Leo Hardiman PSM KC

Experience

Leo is a government law specialist with over 30 years’ experience in government legal work. He has extensive experience in constitutional law, legislative development and implementation, statutory interpretation, Commonwealth financial and taxation law, and the machinery of government. More broadly, Leo has advised the Commonwealth and its agencies on complex issues spanning the entire Commonwealth statute book.

Leo spent approximately 28.5 years working in AGS’s Office of General Counsel (OGC), ultimately becoming AGS’s Deputy Chief General Counsel and OGC’s National Leader – roles which Leo carried out for more than a decade.

Following his AGS career, Leo was appointed as the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Commissioner. In that role (held from April 2022 to May 2023), Leo wrote approximately 50 formal (published) Information Commissioner decisions, many of which were of a precedential nature.

Leo was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his contribution to Commonwealth legal services. Shortly thereafter he received a commission as Commonwealth Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel).