Bill Shorten sets up election battleground as a fight for middle Australia

Bill Shorten is setting up the election battleground as a fight for middle Australia as he cranked up class-warfare rhetoric pledging to stop working people being treated like commodities.

• Shorten upstaged by Adani protesters

Bill Shorten is setting up the election battleground as a fight for middle Australia as he cranked up class-warfare rhetoric pledging to stop working people being treated like commodities.

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned that each of Mr Shorten’s promises come with a high tax price tag and that only the Coalition would let people keep more of what they earn.

In a day that cemented the bond between the Labor leader and union heavies, changes to the party’s platform sailed through during the first day of national conference.

Mr Shorten foreshadowed that if elected prime minister he would make sure “working class people get their rightful share of the national wealth”.

“Working people are not commodities to be traded at the lowest possible price,” Mr Shorten said.

Bill Shorten cranked up class-warfare rhetoric. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

“Pensioners and veterans treated like second-class citizens, made to wait months for modest entitlements you’ve paid taxes for your whole life.

“Many Australians are sick and tired of being classified as casual for years just because your boss doesn’t want to pay you holiday pay or sick pay.”

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Mr Morrison warned that a Shorten government would be Kevin Rudd reheated.

“They’re doing a re-Rudd on the policy of failed experiments they ran last time they were in,” he said.

“They’re going to roll out the Rudd carpet when it comes to border protection policies.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Mr Shorten’s plan to help build 250,000 affordable houses was a “re-run of its failed affordable housing scheme” that was “rorted and ripped off taxpayers”.

Mr Shorten announced that bosses steal their workers’ superannuation would face stiffer fines and legal action by giving employees the power to pursue unpaid entitlements through the Fair Work Commission or federal court.

He also announced a new Environment Act and the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct public inquiries and protect national parks after a deal was struck to avoid a stoush on the conference floor.

'Anti-Adani' protesters interrupt Bill Shorten’s speech. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

It was among a raft of deals on contentious topics stitched up behind closed doors in a bid to stop the spectacle of blood letting that occurred at the last national conference.

A fight over raising the Newstart rate was also headed off with Labor committed to reviewing the rate once in government.

Significant changes were made to the party’s trade policy which would see future trade agreements banned if they waive labour market testing, which are features of the South Korean and Chinese free trade agreements.

The government claimed that the move would put the yet to be signed trade deal with Indonesia under threat as it contains waivers.