Anthony Albanese accuses Liberals of having a ‘pathological problem’ with saying ‘Yes’ in desperate bid to kickstart stalled Voice to Parliament push at Labor’s national conference

Labor faithful from across the nation have converged on Brisbane for a three-day political spectacle which occurs just once in an election cycle. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese kicked off the national conference with a call to arms ahead of the Voice to Parliament referendum and a scathing takedown of the Liberal party for having a ‘pathological problem with ever saying the word Yes’.

‘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.

‘Labor wants to ensure that no-one is left behind. It is what we do, it is part of our character.’

Mr Albanese noted the cost of living remains ‘the number one pressure on Australian families’, and vowed that it is the ‘number one priority’ under his government. 

Harking back to the moment that ‘turned around his election campaign’, Mr Albanese whipped a one dollar coin from his pocket to reminisce on the moment he was asked if he supported an increase to the minimum wage by $1 per hour.

‘The Liberals said that this $1 coin and our being increased for the poorest workers in our society would wreck the economy,’ he said. ‘They said that the sky would fall in.

‘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.’

Since the, Mr Albanese’s government has also introduced a 15 per cent wage increase for aged care workers – a move the PM said must have ‘left those opposite beside themselves’.

Mr Albanese singled out the work of Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher for securing a surplus for the first time in 15 years, while still delivering those pay rises.

The PM then set his sights on the former Liberal party, the ‘Noalition’, as he called them.

‘Never again can the Liberals call themselves the party of fiscal responsibility, when all they left behind was $1 trillion of debt.

Labor faithful from across the nation have converged on Brisbane for a three-day political spectacle which occurs just once in an election cycle

‘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.’

Mr Albanese revealed his hope to lead a ‘long-term government’ which ‘shapes the future’ of Australia. 

Over the next three days, Labor politicians, business leaders, union members, activists and everyday members will mingle with one another and debate the framework of the government’s agenda.

AUKUS, taxation, climate change and the Israel-Palestine conflict are all expected to dominate the schedule.

Factional in-fighting is to be expected as protesters mill out the front of the convention centre to rally against the housing policy announced after national cabinet met on Wednesday.

While Labor hold a national conference every three years, this is the first in more than a decade in which Labor have been in power

Mr Albanese described the outcome as the ‘most significant reforms to housing policy in a generation’.

While Labor hold a national conference every three years, this is the first in more than a decade in which Labor have been in power. 

On day one, there will be three ‘chapters’ or sessions. The first will be helmed by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, discussing Labor’s economic agenda.

This afternoon will be dedicated to the environment and climate, as well as health policy.

As part of the economic discussion, Labor will discuss the prospect of paying superannuation on paid parental leave.

The policy is supported within the crossbench, and is reform the Albanese government has previously said it would like to enact.

Mr Albanese was greeted with raucous applause and a standing ovation