Anthony Albanese’s dark pre-Budget warning at NSW Labor State Conference
Albanese’s first state Labor conference appearance as prime minister was met with deafening applause and a standing ovation – but his speech heralded dark days ahead. See what happened.
NSW
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An emotional Anthony Albanese has received a rousing welcome from the party faithful in his home state of NSW where he has delivered his first speech to a NSW Labor State Conference as prime minister.
But while his appearance at Sydney Town Hall was met deafening applause – and a standing ovation – from the party base, his keynote address signalled the challenges ahead for the government – and the nation.
It was a time of significant global uncertainty. There was military conflict in Europe, and economic turmoil in the UK. There was also the risk of recession in the US and the ongoing security challenges here.
And nine “wasted” years of the Coalition had left the Albanese government with a “homegrown mess” with the “problems and pressures are even greater than we imagined.”
“Inflation is biting economies around the world – and central banks everywhere are responding with the sharpest, most synchronised episode of monetary policy tightening in recent decades,” he said.
“And – amid all this – our government has also inherited a homegrown mess nine long years in the making.
“My colleagues and I never underestimated the size or scale or severity of the economic challenges facing us. There are no easy choices in uncertain times. There is no smooth sailing in a global storm.”
Mr Albanese was joined on stage by his partner Jodie Haydon and son Nathan.
He acknowledged the rock star welcome was a far cry from when the NSW left factional war lord first attended the conference in 1983.
His mother – who would later become a Labor life member – would also attend, sitting up in the gallery observing.
“It is a very emotional entry for me this morning,” Mr Albanese said.
“As you know, across the Saturday and Sunday mornings we hear from the Federal and State leaders.
“That’s when my Mum used to come along – she’d sit just up there.
“My Mum’s beaming smile lit up this stage when she was made a life member back in the year 2000. And I like to think her light is shining down on me this morning.”
Touching on the upcoming Budget, Mr Albanese said while it would be “fair and reforming”, “not every problem can be solved”.
Equality for women would be one issue that would be tackled with Mr Albanese stating it would be “at the centre” of his Budget, building on the announcement on Saturday to expand paid parental leave to 26 weeks.
“It will be a true Labor Budget: responsible, fair and reforming,” he said.
“Of course, we understand that not every problem can be solved in one Budget, or even one term of government.
Our government’s first Budget will signal that the era of policy chaos and shameless, reckless pork-barrelling is over.”
Speaking to delegates earlier, NSW ALP general secretary Bob Nanva declared the governance and financial turmoil in the NSW party had been resolved with a “war chest” now ready to be rolled out for the upcoming State election campaign in March.
In declaring the party ready to deliver a Minns Labor government in March, Mr Nanva also urged the notoriously factionalised State party to set aside its differences and unite to focus on the election of a Minns Labor government.
“We have spent the last three years being responsible about our expenditure,” he said.
“And because we are living within our means, we’ve been able to build a war chest for the campaign. The war chest is ready.
“We’ve overhauled the party’s systems and controls. We’ve got new safeguards. We’ve got new lines of sight, so the sins of the past never happen again.
“We have strong disciplinary and explicit processes for misconduct. And we’ve adopted new codes of conduct. These changes – delegates – have contributed to a large shift in culture.”
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