2018 Labor National Conference: Asylum amendment defeated, $500m over five years for UNHCR
ALP conference: In the first sign of dissent on migration in Labor ranks, a controversial amendment on asylum seekers has been defeated.
- Rare sign of dissent
- Protesters disrupt conference again
- ‘We won’t sell ABC’
- ‘Restore safety rates’
- Education funding tied to quality
- $500m for UNHCR
On Day 2 of the ALP’s national conference from Adelaide, education, Australia’s future, democracy and effective government, and “a fair go for all” are on the agenda, once again protesters disrupted proceedings.
Yesterday, Bill Shorten unveiled two new key promises on affordable housing and superannuation.
Rachel Baxendale 5.45pm: Closing credits
After a second uncontroversial amendment in support of Australia’s music industry, the conference adjourns for today.
Tomorrow’s policy chapters include “A health system for all”, “Decent jobs with fair pay and conditions”, “Australia’s place in a disrupted world” and “ALP National Constitution Organisational Policies.”
Rachel Baxendale 5.40pm: Human rights stoush
We’ve now got our first serious disagreement and vote of the conference.
Former NSW MP Verity Firth moves an amendment committing Labor to introducing a federal statutory charter of human rights, rather than simply reviewing the human rights framework and considering whether it could be enhanced through a federal charter of human rights.
Labor legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus opposes the move.
“We shouldn’t pre-empt the review,” he says.
“I’d urge delegates to reject this amendment. Do not pre-empt the outcome of the review.”
Ms Firth says Labor needs to take a stand on a charter of human rights, because assurances have been made of a charter at previous Labor conferences, only to have Labor governments, including the Rudd government, fail to implement the pledge.
She says those in Labor who want a charter of rights need an “insurance policy”.
ALP national president Wayne Swan calls those in favour to voice their support.
There are yeses, and nos, and he reluctantly calls for a show of hands.
Mr Swan declares the vote has been lost and initially says: “I’m moving on”.
There are yells of protest from the Left, and he reluctantly agrees: “All right, we’re going to have a count.”
The Right have the numbers, but their victory is very narrow.
There are 192 votes in favour and 195 against.
Rachel Baxendale 5.30pm: Family violence ‘national crisis’
Emily’s List co-convenor Tanja Kovac moves two amendments on family violence.
The first recognises that “the annual rate of violent death and injury of women is an unacceptable national crisis.”
“Labor will work with OurWatch, ANROWS and Crime Statistics Australia to collect, publish, promote and monitor data on violence against women,” the amendment states.
“It will also work with states and territories to ensure funding to collect data and prevent violence is sustained and enduring.”
A second amendment commits Labor to “support a positive model of (sexual) consent through research, education and legislative reform.”
The motion is carried.
Rachel Baxendale 5.20pm: Better redress for child sex abuse victims
Two amendments relating to the royal commission into institutional child sexual abuse are passed.
They commit Labor to working with state and territory governments, institutions, survivors and victims to address each of the recommendations of the commission, including establishing a national system of working with children checks, ensuring institutions which engage in child related work retain records for at least 45 years, ensuring clear ministerial responsibility for children’s issues, and committing to annual public reporting on the implementation of the recommendations.
Significantly, Labor is also committing to seek agreement from the states and territories for improvements in the redress scheme, including in relation to the maximum payment, indexation of past payments and access for people in prison.
The Coalition government set the maximum payment at $150,000, despite a recommendation from the commission for payments to be capped at $200,000.
Access to redress was also banned for victims who had served time in jail.
Rachel Baxendale 5.05pm: Rudd, Keating, Gillard to get life
A quick look forward to what we might expect at the conference tomorrow.
The Australian understands former Labor PM Kevin Rudd will be in attendance.
Mr Rudd and fellow former Labor PMs Paul Keating and Julia Gillard will be bestowed with lifetime membership of the ALP.
Their predecessors have all been awarded lifetime membership.
In a letter to the former PMs informing them that the ALP conference would bestow life membership, Bill Shorten wrote:
“It’s my view that, as a party, we have not always done enough in the past to recognise and pay proper respect to Labor leaders who have led our party and our nation as prime minister.”
“I hope this can be an opportunity for all proud Labor members to acknowledge your service in a spirit of unity and solidarity.”
While Mr Rudd is expected to speak at the conference tomorrow after the membership is bestowed, Mr Keating and Ms Gillard are not expected to be here.
Rachel Baxendale 5.05pm: Newstart increase ‘matter of emergency’
And now we’re onto a raft of social policy amendments, the most significant of which relates to the Newstart unemployment payment.
