What we learned at the ALP national conference today
The main takeaways from today’s conference:
Anthony Albanese has given a start date to the shared equity homebuyer scheme which was included in the election platform – it will start in the first half of next year, after the states and territories pass the necessary legislation to get it moving.
The prime minister has also laid out some markers for the “long-term project” of a “long-term Labor government” – he wants to see childcare made universal (like health), the gender pay gap addressed and the transition to renewables pretty much completed.
A “statement in detail” on the Aukus pact has been proposed to be added to the national platform to try to quell grassroots unrest. That won’t go to the floor for a vote until tomorrow morning, but it is being telegraphed now to try to stop a vote to remove support for Aukus from the platform getting up tomorrow.
Labor’s environmental arm, Lean didn’t get a ban on native forest logging across the line, and instead the party will support a “transition” in the logging industry.
We will be back to cover tomorrow’s conference happenings – we hope you will join us as Labor works out its future direction.
Conference will kick off at 10am, but we will be on deck from about 9.30am. We hope to see you – until then, please, take care of you.
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Conference is adjourned for the day
And just like that … the first day of the ALP conference is adjourned.
It will be back at 10am tomorrow to continue working through the platform – tomorrow morning will be the Aukus debate, so get ready for that.
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Push to support victim-survivors of childhood abuse
We just had a resolution moved by the Victorian socialist left delegate Julijana Todorovic to support victim-survivors of childhood abuse.
The resolution proposed:
The FPLP will work with the Department of Government Service to amend relevant legislation to abolish the retraumatising bureaucratic recovery requirements and assist victim-survivors to access compensation in a trauma-informed way.
But we’re on the home stretch now so the government services minister, Bill Shorten, who has seconded the motion, waived his right to speak.
Speaking of Shorten, we’re now hearing the minister discuss those involved in the robodebt scheme:
A senior cabal of very high, very senior public servants and Coalition ministers made a decision to go to war against the poor. They decided to divide this country into those on welfare and those not on welfare. They decided to paint a picture that people using our public service, Centrelink, Medicare, the pension system, was somehow lesser Australians than other people and we now know how much that unlawful behaviour has now been exposed and there is accountability making its way through the system.
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Conference prepares to adjourn for the day
Seems like the delegates want to get this day over and done with – many are now waiving their right to speak and the leftover economic motions won’t be debated today (at a later, to be decided time over the next two days), so there is not too much longer in this conference day to go.
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Albanese to appear on 7.30 with Laura Tingle
Anthony Albanese will be interviewed by Laura Tingle for the ABC’s 7.30 tonight, and you can bet the housing announcement will be getting a pretty big spiel.
Parliament doesn’t sit until 4 September, so there are a couple more weeks before we get back to the parliamentary back and forth between Labor and the Greens, but Labor sees an opportunity to start pushing back a little more.
Still no agreement on renters rights though.
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Regulation of online gambling should have harm reduction as primary goal, MP says
The national conference is supposed to finish at 4pm for the day but we’ve still got to get through the third chapter and then circle back to the leftover economic motions from the morning.
Right now, the Dunkley MP, Peta Murphy, is up and is moving a motion on gambling addiction.
The online gambling business model, which encourages harm, must be better regulated. The Albanese Labor government knows this and has introduced significant reforms already, but more needs to be done.
The motion proposes the “policy framework and regulation of online gambling in Australia” have harm reduction as its primary goal.
There’s also a motion attached about recognising drug and alcohol addiction as a health issue, not a criminal one.
It’s carried.
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Chalmers confident conference will back Aukus after debate
Jim Chalmers is now speaking to the ABC about the ALP conference and he has been asked whether or not the bid to remove the supportive Aukus mention from the party platform has been defeated with the government’s proposed statement in detail (the proposal is to lay out 32 paragraphs as part of the national platform, saying we are doing Aukus, we are in support of Aukus, but we are going to do it the Labor way, and here is how, so calm your farm anti-Aukus Labor people).
Asked if the move to remove “including Aukus” from the defence platform will be beaten tomorrow morning, Chalmers says:
I think that has always been the case. It has been rumblings over the past few months, the left may have the numbers to do remarkable things at the conference but there has been factional agreements in place for some time … great efforts have been made to avoid embarrassing the Albanese government in any way.
There is enormous goodwill amongst all Labor ranks that this is a first-term Labor government, they that want to be a long-term Labor government so now is not the time to be rocking the vote and generating huge controversy at a Labor national conference.
There will be debate around Aukus, but we do know that support is going to remain, Aukus will be introduced to Labor’s national platform as it is currently in the draft, so it will carry on as such. But that conversation will be heard because we heard from Wayne Swan this morning as he opened the conference, this is a party that values debate, he says, and they are happy to have it in the open and happy for the public to watch as well.
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The first day of Labor conference is about to draw to a close – at least when it comes to what is happening on the floor. Once conference adjourns, the factions go off and have little meetings and then there are the meetings within the meetings and of course the dinners, which are meetings dressed up, with food.
It is going to be a long three days for those involved.
Peter Dutton has a little more stronger ground when it comes to the Aukus fight at the conference:
… We strongly support the government’s initiative in relation to signing the deal on Aukus. We negotiated with the United States, the United Kingdom, when we were in power, and, as defence minister, I understand very acutely that we live in an uncertain time and we need to make sure that our nation’s defences are as strong as they can be because that provides the greatest deterrence against any action of aggression against our country, it supports our neighbours and our allies, and it’s why it’s important for us to be a valuable partner to our key allies, in particular the United States and the United Kingdom, but also Japan and India, and others in the region at the moment.
So we are hand-in-glove with the government when it comes to the Aukus arrangement, but as we’ve seen, you’ve got hard left Labor members – who for decades have been led by the prime minister as a leader of the left in the Labor party – they are vehemently opposed to the Aukus deal. There are now 40 branches of the Labor party across the country who have signed up to the cause to see Aukus defeated.
He moves from that to nuclear, so we might leave it there (just like the Morrison government left the idea of nuclear power while in government because it was not cost-effective and would take too long to establish).
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Dutton answers question on super profits tax with attack on Labor
The Liberal leader, Peter Dutton, was in Brisbane yesterday for the Ekka’s Peoples’ Day (the public holiday to go to the greatest show on earth), but he is now in western Sydney, where he has held a doorstop (quick press conference).
He was, of course, asked about Labor’s conference:
Question:
What about the idea, I know some of the unions are going to use this conference to push for new super profit taxes on big businesses. Surely you could see that sort of policy appealing to voters who are seeing, you know, big banks post large profits while they’re struggling, as you say, with cost of living pressures?
Peter Dutton:
Well, again, socialist governments always want to tax more because they can never spend fast enough*. The fact is that if you look at a state level where tens of thousands of bureaucrats have been employed in Victoria, or in Canberra, or in Brisbane, they’re adding to layers of bureaucracy, which is why you end up seeing hospital ramping and dysfunction within the health system, because the money’s not being spent on additional doctors and nurses, it’s being spent on back-office jobs that add layers of bureaucracy to decision-making and just grind the whole system to a halt.
(*The Albanese government delivered the first budget surplus in 15 years)
So, governments of a Labor persuasion will always spend more money**, but we know from our nine years in government and from the Howard years – Howard-Costello years, that we know how to manage the economy***, we know how to make decisions in budgets which promote economic activity, which ultimately delivers a dividend to the Australian people****, and at the moment people get that the Labor experiment with the economy is not working.
(**The Albanese government delivered the first budget surplus in 15 years)
(***The Howard-Costello government was the highest taxing government as a percentage of GDP in Australia’s history, with the most recent Coalition coming in second)
(****Real wage growth went backwards for the decade under the Coalition, before inflation was an issue, the housing market is at crisis point, the health system is at breaking point…)
Now, I’m old enough to remember the 1990s during the Keating years, in particular. I come from a small business family and our family struggled big time to put food on the table and to pay the bills each month because of a Labor government – and, sadly, we’re seeing a repeat of that again, because they make decisions and they move to these ideas around super profit taxes***** and the rest of it.
(*****A super profits tax would not apply to small businesses, but multinationals and big business which make super profits. It is in the name)
The fact is that some businesses in good times put money away for bad times and that’s how you survive cycles******.
