However, later in 1982, he was selected as the Liberal candidate for a by-election for the safe seat of Malvern, being vacated by former premier Lindsay Thompson.
He was promoted to a shadow ministerial role in 1988, holding the Consumer Affairs and Prices portfolio.
He left the front bench in 1989 and did not return during the Kennett Government; he was elected to the seat of Mordialloc in 1992 after being defeated by Robert Doyle in a Malvern preselection.
Leigh later appeared before IBAC in regard to Mr Woodman's alleged payments to councillors at the City of Casey in exchange for favourable planning decisions.
[3] Leigh has been twice married: firstly to Georgina Gibson on 1 May 1985, and secondly to Andree Patrice Martin on 11 December 1991.