Walkouts and shouts of ‘shame’ at NSW Labor conference as Anthony Albanese calls for unity

Anthony Albanese urged NSW Labor conference attendees to remember that ‘disagreements do not divide us and our differences do not divide us’ in a speech in Sydney on Saturday. Photograph: Brian Cassey(copyright)/AAP

Labor’s suspension of the CFMEU’s construction arm has caused controversy at the party’s New South Wales state conference, with some union members walking out during the prime minister’s speech.

Ahead of Anthony Albanese’s address, members of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) yelled “shame” at every mention of action taken by Labor to suspend the construction arm of the CFMEU until further notice after allegations of criminal elements within the division of the union.