(******The Albanese government delivered the first budget surplus in 15 years by banking dividends)
Labor don’t get that because they’ve never employed anyone, they don’t understand how to manage money, and you’re seeing the dividend of that at the moment through policies which are keeping inflation higher for longer, and inflation kills an economy, and it’s exactly why people who are working two jobs now are turning up at food kitchens like this to get their meal and to provide support to their family just to keep going. That is not something that our country should be proud of in 2023.
(sigh)
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Labor will consider world heritage listing application for Exmouth Gulf
One more thing from the environment chapter – conference passed an amendment that a re-elected Labor government will consider making an application to Unesco for Exmouth Gulf to be granted a world heritage listing.
The amendment, moved by the Western Australian MP Josh Wilson, would consider applying to the UN scientific body for Exmouth Gulf’s inclusion as part of the Ningaloo Coast world heritage listing on the basis of properly protecting its unique and critical biodiversity and heritage value.
Any application would be subject to consultation with First Nations communities.
Wilson said:
In 2011, the Unesco assessment committee noted that the environmental and cultural heritage values of Exmouth Gulf warranted its consideration for world heritage protection.
Since that time, the emergence of further detailed scientific and First Nations knowledge has only intensified our understanding of the Gulf’s biodiversity significance, its fragility, and therefore the unacceptable risk if it’s not properly protected.
It’s been welcomed by Paul Gamblin, the protect Ningaloo director at the Australian Marine Conservation Society:
This very welcome commitment reflects the world heritage values of Exmouth Gulf, Ningaloo and sends a clear signal that industrial development, like a giant saltworks and port, is the wrong direction for this global icon.
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Shorten urges more representation from people with disabilities
Back to the Labor conference and Bill Shorten said he wants to see more representation from people with disabilities in the party, councils and state and federal governments.
He said:
I just want to draw attention to one point. Ali France and Tony Clark. They’ve spoken to you ... there’s only two delegates out of 403 at this conference with a disability.
Labor Enabled needs to be supported by everyone.
We need to have more people with disability, not just doing things for them but people of disability need to be in this forum.
They need to be elected to council, they need to be elected to state parliament and they need to be elected to the federal parliament.
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Jim Chalmers was asked about the 4.5% unemployment rate and said:
Well, it remains to be seen. Certainly, the Treasury forecasts think that unemployment will get to somewhere closer to the middle fours, but the labour market’s been incredibly resilient. It’s one of the big things we’ve got going for us. The fact that unemployment has been really extraordinarily low for some time. We’ve created more jobs in the first year of the Albanese government than any new government on record.
And another number that came out today, which is very pleasing, is that on average Australians are earning about $68 a week more than they were when we came to office, and so that’s encouraging too.
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Unemployment expected to tick up, but 3.7% still ‘pretty remarkable’, Chalmers says
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, took time out of his conference schedule to have a chat to Sky News about the unemployment rate and said:
We’ve been expecting for a little while now that the unemployment rate will tick up a bit, but still 3.7% when we’ve got all of this coming at us from around the world, that’s still a pretty remarkable position that we’re in.
We’ve said for some time, I’ve said to you on other occasions when we’ve spoken, that we think the unemployment rate will rise a little bit. We’ve seen some of that in the numbers today. You never like to see the unemployment rate go up, but I think it’s something that people have been expecting for some time.
There is some suggestion the unemployment rate will get to 4.5% – between 4.0 and 4.5% is usually where Treasury boffins think the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment (the nairu) sits – meaning they think that is the lowest rate of unemployment the economy can withstand without contributing to accelerating inflation (so what they think is the sweet spot between wages growing, from scarcity of workers, and inflation staying stable).
But there has been a bit more debate lately because we have had unemployment with a 3 in front of it AND inflation is dropping, so that mixes things up a bit. Still, there are many predicting unemployment will have to rise for the good of the country’s economy.
(Not those who lose their jobs though, obviously. They’ll take one for team Australia and their reward will be a below the poverty line income support payment and conservative media labelling them dole bludgers.)
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NDIS is here to stay after Liberals nearly trashed it, Shorten says
We’re on to changes to Labor’s NDIS policy now.
Some proposed amendments seek to include more accessible housing and to demand good pay and workplace conditions for NDIS workers.
The government services minister, Bill Shorten, speaks:
The Labor party built the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Liberal party nearly trashed it in the last nine years, and we are here today to declare the NDIS is here to stay for future generations of Australians.
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Liberals don’t trust Labor on native logging
The Liberal shadow forestry minister, Jonno Duniam, has also attacked Labor on passing a motion on native logging.
The Tasmanian senator said he’s unconvinced the government won’t end native forestry soon.
He said:
There is no guarantee for the future of native forestry under this Labor Government. It is in their DNA and they will, given half a chance, replicate Labor’s moves in Victoria and Western Australia.
The motion just passed definitely didn’t ban native forestry, despite a strong push internally.
The Labor Environment Action Network was hoping to lift timber plantation logging from 90% to 100%. Instead, the motion pushed the party along the path but offered no timeline.
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Shadow treasurer criticises Labor on economy as unemployment rate rises to 3.7%
This is quite the take from Angus Taylor. The shadow treasurer released this statement:
While the Prime Minister basks in the glory of the Labor conference, work force data released today shows Australian workers and businesses are doing it tougher than ever.
Against market expectations, the unemployment rate rose to 3.7% and the number of full-time jobs dropped by 24,200 in the month of July. Concerningly the participation rate also decreased.
Part-time employment rose by 9,600 jobs, which was not surprising considering the number of full-time jobs that were lost.
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said: “Under Labor we’re seeing our economy shuddering to a halt with Australians now losing jobs, productivity falling off a cliff, flatlining GDP growth and a year of real wage declines.”
“Labor’s cost of living crisis is at risk of morphing into a full-blown economic crisis,” Mr Taylor said.
“Instead of treating inflation and cost of living pressures as it’s first, second and third priority, Labor is distracted and refusing to deal with the core issues impacting Australians’ daily lives.”
The uptick in the unemployment rate was expected – and, to be frank, it seems some economists were expecting to see it before this month. That’s because the interest rate increases have put a brake on the economy, which is finally being felt. People are cutting down on spending – and that means businesses are feeling it, so jobs go.
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Rishworth and Wells open health discussions
In this fast-moving train that is day one of the national conference, we’ve entered the health chapter.
The social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, and aged care minister, Anika Wells, are up first to open the chapter.
They remind the friendly crowd of all of Labor’s great hits when it comes to health – Medicare, the NDIS and improving aged care homes.
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This next chapter of motions is about a “strong and healthy society”. Not a lot of disagreement here – no one doesn’t want a “strong and healthy society” and Labor likes to claim health as a strength, so don’t expect too many disagreements here.
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Well that is it for the environment chapter. The biggest takeaway being that Labor delegates didn’t call for an end to native forestry logging. Just to start working on the transition.
Which for anyone who saw the now viral footage of a Tasmanian tree, thought to be hundreds of years old, being carted away by a logging truck this week is going to come as a disappointment.
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A right to housing should be enshrined in law, Qcoss says
The Queensland Council of Social Service has called for a right to housing to be enshrined in law, on the sidelines of the Labor party conference.
CEO Aimee McVeigh compared the idea of a universal guarantee of a decent home to the guarantee of healthcare delivered though Medicare.
It’s time for Australia to provide the same guarantee around housing that it does for healthcare.
Every Australian should have guaranteed, universal access to a safe and secure housing.
Housing is the cornerstone of a person’s wellbeing.
The Qcoss CEO delivered the call as part of panel discussion at the national Labor conference fringe program this afternoon. The event takes place alongside the party’s conference, which is being held in Brisbane for the first time since the 1970s, and features a dizzying program of trade unions, academics, thinktanks and politicians. Unlike the rest of the conference, it is open to the public.
McVeigh said yesterday’s decision by national cabinet not to adopt national rent caps was disappointing and would make it hard for many Queenslanders.
Given the current housing crisis we are in, yesterday’s national cabinet outcomes will be disappointing for renters in particular.
It is good to see all governments focused on building more houses more quickly, but it’s now time for them to get on with the job.
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Greens condemn Labor ‘backflips to prop up destructive native forest logging’
It hasn’t taken long for the Greens forestry spokesperson, Janet Rice, to respond to the watering down of the Labor conference motion on native forest logging.
Rice says the ALP has done “backflips to prop up destructive native forest logging, despite 390 Labor branches supporting its end”.
This comes on the same day that the Australia Institute released polling showing a strong majority of Australian voters want bans on native forest logging extended to New South Wales and Tasmania.
Labor has buried their heads in the sand again, to the detriment of the environment, the climate, and the forestry workers who are being robbed of a just and fair transition out of a dying industry.
Decades of reckless destruction of native forests has pushed native wildlife to the brink of extinction, endangered our water supplies, heightened bushfire risk and worsened the climate crisis.
If the Albanese Government is serious about fighting the climate crisis, protecting our environment and supporting workers it must follow the lead of Victoria and other states governments, and stop all native forest logging.
We need a permanent, national ban on native forest logging and a just transition plan for forestry workers.
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Unions scold government over foreign workers on transmission towers
We’ve gotten our first bit of rowdiness today and it’s courtesy of the Electrical Trades Union and the CFMEU.
Peter Ong, the ETU’s Queensland state secretary, scolded the immigration minister, Andrew Giles, for signing an agreement to bring workers over from the Philippines to build transmission towers.
Ong said some of the workers are getting paid $20 less an hour. He then turned his attention to the prime minister.
I want Albo to take notice of what Biden says every time he gets up and does a speech about renewable jobs. He talks about renewable jobs, good union jobs, and it’s about time that this government started calling out good union jobs in this country.
Christy Cain, a maritime union official, called the move an “absolute joke”.
If we’re going to the Labor party platforms and principles of trade unionism, that was actually born out of the trade union movement, and we call ourselves Labor, then this is a no-brainer.
There’s some mention of an unnamed group trying to bring in “slave labour”. He’s wound up.
The Western Australian premier, Roger Cook, follows. What a time.
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Prime minister’s electorate office site of climate and cost-of-living protest
Meanwhile, about 100 young people occupied Anthony Albanese’s electorate office, demanding Labor do more on climate and cost-of-living relief for younger people.
The Tomorrow Movement says it is sick of the talk and wants to see some concrete action. Spokesperson Imo Kuah said:
While ordinary people face cost of living pressures and worsening climate impacts, Labor has continued to approve new fossil fuel projects, and allowed inequality to balloon with big corporations making major profits.
Overseas countries like the USA have made record investments in climate solutions that also provide cost of living relief, we are demanding our government follow suit.
The Labor party must guarantee a fairer economy and a safe climate for all at their upcoming conference.
If Labor adopted a Climate Jobs Guarantee, we could decarbonise every industry, transition to renewable energy, and rebuild resilience to take care of everyone in our community. But Labor has not yet stepped up with the level of ambition we need.”
Young protesters are demanding:
1. Labor commit to an ambitious climate jobs plan at the Labor national conference that matches the scale of the crisis.
2. Labor, commit to a senate inquiry investigating opportunities for climate jobs in the transition to a climate-safe future.
Well, we are not seeing that so far this conference, so it looks like they will be disappointed.
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First Nations voices included in passed amendments to net zero target
The set of amendments attached to the APS net zero target also seeks to include First Nations voices in managing significant sites, such as the Great Barrier Reef.
The amendment would add lines such as:
improving water quality including through assisting communities and First Nations peoples to adapt and apply scientific advice;
increasing the opportunity for First Nations to exercise stewardship over sea country.
In a separate movement, it also pushes to explicitly include people on low incomes as those being disadvantaged by the impacts of climate change.
Labor also recognises that vulnerable people including people with low incomes, the elderly, women, children, people with disability, cultural and linguistically diverse communities, and First Nations groups are particularly affected by the impacts of natural hazards. We acknowledge that in all aspects of preparedness, response and recovery we need to ensure that vulnerable people are adequately supported, and included and considered at the planning stage and in how we warn, inform and respond to these events.
The amendments are all carried.
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Climate change amendments being debated
Like the previous session, we’re speeding through it all so bear with us.
Now up is a series of amendments on climate change and those affected by it.
One of the amendments is on the public service’s net zero by 2030 target.
It proposes to replace the existing paragraph:
Labor believes that the commonwealth public sector should demonstrate active leadership on emissions reduction and sustainability. To this end Labor will set a goal of achieving net zero emissions across the public service. Labor will work with public sector unions, public servants and other stakeholders to develop emissions reduction and sustainability initiatives.
with the following lines, which are much stronger:
Labor believes that the commonwealth public sector should demonstrate active leadership on emissions reduction and sustainability.
To this end Labor will achieve net zero emissions across the public service by 2030. Australian Defence Force and security agencies are excluded from the 2030 target given their operational needs. However, these agencies are still encouraged to reduce emissions where possible, for example standard office accommodation and passenger vehicles.
All emissions, including indirect emissions, will be included in the emissions reporting for emissions sources where robust data is available and Labor will continuously improve public reporting of emissions as time goes on, especially for scope 3 emissions.
Labor will work with public sector unions, public servants and other stakeholders to develop emissions reduction initiatives for 2030, including for indirect emissions sources where feasible and supported by availability of rigorous emissions data; improve emissions reporting including scope 3 emissions; and other sustainability initiatives.
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Native logging not banned but policy to be rewritten after Labor environmental group pressure
So to be clear, Lean (Labor’s environmental arm) did not win its battle to have a ban on native forest logging passed by the conference. It got some concessions, and a commitment for the party to rewrite its national forestry policy, but it fell short on getting the conference delegates to agree to a ban.
So the motion was watered down:
Labor supports the sustainable future of Australia’s forests and forest products industry and recognises the value and role of our forests in storing carbon and protecting biodiversity. Labor will work with states and territories to update the 1992 National Forest Policy Statement to ensure it is contemporary and fit for purpose. We will:
Expand Australia’s plantation estate to meet domestic and international demand for high-value, sustainably sourced wood products, and will develop an industry plan that facilitates regional job growth and vibrant sustainable communities.
Deliver the management and restoration of native forests, recognising and rewarding carbon and biodiversity values and the need for their active and on-going management.
Consistent with current government policy, ensure the application of National Environmental Standards to Australia’s native forests.
Harness the social, environmental, and economic benefits that our forests can provide.
Recognise the skills, knowledge and competencies of timber workers and their communities, as well as the central role First Nations communities play in restoring country and determining social, economic and environmental benefits flowing from forest management activity.”
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Wood fibre’s contribution to climate change noted by CFMEU
CFMEU official Michael O’Connor has his own motions about sustainable forestry, pushing back against Lean’s attempts to ban native forest logging.
O’Connor said:
You know what the greatest danger to habitat is? It’s fire. If you don’t manage the forests, you’re going to have more fire and more extinction. So you have to mitigate the fire risk. You’ve got to do a lot of active management, and that produces wood fibre. And you know what we do with all that fibre at the moment? We leave it there. Or we burn it. We waste it.”
O’Connor says that using wood fibre will make a bigger contribution to reducing climate change than banning native forest logging.
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Following Wade’s speech is Australian Workers Union NSW branch vice president, Sandra Doumit.
She backed Lean’s amendments, saying:
What this amendment does not do is ignore our forestry workers.
It does not make grand statements about transition without any detail or plan. It does not encourage the purchase of unregulated and unsustainable overseas timber without any consideration of Australian jobs and Australian industry.
This amendment offers a practical and considered way forward [for] protecting our forests and Australian jobs.
The amendments were then passed. Lean supporters, who we have mentioned are the most vocal at this conference, cheered and clapped.
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Native forest logging 'a travesty': Lean
Felicity Wade, from the Labor Environment Action Network, has praised the Albanese government for committing to rewrite the national forest policy statement this term – but unloaded on native forestry logging.
Wade told the conference:
I have to honour the 366 branches who meet week by week in dusty halls and commit to making Australia a better place, that back the call to get moving on getting out of native forest logging ... I also have to honour the seven out of 10 Australians who think the time is up for this industry. Native forest logging is a travesty in the 21st century. It is failing to innovate or find good ways to give real futures to its timber workers. While it continues we undermine the government’s policy objectives on ending extinctions and emissions reduction, and we prove ourselves a little bit deaf to the deep environmental concerns of our members.”
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National forest policy to be updated
The agriculture minister, Murray Watt, announces it will deliver one of Lean’s calls at this conference.
The environmental action group has been pushing for an updated policy on national forests, which is currently based on the 1992 National Forest Policy Statement.
