admiration for Bob McMullan and my belief that our nation did not get as much as we might have from his time in parliament. Our time was nearly up; Andrew Leigh gave a burst of deep, sincere laughter.

“Oh, Noel,” he said. “That’s the fate of just about everyone who gets elected to parliament!”

A revealing moment of pure candour.

Another try: has he any ambition beyond what he currently is doing? 

Again he told me what a privilege it was to hold the role he had. The impression – he has no further ambition.

Yeah? Maybe.

He comes from a background of service and social awareness and contribution; he is nearly unbelievably intelligent, articulate, personable and intellectually energetic; he has the tough instinct to know when to comment on an issue, when to keep his thoughts to himself and how to negotiate unwelcome questions.

Just about the perfect political package.

Where to next for Andrew Leigh? I’ll keep an eye on that with great interest.

Canberra novelist Noel Beddoe has twice been awarded by The Literature Board of The Australia Council for the Arts.

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