Labor Party convenes in Adelaide for first time in 40 years for national conference

Bill Shorten’s big moment on stage at the party’s National Conference in Adelaide was overshadowed when a group of activists, protesting the proposed Adani coal mine in Queensland, stormed the stage. VIDEO + CONFERENCE UPDATES.

Bill Shorten’s big moment on stage at the party’s National Conference in Adelaide was briefly overshadowed when activists, protesting the proposed Adani coal mine in Queensland, stormed the stage after noisy protests outside the gathering earlier in the day.

One protester, Isaac Astill, appeared next to Mr Shorten holding a #StopAdani banner.

“Will you please stop the Adani coal mine? There are bushfires across Queensland, heat records are tumbling, the Great Barrier Reef is heading for a third bleaching event, we have to stop the Adani coal mine,” Mr Astill said.

“Thanks for making that statement. Do I get to keep the flag?” Mr Shorten asked.

“You can keep the flag if you like, absolutely, of course,” the protester replied.

“Good on you mate, cheers. See ya,” Mr Shorten said.

Mr Shorten stood and waited patiently while security removed the protesters.

Bill Shorten takes the flag from Isaac Astill. Picture: AAP / Lukas Coch

.@billshortenmp’s keynote speech to the ALP National Conference is interrupted before its commencement by 'Stop Adani' protestors.

MORE: https://t.co/QHo2hW3tyZ pic.twitter.com/uil0WkOye3

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) December 15, 2018

He told the gathering, “I know these people are well intentioned but the only people they are helping is the current government of Australia.”

“People have the right to protest but you have to ask yourself - when you see these protesters who is the winners? It is the coalition.”

Former Treasurer and national president Wayne Swan was not so sympathetic.

“Can I just make this point, we’re Australia’s oldest political party, we have a proud history of democracy, we all understand the right to protest, but that doesn’t involve the right to drown out the leader of the opposition,” Mr Swan said prompting cheers and applause.

Later Mr Astill, who handed the flag over to Mr Shorten, said 80 per cent of Labor supporters believe coal mines are no longer in the national interest.

An anti-Adani mine protester sits on stage as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten speaks during day one of the Labor Party national conference in Adelaide. Picture: AAP / Lukas Coch

“Australians are looking for political leaders who will stand up to the mining billionaires,” he said.

“Yet Bill Shorten and the Labor Party still support Adani’s mine, opening up one of the largest untapped coal reserves on Earth.”

Donna Smit, another Adani protester, called on Labor to stop the mine.

“Adani are determined to dig their coal mine but we’re more determined to stop it before the federal election,” she said.

She said protesters will attend every community and press event during Labor’s conference, which runs until Tuesday.

South Australia Police later confirmed one woman was arrested for trespassing. Adani has announced it plans to start work on the mine before Christmas.

A protester hands Mr Shorten a “Stop Adani” banner on stage during the national party conference, in Adelaide. Sky News Australia.

400 Labor delegates and an estimated 1000 observers are in town for the party’s national conference - the first time the gathering has been convened in Adelaide since 1979.

Deputy leader Tanya Plibersek, Mr Swan and South Australian opposition leader Peter Malinauskas spoke first, warming up the room before Mr Shorten took to the stage to address the party faithful.

In a pitch to the Labor heartland, ahead of the conference, Mr Shorten unveiled a multibillion-dollar plan to build 250,000 homes across the country and save SA households about $75 a week in rent.

Crackdown on employers who fail to pay super

Labor also promised to crack down on employers who fail to pay their workers superannuation, flagging tough new penalties if the party wins the next federal election.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten pledged to make superannuation part of the National Employment Standards, Australia’s minimum workplace entitlements.

“Bosses who rip off their staff, who don’t pay their super, who steal their super, should receive the same punishments and penalties as those who violate other workplace rights,” Mr Shorten told the conference- Matt Coughlan/AAP

Newstart increase unlikely

Labor appears unlikely to back raising Newstart, with shadow treasurer Chris Bowen confident the party won’t budge from its current position. While pressure is on the party to commit to raising the dole, Mr Bowen is adamant a review is more appropriate.

“Newstart is low, we need to review it. That is the Labor Party’s position and I expect that to be reflected in the national conference resolution,” he told reporters at the ALP national conference in Adelaide on Sunday. - Matt Coughlan/AAP

Major overhaul of environmental laws

An elected Labor government would rewrite Australia’s environmental laws and create a new protection authority.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten made the announcement at the ALP’s national conference on Sunday.

He said a new Environment Act and the Commonwealth Environmental Protection Authority would preserve oceans, rivers, coasts, native species and bushland. The announcement could head off an ugly debate on the issue, which was set to be contested after concerns measures were included in the final draft policy platform without being signed off on properly.

The Labor Environmental Action Network’s was also lobbying for a national environment commission to develop legally binding plans and standards for protection.

That, along with the EPA and new environmental laws, were backed by 470 ALP branches after being included in the draft platform.

Senior Labor frontbencher and environment spokesman Tony Burke had argued against a new Environment Act, preferring beefing up existing laws. He was open to an EPA, but opposed the move for an environment commission, which was left out of Mr Shorten’s announcement.

Matt Coughlan/AAP