Obviously a lot has changed in that three decades.
Our forest industries have changed a lot since 1992 and our national forest policy needs to catch up.
It’s our intention to deliver this updated statement in this term of government and it will be developed in consultation with all stakeholders who have an interest in our forests and forestry industry.
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Shifting policies over native forest logging fall short of total ban
The climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, is moving a series of amendments to the environment chapter.
The Labor Environment Action Network’s Felicity Wade has been pushing a ban on native forest logging but has instead moved amendments that discuss reforestation but fall short of a ban.
One says:
Labor is committed to delivering the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on forests and land use which commits Australia to ‘halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030’. Labor recognises that deforestation increases greenhouse gas emissions. Labor will deploy a variety of policy responses to deliver on our emission reduction and deforestation commitments including robust and additional nature-based solutions to prevent forest loss and degradation. Labor will work with the states and territories on national vegetation mapping and monitoring programs.”
Another notes:
Labor supports the sustainable future of Australia’s forests and forest products industry and recognises the value and role of our forests in storing carbon and protecting biodiversity. Labor will work with states and territories to update the 1992 National Forest Policy Statement to ensure it is contemporary and fit for purpose. We will:
Expand Australia’s plantation estate to meet domestic and international demand for high-value, sustainably sourced wood products, and will develop an industry plan that facilitates regional job growth and vibrant sustainable communities.
Deliver the management and restoration of native forests, recognising and rewarding carbon and biodiversity values and the need for their active and on-going management.
Consistent with current government policy, ensure the application of National Environmental Standards to Australia’s native forests.
Harness the social, environmental, and economic benefits that our forests can provide.
Recognise the skills, knowledge and competencies of timber workers and their communities, as well as the central role First Nations communities play in restoring country and determining social, economic and environmental benefits flowing from forest management activity.”
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Motion to end native forest logging gets overwhelming support
More than 300 Labor branches have supported a motion to end native forestry logging.
The Australia Institute (which is running some sessions on the sidelines of conference, in an event called “Labor fringe” – as in on the fringe of conference) did some polling on native forest logging and found:
Seven in 10 Australians (69%) support extending native forest logging bans to New South Wales and Tasmania.
A majority of voters for each political party support an end to native forest logging in NSW and Tasmania.
Three in four Labor voters (75%) and three in five Coalition voters (58%) support the policy.
Support is highest among Greens voters (85%) and weakest among One Nation voters (57%).
A majority of Australians in every age group support ending native forest logging in NSW and Tasmania.
Support is highest among young Australians, aged 18 to 29, (79%) and lowest among older Australians aged 60 and above (61%).
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The conference is only 15 minutes behind schedule at this stage, which is pretty amazing for a Labor conference (I mean they had to hit pause on a debate to keep it to only 15 minutes, but still)
Climate and energy debate to begin at conference
We’re about to kick off the second part of the day, which will focus on climate, environment and energy security.
First up, as we’ve foreshadowed, we’re expecting a bit of tension between Labor’s environmental wing, Lean, and the forestry section of the CFMEU.
One side wants to stop land clearing and native logging while the other wants to keep people in jobs and houses, which do need wood, being built.
The agriculture minister, Murray Watt, and the local government minister, Kirsty McBain, are expected to speak on those motions.
Beyond that, it’s also expected there will be discussions on the sea dumping bill along with motions from energy minister Chris Bowen on the Great Barrier Reef and the public service’s net zero by 2030 target.
Here we go.
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Chapter one (the economy) didn’t wrap up, but the conference is going to move on to the environment chapter and then return to the rest of the debate from chapter one.
It’s a little confusing but this often happens at conference – at the end of three days, all the debates will be done. It’s just not always linear – more of a zig and zag affair.
Stand by for environment discussion at ALP conference
It’s lunch time at the Labor conference so delegates are on break.
The next chapter to be discussed is environment, where the CFMEU will go up against Lean (Labor’s environment arm) on issues like native forest logging.
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Commitment to deliver secure, well-paid unionised jobs as part of Aukus
The other part of that proposed statement in detail which is for the conference is the commitment to “deliver secure, well-paid unionised jobs and establish a skills and training centre of excellence, with Australian workers trained in the latest technologies that add to Australia’s sovereign capability” and a commitment to build Australia’s SSN-Aukus submarines by “Australian workers in South Australia” (which means Osborne).
Again, as Daniel Hurst points out, that is not a new commitment –Labor announced that in March.
However, this would enshrine it, if you like, in the national platform, which is a document for a very particular kettle of fish.
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ALP rank and file unease over Aukus set to dominate at conference
The Aukus pact has been one of the more tricky areas for the political arm of the party to navigate this conference. More than 50 Labor branches have passed resolutions against Aukus, there is the Labor against War group which are leading the charge against support for the pact and nuclear submarines and general unease in the rank and file about Labor being so gung ho about a defence agreement with the US.
Richard Marles has been busy trying to quell the uprising. He has held meetings earlier in the week with union and faction leaders to try and get some peace on the issue and some agreement so as not to face a revolt on the conference floor (which, while in government is not something the political arm wants to see)
So don’t be surprised when you see Marles and Pat Conroy move to add a “statement in detail” to the party platform, which is in support of the decision to acquire nuclear powered submarines.
The 32-paragraph statement will include WHY Labor supports the pact and explain how it will be delivered “consistent with Labor values”. It is going to be a statement to the national platform, not a motion, so won’t form part of the defence section of the platform only – it aims to cover the whole shebang. That will be coming up for discussion tomorrow morning.
Included in the statement:
Making our contribution to the collective security of our region and to the maintenance of the global rules-based order—so fundamental to Australia’s prosperity—is at the heart of Australia’s strategic intent behind acquiring a conventionally-armed, modern and fit for purpose nuclear-powered submarine capability.
…Building Australia’s military defence capability sits alongside our diplomatic efforts, as we play our part in collective deterrence of aggression. By having strong defence capabilities of our own, and by working with partners investing in their own capabilities, we change the calculus for any potential aggressor.
Labor will redouble its efforts to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime, including the NPT. Labor will ensure Australian remains fully committed to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, known as the Treaty of Rarotonga. Labor will uphold its proud history of championing practical disarmament efforts, its commitment to high non-proliferation standards and its enduring dedication to a world without nuclear weapons.
Which as Daniel Hurst points out, is very similar language to how Australia has been trying to quell unease with the pact with other countries in the region.
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Pharmacy owners rally in Sydney
Outside of Labor conference news, there has been a rally of pharmacy owners and supporters in St Andrews’ Square in Sydney, where Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley has given a speech:
Well, today is about three things.
It’s about you. It’s about your patients, and it’s about this awful government.
Every one of you who has spoken to me today, and in every pharmacy that I’ve walked in - because we in the Liberal and National parties walk into our pharmacies. We don’t put our head down and walk past…’oh, don’t want somebody to say something I don’t want to hear…don’t want to meet people who care’.
We walk into your pharmacy and every single one of you that I have spoken to has not talked about yourself. You’ve talked about your patients; you’ve talked about what you mean to them. And they’ve come into your pharmacy - just come in, and they’ve talked about what you mean to them.
But I know what this does to you. You are small businesses. You are the small businesses that make this country. You risk a dollar of your own money, lots of dollars…for a cause, and a business and a passion that you believe in, and then you pass it on to your children.
The pharmacy guild and its members are continuing to fight the 60-day dispensing changes, which will save chronically ill patients about $180 a year, as well as save money on transport and trips to the doctor, but will mean pharmacists will lose up to $150,000 a year once the scheme is fully implemented in lost dispensing charges and incidentals (like jellybean sales).
The government says it is re-investing the $1.2bn over the forwards the change is expected to save into community pharmacies and has increased the regional and rural pharmacy allowance, as well as brought forward negotiations on the next agreement (where the government payments for services is worked out). It has also expanded on the services pharmacies can offer – like vaccines, medical certificates and in some cases, prescribe some common medications.
The first lot of changes are due to start in September. But the Coalition is still fighting the changes, so expect this issue to continue.
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The shared equity scheme start date announcement has given Labor a little boost in the housing debate. But not everyone is impressed.
Australia needs more houses.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 17, 2023
I’m proud to announce our Help to Buy scheme will start next year.
As a result of National Cabinet yesterday, the program will be nationwide. And will help 40,000 low and middle income families buy a home of their own. pic.twitter.com/8axMAVPQE8
Open up super.
— Senator Andrew Bragg (@ajamesbragg) August 17, 2023
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Watch this space – the big ALP conference debates are coming this afternoon
You may have noticed that all these motions we are reporting on are being passed without much fuss – that is because this is a not much fuss section of the conference.
Environment is where some of those big fights are going to be (forestry being one) and that is coming up this afternoon.
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Labor pushes for minimum road transport standards
Further to an earlier post, the reason the Transport Workers Union’s secretary Michael Kaine spoke about safe rates in an unrelated debate is that the draft platform already contains a commitment on regulating the road transport industry.
The draft platform states:
Labor recognises that a safe, sustainable, viable and fair road transport industry is vital for both Australia’s economic future and the safety of all Australian road users. Labor will empower the Fair Work Commission to establish and maintain appropriate minimum standards in the road transport sectors; in relation to both traditional transport operations and on-demand delivery and ride share platform work. Labor will ensure that the Fair Work Commission can convene specialist industry advisory groups to provide advice and recommendations.”
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‘If you haven’t walked past someone sleeping rough you need to open your eyes’
Up now is Julijana Todorovic, co-convenor of Labor for Housing, who is also moving the amendment.
She declared this amendment is ultimately about class.
Everyone knows someone who was affected by this housing crisis. Everyone who lives in a Labor electorate has walked past someone sleeping rough outside their supermarket, and if you haven’t, you need to open your eyes.”
Todorovic welcomed yesterday’s national cabinet announcementI but said it’s still not enough.
When we are in a hole so deep, we need something bigger and bolder. We have to look to taxing corporations to fund housing. Labor for Housing stands firmly behind the CFMEU in this campaign, and we cannot wait to have you join us on this journey.”
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Names of delivery drivers killed at work read to conference
The Transport Workers Union national secretary, Michael Kaine, used his speech to conference to read out the names of delivery drivers who have died.
Kaine warned that before long there would be too many to name in a two-minute speech, and called on the government to eliminate systems of work that incentivise riders to cut corners to make deliveries.
Curious, because Kaine was speaking to apparently unrelated amendments about public transport and shipping.
We’ve now got construction union national secretary, Zach Smith, speaking about the need to build more houses.
Although the CFMEU is campaigning on a super profits tax, the amendment put forward is a lot less expansive:
Labor will increase government investment in social and affordable housing with funding from a progressive and sustainable tax system, including corporate tax reform.”
Smith said this was an “important first step ... this is not everything the union is demanding, but it is the sort of first step a progressive Labor government should be doing”.
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Labor commits to backing for shipping industry
Paddy Crumlin, national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, is giving a stirring speech on the shipping workforce.
He’s quite chummy with the national executive as he gets on stage, thanking former treasurer Wayne Swan for his role in getting Australia through the global financial crisis.
Crumlin pushes for Labor to commit to backing and strengthening the shipping industry.
Shipping is an integrated part of what Australia is. It’s fundamental to our way, our identity, it’s fundamental to our security. It’s fundamental to our fuel security, it’s fundamental to our economics. It’s fundamental to our own sense of national esteem.”
Like every other motion or resolution so far, it’s passed.
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Labor Against War group and opposition to Aukus gets a mention
There is a new Labor group – Labor Against War – and it now has some founding patrons in former senators Margaret Reynolds and Doug Cameron.
Law national convenor Marcus Strom said:
We are honoured to have Margaret and Doug as our founding patrons. Their contributions to the labor and peace movements have been enormous and we welcome their support for our struggle for a non-nuclear and independent foreign policy for Australia.”
There is an expectation that the one reference to supporting Aukus in the draft platform will be removed in a vote. It is not certain, but at this stage the vote looks pretty close.
Strom says that is not the end of the Labor ranks rising up against the Aukus pact:
National conference is just the start of our campaign. It will be a victory for the rank and file just to force the debate onto conference floor.
Labor’s rank and file overwhelmingly oppose Aukus and see it as a loss of sovereignty, opening the door to a nuclear industry and a dangerous step putting Australia on an unnecessary ‘war footing’ with our largest trading partner.
Moreover, we know that there are many practical and safety difficulties ahead – on nuclear waste, nuclear non-proliferation and barriers to signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Australians do not want to be dragged into another US-led war. Assurances on this matter little when we don’t know who will be prime minister in five years or US president at the end of next year.”
More than 50 ALP party units have passed motions against Aukus since Law founded earlier this year, including six branches in the Prime Minister’s electorate of Grayndler.
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Home equity scheme available to 40,000 people over four years
A little more clarification on the home equity scheme –the government expects it to begin rolling out in the first half of next year (after the states and territories have passed legislation) and it will be made available to each jurisdiction after it passes the legislation to set the scheme up.
It’s available to 40,000 people over four years, so not a huge amount, but will get some people into the housing market a lot earlier (if at all) as it can be used on existing homes, as well as new builds.
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Move to ensure subcontractors are paid as they go in construction
The construction union’s Zach Smith is moving an amendment on security of payments, that is, ensuring subcontractors are paid as they go to prevent builders’ financial collapse harming unpaid creditors.
The amendment says:
Labor recognises the adverse impact on business and workers when construction progress payments are unreasonably withheld or delayed. To this end, Labor will work with states and territories, unions and business representatives to develop effective arrangements to protect the security of payments for contractors down the supply chain in the construction industry.
The second amendment relates to more support for “modular” homes to help solve the housing crisis.
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Moves to ensure industry is supported
We’re zipping through amendments on the floor this morning.
Up now is Stacey Schinnerl, AWU Queensland branch secretary, who wants to make sure Labor builds up industry to allow for domestic refining, processing, and component manufacturing for its critical minerals rather than sending it overseas.
The key to decarbonising the economy is through critical minerals. Australia is a critical mineral stronghold. Our traditional key industries, like manufacturing, rely on us getting this right. Our new green industries, like battery manufacturing, solar panels, and wind turbines, rely on us getting this right. Digging this stuff up is only half the battle. We have to make things with it.
It has the backing of resources minister Madeleine King, who said she wants local mining communities to benefit from the economic gains too:
They deserve to benefit fairly from the economic activity that they have created for so long. We see this boom and bust cycle in resources all the time and we have to work really very hard as a government, as a Labor community, to make sure we flatten that out for the benefit of workers and their families and also the communities that support them.
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Trade amendments carried by conference
The trade minister, Don Farrell, and ACTU president, Michele O’Neil, have moved amendments, which were just carried, on trade.
Among them was this amendment hostile to investor-state dispute clauses in trade agreements:
Labor will only enter into trade agreements that maintain the Australian government’s capacity to govern in the interest of all Australians. This includes the ability for the Australian government to protect Australia’s jobs through the regulation of temporary work and requiring labour market testing. Further, Labor will prohibit through legislation trade agreements that: limit the capacity of governments to procure goods and services locally, incentivise and lock in the privatisation or contestability of public services, undermine Medicare, the public health system and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, undermine state or commonwealth workplace laws or occupational licencing arrangements, undermine laws that relate to anti-dumping, limit the right of the commonwealth to regulate in the interests of public welfare or in relation to safe products, include ISDS provisions, do not require skills assessments to be undertaken in Australia, or do not include labour chapters with enforceable international labour standards.”
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Government to help people buy homes under shared equity scheme
Labor had announced its shared equity scheme during the election campaign – you may remember Scott Morrison rubbishing it and claiming it meant the government would be able to sell your house from under you, despite Morrison having previously supported equity schemes when they were floated at state levels as a way of getting people into houses.
Essentially, the government helps you buy your home (individuals earning up to $90,000 and couples earning up to $120,000 were named as eligible for the scheme during the election campaign) and you pay the government back. It means a smaller bank loan at first, which means an easier way to get into the property market.
We hadn’t heard much about the scheme in the last 15 months, but now it is back on the agenda and starting next year.
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Tens of thousands will get help to buy a home
Here is the key announcement from that speech – this was after national cabinet yesterday and expands on Labor’s equity policy:
The Albanese government is working with states and territories to deliver the Help to Buy Scheme, supporting up to 40,000 low and middle income families to purchase a home of their own.
This will bring home ownership back into reach for thousands of Australians who have been locked out of the housing market.
The government will provide an equity contribution to eligible participants of up to 40 per cent for new homes and 30 per cent for existing homes.
The government is committed to providing the opportunity to purchase a home under Help to Buy in all states and territories.
For states to participate, legislation will need to be passed for the scheme to operate in their jurisdiction.
All states have agreed at national cabinet to progress legislation so the scheme will run nationally.
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There is a bit of a theme emerging on Labor MPs’ social media:
Our Government’s highest priority is rolling out billions of dollars in cost-of-living help, taking some of the edge off rent, electricity, early childhood education, and out-of-pocket health costs @AustralianLabor #auspol #ausecon
— Jim Chalmers MP (@JEChalmers) August 17, 2023
We are condemning to history the false choices which drove the economic failures of the Liberals and Nationals, who still pretend that somehow Australia has to choose between making our economy stronger or fairer
— Jim Chalmers MP (@JEChalmers) August 17, 2023
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The treasurer is now taking the stand
The first session up for debate is being led by Jim Chalmers (Labor right) and is titled:
‘An Economy that Works for Everyone’
You can see the draft motions here
The one we will be keeping an eye on is whether or not there is any successful push to revisit/review the stage three tax cuts, which was one of the issues raised ahead of conference.
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Greens plan right of reply
The Greens have announced a press conference for about an hours time where they will respond to some of what Anthony Albanese just said in his speech, as well as make some general comment about the conference at large.
Just as an aside, the ALP conference is being held at the Brisbane convention centre, which is in the electorate of Griffith, which Labor lost to the Greens at the last election.
It is also the first ALP national conference to be held in Queensland for about 50 years with Gough Whitlam having led the last one held in the greatest nation on earth – Whitlam is often thought of as being from Labor’s left, but he was actually backed in by the NSW right faction. Just a bit of history there for you.
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Standing ovation for PM from the faithful
There is the standard standing ovation with the front bench leading the way .
The conference is now in the hands of the delegates, who will begin to go through the motions.
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The prime minister’s finale
Anthony Albanese finishes with:
My fellow Australians, this is the task my colleagues and I set for ourselves on our first day in government.
It is what has driven us every day since. Working to build an economy that rewards your efforts, working to nourish a society that supports your aspirations, working to be a government worthy of your qualities and the great Australian character, working to deliver the better future our people and our great nation deserve.
Your Labor government, working for you, working for Australia.
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To the people working for our nation, it is our privilege to work for you, PM says
Anthony Albanese:
As we meet here today, there are millions of people working for Australia - educators and carers and health care workers looking after those that we love most in the world, miners and farmers, builders and engineers, driving our national prosperity, small business-owners and start-ups, backing themselves and creating jobs.
Our servicemen and women, our emergency personnel, the Australians who put themselves in danger in order to keep us safe.
And shift workers stacking shelves and moving trolleys, people making deliveries, cleaning offices, doing their very best to support their families and give their children a better life.
I say to all these Australians, people of every faith, every background, every tradition, the people working for our nation, it is our great privilege to work for you.
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We are here to change the country, PM says
Anthony Albanese is building up to a big finish here – with a reminder of what the long term project is (long-term government):
Put simply, we seek long-term government because it’s the difference of whether we shape the future or the future shapes us.
All of this depends, of course, on bringing people with us on the journey, earning and repaying people’s trust, delivering meaningful help for Australians, demonstrating our responsible approach on everything from the economy to foreign policy to national security, and showing we are capable of bringing people together in the national interest.
Now, this may not always grab every headline. It mightn’t suit the agenda of those who prefer protest to progress, who imagine that grand gestures and bold declarations are better than the patient work of ensuring lasting change.
But we’re not here in the Labor for mere gestures. We are here to change the country, to go the distance, to get to the destination, to deliver the better future that we promised.
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Lean making themselves heard
You can hear Lean again when Anthony Albanese mentions renewable energy as one of the issues Labor is pushing forward – there is no room for applause and cheers in the speech (as in Albanese doesn’t pause) but it cuts through regardless.
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Vocal contingent in green shirts
The crowd here at national conference isn’t particularly vocal but there’s one group who’s making noise at every mention of climate action and renewable energy.
The Labor Environment Action Network, or Lean, a contingent of people in green shirts sitting near each other in the stands, clap and cheer each time the prime minister nears the subjects.
It’s notable because it’s coming almost entirely from one section of the hall.
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Labor's shared equity scheme to begin in 2024
Anthony Albanese then goes through the national cabinet decisions from yesterday (which is to boost supply from the middle of next year and move towards more rights for renters –but nothing concrete yet) and says:
These Australians have done the right things, they have worked hard and saved up. They have made sacrifices, but a deposit for a home is still out of reach. What our government will do is step up and put in our share, opening the door of home ownership through the shared equity scheme to tens of thousands of hard-working people. We are the party of the Great Australian Dream, and we are going to keep that dream within reach of the next generation of Australians.
(beginning from the middle of next year)
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PM says Coalition has a problem with the word yes and the Greens not interested in solving problems
He then moves to the political, because:
Of course, the Coalition have a pathological problem with ever saying the word yes.
The policy of the Liberals is to push up prices by allowing people to raid their superannuation, stealing from tomorrow to make the problem worse today.
The Greens political party are not interested in solving the problem at all, they just want the issue, the campaign, the social media content.
They rebel in hypocrisy of voting against affordable housing in the parliament, protesting against it in their electorate, and then making memes calling for action.
They want more signatures on their petitions and more followers for their accounts. We want more homes for more Australians. They are the blockers, we the builders. And we’ll get on with the job.
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Public housing harder now than when Albanese was growing up
And then Anthony Albanese gets to housing. Which shows just how much of a political issue it has become. There is quite a bit of the speech dedicated to it.
He opens with:
I’m not the only person in this room who is here because public housing changed their life.
It is a foundation on which you build everything else, there is nothing that lets you reach higher than a solid floor under your feet. Nothing like a roof over your head to give you a sense of the sky is the limit.
My mum and I had the security of public housing when I was growing up, life was not easy by any means, but the simple truth is it’s harder these days and harder for so many more Australians, harder for people who need public or community housing, harder for renters and harder for first-time buyers.
The fundamental answer to all of this of course is supply. Building more homes. And that is precisely what we are working on everyday in government.
Now that is not the first time we have heard Albanese mention how he came up in the world, but the qualifier – that it is harder now, is more recent.
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PM outlines vision for 'new jobs, greater productivity, and better wages'
We are on the rundown to the conclusion here.
Anthony Albanese:
Yet, the Liberals of course continue to defend this behaviour just as they continue to defend robodebt.
The current opposition are captive to the same ideology consumed by the same negativity, hostages to the same narrow nastiness.
Voting against helping households with energy bills, voting against cheaper medicines, voting against action on climate change, voting against public housing.
So fixated on opposing renewable energy that they are telling Australians with solar panels on their roofs to make room for a nuclear reactor in their backyard.
Their problem is not just that they are stuck in the past, they want everyone else to go back there just to keep them company.
But our Labor movement never stands still. We move forward together to meet the new challenges of a new era, making sure that advances in technology translate to new jobs, greater productivity, and better wages.
… Making equality for women a defining feature of our economy. We pay in participation and in leadership, making good on our commitment to Australia’s veterans, funding support and staff to deal with compensation claims that have been delayed for far too long.
Making it clear to our region, and indeed the world, that Australia is back at the table, engaged in finding solutions to climate change, committed to supporting peace and security.
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An ‘active, fundamental act of disrespect’
Which leads to this joke:
On that last point I was reminded of a joke I heard the other day. The prime minister, the treasurer, the health minister, the resources minister and minister for home affairs walk into a bar, and the bartender says, just the usual, Scott?
Look, I get that ... on one level, this behaviour by my predecessor was so out there, so bizarre that it is beyond belief and I am sure you can imagine, if we had have suggested during the last election campaign that this was going on, we would have been accused of making it up.
But at the heart of it is something very serious.
Because it says the way that the Coalition see themselves in relation to our proper functioning of a democracy, this was an active fundamental act of disrespect.
A calculated, ongoing cover-up, that undermined the very basis of democratic accountability and that is why we have made sure, by legislating that it can never happen again.
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PM condemns Liberal party’s ‘cynical manipulation and addiction to secrecy’
Anthony Albanese seems in much better form in this part of the speech – where he is criticising the Liberal party.
Never again can the Liberals call themselves the party of fiscal responsibility, when all they left behind was $1 trillion of debt.
Never again can the Liberals pretend that they support jobs aspiration when all they did was hollow out manufacturing and hold down wages as a deliberate policy.
Never again, can the party of robodebt pretend that they care about battlers.
Because they will stand condemned forever for the illegal hounding of hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable Australians.
Bill Shorten has ensured that the victims of robodebt have been heard loud and clear.
And delegates. Never again can the Liberals claim to be conservatives. They are reactionaries.
… Even the functioning of our democracy was not immune from their cynical manipulation and addiction to secrecy.
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PM pledges commitment to Indigenous voice to parliament
There is the first mention of the voice:
Before the end of the year, not long now, we can take another commitment off the page.
We can see a change our nation for the better, our commitment to recognise and celebrate the oldest continuous culture on Earth, our commitment to listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so that we can get better results in health and housing and education and jobs, so that we close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Our commitment to a voice enshrined in Australia’s constitution, let’s get this done together.
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There is a round of applause for the economic team of Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher and the first surplus in 15 years (although not as loud as it would be at a Liberal conference, because there are still those in Labor who don’t believe budget surpluses are something to crow about, given they mean the private sector usually means to step in to cover what is not being spent).
Anthony Albanese then moves on to why the platform matters:
Like many of ... you I have been in my fair share of Labor conferences. It is fair to say people who do the hard work are putting together the draft platform, don’t always describe it as an uplifting experience. Somebody said to me that this time around, the most rewarding aspect has been not putting things in the draft platform, it is taking things out – not because the commitments are no longer important, but because they are the law of the land and they are making difference to people’s lives.
Just a few ... access to 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave. It used to be in our national platform, not anymore, now it is in the employment standards. (There is a big applause here)
The commitment to establish a powerful independent and transparent national anticorruption commission used to be in chapter six and now the NACC is open for business.
Six months paid parental leave was an aspiration in the platform. Within three years it will be the right of working parents.
And the right of employees to pursue their unpaid superannuation is no longer in our platform because that power is in workers hands.
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The $1 coin is back! Albanese says:
Now, everyone here might remember turning point in the election campaign. When I was asked if I would support a decision at the Fair Work Commission to increase the minimum wage by $1 an hour, remember the dollar coin?
The Liberals said that this $1 coin and our wage being increased for the poorest workers in our society would wreck the economy.
They said that the sky would fall in. (There are calls of shame here)
But when I was asked if I supported the pay rise for the lowest-paid workers in Australia, the heroes who had seen us through the pandemic, what did I say?
Absolutely.
I think Albanese was expecting a bit of audience participation here. But it doesn’t come, so he forces it.
Now delegates, was that ... the right call? Absolutely.
Now you might be able to help me out, here. Was it delivered? Absolutely (The crowd joins in)
Thought you might get that one.
A bit of participation is always good in the Labor party.
Can you imagine how beside themselves our opponents must have been when this year, we delivered an historic 15% pay increase for aged care workers? (APPLAUSE)
But we will give it another try. You had the practised run.
Was that the right thing to do? Absolutely. (The room joins in here)
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Anthony Albanese runs through list of ALP’s goals and achievements:
Our Labor government is delivering the biggest investment in Medicare since Bob Hawke and Bill Hayden created it.
The biggest boost to commonwealth rent assistance since Paul Keating.
The biggest investment in social housing since Kevin Rudd.
The biggest expansion of public Tafe since Julia Gillard.
And through our national reconstruction fund, the biggest investment in Australian manufacturing since John Curtin.
We are making society fairer and our economy stronger, even in tough times, and creating the most jobs in the first year of any government in Australian history. Half a million new jobs, since we came to office. A record number of women in full-time work.
The gender pay gap hitting a record low. We just going at their fastest rate in a decade including of course, back-to-back real increases in the minimum wage.
There is applause after each of the former prime ministers’ names, but so far, it seems like this room is a little muted. There is not the feet stomping, cheers and shouts of encouragement that I’ve heard at previous conferences.
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Anthony Albanese then goes to the cost of living:
Delegates, the cost of living is the number one pressure on Australian families which is why it is the number one priority for our government. We assist with the cost of living because of the value that we hold in our hearts. Labor wants to ensure that nobody is left behind. It is what we do and part of our character.
He then runs through a laundry list of what Labor has done over the last 15 months when it comes to the cost of living.
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He continues:
The motto of this conference speaks to the focus of our government, ‘working for Australia’.
To help people under pressure here and now.
Working for Australia, to build a stronger economy and a fairer society into the future.
Working for Australia to ensure we not only meet the challenges of this moment, we seize the opportunities of the decade ahead.
Sending delegates that we are here to work for Australia and on behalf of our Labor government I say to every Australian, we are here to work for you.
There is a round of applause – and a pause to ensure the room knows there is supposed to be a round of applause.
Anthony Albanese: ‘Australians are doing it tough at the moment’
Delegates, 15 months ago, the people of Australia put their trust in our Labor government, my team and I came to office with a clear understanding that we would face challenges beyond Australia’s orders and outside our nation’s control.
Global economic uncertainty. Open conflict in Europe. Ongoing strategic petition in our region. Disrupted supply chains and rising global inflation.
All of these international pressures continue to be felt here at home.
We understand that working Australians are doing it tough at the moment, we know that household budgets are under strain and that is why we meet today, not in the spirit of celebration but with a sense of shared determination, a common result to ensure that a Labor government continues to deliver for all Australians who have their faith in us.
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Albanese addresses Labor ‘true believers’
There used to be bets on what song the leader would walk out to conference to, but for the last couple of conferences there has been no song other than generic corporate instrumentals.
Which is what Anthony Albanese gets as he walks on stage to rapt applause (it’s a safe room for that) with the “working for Australia” in blue behind him.
The Labor frontbench are in the front row and there is a lot of red (as is usual) and Albanese opens with a big thank you to the room:
To the true believers. Here, representing our Labor rank and file, your dedication gives us all strength. My colleagues and I stand on your shoulders and we thank you.
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RIP to the Tree of Knowledge, which was poisoned and killed in 2006.
There is a lovely memorial to it in the west Queensland town of Balcaldine (and a lovely bakery near by, especially if you are a fan of custard slice) which is still visited by Labor true believers very regularly – and tends to be at least one stop in every state election campaign.
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Palaszczuk welcomes delegates
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has welcomed delegates to the ALP National Conference at the Brisbane convention centre.
Palaszczuk started with:
How proud are we of the mighty Matildas? They played with all of their hearts and have inspired our nation, forever transformed the way our country views women’s sport. Their efforts have meant another giant step for equality on and off the field.”
Palaszczuk traces Labor’s history back to Barcaldine and the Tree of Knowledge.
Palaszczuk then spruiks Queensland’s transformational energy and jobs plan, getting a good cheer for noting that by 2032, 72% of energy supply will be renewable, and by 2035 Queensland will have “no regular reliance on coal-fired power at all”.
Palaszczuk said the energy transformation has happened “because we kept our energy assets in public hands”.
We’re now into a shopping list of state Labor policies: free kindergarten, apprenticeships and a $550 energy rebate.
Palaszczuk asks for a round of applause for the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, for “always being on the side of working people” and “except for three nights a year on Origin night, is always on the side of Queensland”.
We’re now getting a video from Albo – who is up to speak next.
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Wayne Swan says Labor will in future spearhead push to republic
Wayne Swan continues pointing out all the things Labor has delivered while in government over the decades.
The responsibility for reform always falls to Labor and delegates, we welcome that. We embrace the chance to put in place the big building blocks of economic and social reform.
Our party is responsible for Medicare, for a proper minimum wage, for a decent age old pension ... for a strong social safety net and, for workers, superannuation.
Delegates were the party that legislated Mabo and vastly extended land rights to our Indigenous peoples.
The party that presents for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice enshrined in our constitution.
But perhaps, most interestingly, Swan mentions making Australia a republic will perhaps be its next major achievement.
And, of course, delegates, the party that in due course would invite Australians to embrace the republic and an Australian head of state.
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Opening speeches begin
Wayne Swan is up first at national conference, welcoming attendees on this Thursday morning.
The Rudd era treasurer, now national president, is keen to point out that Labor is the only party that debates its policies in public while taking a dig at the Greens.
The debate is always willing, the rhetoric can be fierce and tempers can run hot.
But the really healthy thing ... is that that’s a sign of our party’s life and confidence and strength.The capacity we have to renew ourselves and recommit ourselves to the big challenges of this moment, from the economy, to climate change to housing, and of course to national defence.
We will bring differing perspectives and passions to all of those questions. But we all come from the same place and ultimately, we all seek the same objective - greater progress and fairness for all the people of Australia.
Climate action groups protest outside Labor national conference
Not everyone here is a Labor supporter.
Earlier this morning, a group of grassroots climate action groups banded together to urge Labor to stop approving new fossil fuel projects, invest more heavily in renewable energy as well as strengthen environmental and cultural heritage laws.
The groups included the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Seed Mob, 350.org, Move Beyond Coal and there was a marching band playing protest parody songs because why not.
Kelly Albion, campaigns director for activist group 350.org, said they’re calling time on the federal government.
Albo, your time’s up. We’ve been nice for a whole year and now we’re saying it’s time to get real. Keep those fossil fuels in the ground, cut ties with those fossil fuel donors and lobbyists and stand with communities who have been resisting coal and gas projects for decades and really need his party and his government to take that leadership while we’re in this climate crisis.
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Acoss pushing for jobseeker increase
Conference is also a chance for advocacy groups to push Labor to go further in policy than what is currently being done. And show that it’s what the membership want. Which is why the Australian Council of Social Service is pushing for an increase in jobseeker – with polling to back up its arguments:
66% of Labor voters in Cooper, Wills and Macnamara believe the rate of jobseeker – which will be just $56 a day from September – is too low, according to an Ipsos poll released today by Acoss.
48% of Labor voters across the three seats said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate if their party was committed to increasing the jobseeker rate above the poverty line of $76 per day.
The polling also found, across the three seats:
50% of Labor voters don’t believe the current government is doing enough to financially support people living on income support.
79% of Labor voters believe the rate of income support provided by the government should be adequate for people to afford basic daily essentials.
82% of Labor voters agree that the rate of income support should be above the poverty line.
On Thursday afternoon the Australian Services Union will move an amendment to clause 85 of the ALP national platform to specify that “keeping people out of poverty will be central to future changes in the social security system”.
Acoss thinks it has the numbers to pass the motion. For a bit more context, those seats are under threat by the Greens – who are pushing for a bigger increase to jobseeker than Labor has allowed for.
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The conference is up and running.
We will bring you as much of it as we can – and will make sure we have all the main motions covered off, as well as the tone and vibe of it all.
But first the scene-setters – the speeches, which are getting under way now.
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The speeches are about to begin and the conference will start in earnest.
But just because the left and Anthony Albanese have more control over the floor and the outcomes, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be a completely comfortable room for the leader.
There are those in the left flank very uncomfortable with where Labor left are going in this “softly softly” approach and what the long-term ramifications will be for the party – and the left – at large.
The argument that Aukus increases our security, manufacturing capabilities and independence makes no sense.
— Doug Cameron (@DougCameron51) August 16, 2023
Tying Australia into the US and UK military/industrial complexes is fraught with political and economic dangers.
Better ways to develop industry than build nuclear subs.
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Union protests Labor’s forestry plan
Before the CFMEU shut down the streets around the Brisbane Convention Centre this morning, some members of its timber arm were camped out the front of the main entrance.
Paul Taylor, a union organiser from northern NSW, said he and his fellow union members had driven hours from regional NSW and QLD to visit the conference.
In particular, the union is keen to shut down a motion from the Labor Environment Action Network (Lean), which he says is trying to stop hardwood logging before the next election.
“That is a fanciful notion,” Taylor said.
These boys got out of bed at three o’clock this morning and drove from Grafton and Lismore to represent their fellow workers in the communities because without timber, those towns don’t exist.
You can’t run around pretending you’re going to build social housing in one breath and then shut down the timber industry in the next. It doesn’t make sense.
Lean is also pushing for all logging to come from timber plantations as opposed to natural forests. Right now, the limit is 90% but Lean wants that raised to 100%.
Taylor said he supports the idea but it doesn’t happen overnight.
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CFMEU make their voices heard on streets of Brisbane
As always with the ALP national conference, there is a bit of colour from the unions who like to make sure their points are made as loudly as possibly.
The CFMEU are no exception. In fact, they probably wrote the guidebook on how to do it.
And they are being quite loud at this conference already.
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The full text of the superannuation motion reads:
Labor will:
Work to implement payment of superannuation on government paid parental leave as a priority reform to paid parental leave
Deliver on its commitment to pay day super, as announced in the 2023-24 budget, to prevent the misuse or loss of accrued superannuation entitlements;
Work with unions and employers to examine gaps in the superannuation system and where possible close these gaps for injured workers, young workers, carers (including for parents who provide full time care up until school age) and low-income families
There’s no fight about this – it has been agreed beforehand.
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Paying super on paid parental leave a ‘priority’
In the economy chapter the ALP national conference will adopt a resolution that paying superannuation on paid parental leave is a “priority reform”.
The amendment will be moved by the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association’s Julia Fox and Australian Services Union’s Emeline Gaske.
The Albanese government has said that paying super on paid parental leave is a reform they’d like to enact, but in the October budget it decided to extend the number of weeks of leave that parents are entitled to but not to pay super on top.
It’s a popular idea among the crossbench, and super funds, which wrote to the treasurer last week calling for the reform.
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A little more on the conference itself:
The conference is being held in person for the first time in five years – Covid meant the last conference was an online affair, which was more Microsoft Teams nightmare fuel than anything. It was the lead-up to the election, and the message was “softly, softly” so no big changes were made and the whole affair barely made the headlines.
This is also the first conference in more of decade where Labor have held power. That ups the stakes a little because what is decided has more of a chance of becoming actual policy for the nation, rather than an election platform. But that also increases the power of the political party, which under Anthony Albanese has set its self the target of entrenching Labor’s time in office for 10 years. MPs and true believers behind the scenes will often tell you that the goal is to change the country slowly. The plan, apparently, is to build up social licence for change, rather than assume it and that means taking the “softly softly” approach of the Albanese opposition years and translating it to government. So don’t expect too many big changes to the policy platform here.
It’s also a notable conference because the left holds the votes on the floor – and in the political leadership. Usually it is the left pushing for the party to go further, but this time, with the left holding the leadership, it has put the brakes on things somewhat, when it comes to niggles about support for Aukus, off-shore detention, the environment and tax reform.
So it is going to be a bit of a weird one, is what we are saying. As one delegate said earlier in the week, it’ll be people arguing with past versions of themselves, more than left v right fights.
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What’s on today’s agenda
The ALP’s national conference at 10am will begin with a speech from national president, Wayne Swan, followed by Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcoming delegates to conference and introducing the prime minister Anthony Albanese. Albanese will then give a keynote address.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher will speak about the economy chapter, before amendments about:
Trade
Critical minerals
Superannuation
Paid parental leave
Disability and productivity
Housing
The circular economy
Anti-dumping
Clare O’Neil will then give a tribute for former Labor leader, Simon Crean.
The conference will discuss the environment and health chapters in the afternoon.
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For a little lightness to get us started, here is the wonderful Fiona Katauskas on the national conference.
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Welcome to a special edition of the politics live blog where we will take a look at the 49th Labor conference.
The Labor party holds these conferences once an election cycle, and they lay out the policy platform the membership would like the party to pursue at the next election. It does not mean the adopted platform becomes government policy – that requires caucus to adopt it. Once upon a time, the ALP was almost completely bound by what delegates decided at conference, although it retained power over when it could implement policies. But politics has changed and the absolute influence of the delegates has waned. That’s not to say that the delegates have no influence (it would be a brave leader indeed who ignored the will of the grassroots members) but in this day and age, the fights tend not to happen on the conference floor but in the lead-up to the conference.
This time around, is no different. But still, three days, 400 or so delegates and a few rumbles means it won’t be entirely smooth sailing for Anthony Albanese and the political arm of the party, so we hope you’ll join us as we cover the ins and outs of this latest Labor conference.
Paul Karp and Sarah Basford Canales are in Brisbane ferreting out what they can, and you have Daniel Hurst and Amy Remeikis in Canberra. Ready? Let’s get into it.
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