The amendment adds the following three paragraphs to Labor’s policy platform:
“Labor is committed to a social security system which keeps people out of poverty, whether they are unemployed or in retirement, that is why the previous Labor government undertook a review of the age pension and increased the rate of the pension so that Australians could have a decent life in retirement.
“Labor notes that after a quarter of a century with no increase to the rate of Newstart payments, the level of income for unemployed Australians is shamefully low by international standards.
“Labor will urgently complete a review into the inadequacy of Newstart payments and make recommendations within the first 18 months of government, on how best to address this. The review should include broad consultation and surveying of unemployed Australians about how the low rate of Newstart impacts on their health, ability to re-enter employment and to afford basic necessities, with the responses to be publicly reported.”
Sydney Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne urges Labor to act immediately, following a commitment from Bill Shorten to review the rate of Newstart within 18 months of forming government.
“None of us can ignore the human cost of Labor failing to act in the next three years,” Mr Byrne says, adding that an increase is a “matter of emergency”.
The Newstart payment is currently $275.10 a week, with a maximum extra rent assistance payment of $67.90 a week for single, childless recipients.
The $343.00 total is less than 48 per cent of the $719.20 minimum wage, and has not increased in real terms for 25 years.
Mr Byrne notes Labor’s record of cutting single parent payments under the Gillard government, saying it’s therefore “fair enough that social justice advocates want a commitment from us now.”
“Even John Howard, no friend of the unemployed, has acknowledged that Newstart is too low,” Mr Byrne says.
Rachel Baxendale 4.50pm: Too many fall through NDIS cracks
Now we turn to a raft of amendments relating to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The amendments include:
— Ensuring award wages for NDIS workers and improving employment standards;
— Ensuring culturally and linguistically diverse people fully benefit from the NDIS;
— Acknowledging that: “too many people who need support or services, but who are not NDIS participants, are falling through the cracks because of the way the NDIS has been rolled out, and committing to work with the states and territories to ensure better services for people living with a disability and/or mental ill health who are not eligible for the NDIS;”
— Declaring that decent pay and conditions are critical to growing and maintaining the NDIS workforce and that NDIS pricing should support fair wages, and committing to address the “growing casualisation and Uberisation in NDIS services;”
— Committing to support workforce development for the NDIS including an appropriate training entitlement for NDIS workers that is cumulative and portable and provides all NDIS workers with both foundation, and ongoing accredited training to build careers and specialisations in disability support.
ASU NSW and ACT branch secretary Natalie Lang speaks in favour of the amendments.
“The rollout of the NDIS by this government has crushed so much of the potential of the NDIS,” Ms Lang says.
WA United Voice official Sarah Lenhard and HSU national secretary Lloyd Williams also speak in favour.
The amendments are carried.
Rachel Baxendale 4.35pm: First sign of migration dissent
Victorian federal Labor MP and Left faction member Andrew Giles speaks in favour of an amendment to the assessment process for asylum seekers which reads:
“Those who have had their claims rejected under the unfair fast track assessment process will be provided with access to an independent merits review.”
Shayne Neumann says he “respectfully disagrees” with Giles.
He says Labor is already abolishing the fast-track process, but he cannot support Giles’s resolution.
“It will rehear close to 6000 cases which have already been finalised,” Neumann says.
Neumann says the vast majority of the 6000 cases have been upheld on appeal, and rehearing them would a waste of time and money.
Giles’s amendment is rejected.
This is the first amendment of the conference which has come to the floor and been voted down.
.@ShayneNeumannMP on the migration amendments on the floor of the ALP national conference: This will overwhelm the court system. This will have major implications for the budget. I urge delegates to vote no on this amendment.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) December 17, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/C3BbM8yyWy #speers pic.twitter.com/TOfe7tlLNT
Rachel Baxendale 4.35pm: Call to accept NZ refugee offer
Labor MP for the inner northern Melbourne seat of Batman Ged Kearney, a member of the Left faction, becomes tearful as she speaks in favour of the following resolution, calling on the government to immediately accept New Zealand’s offer to resettle refugees, and committing to prioritise the resettlement of all eligible refugees currently on Manus and Nauru:
“Labor recognises that successive Coalition Governments have failed to negotiate viable, timely and durable third-country resettlement arrangements. This has left refugees and asylum seekers including children languishing in indefinite detention,” the resolution reads.
“This conference condemns the failure of the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government to properly manage offshore processing and regional resettlement adequately and for playing with the lives of vulnerable people.
“This conference calls on the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government to immediately accept New Zealand’s generous offer to resettle refugees by negotiating an agreement on similar terms and conditions as the United States Arrangement.
“If elected, Labor will prioritise the resettlement of all eligible refugees currently on Manus and Nauru to the United States, New Zealand and other third-countries.”
WA MP Matt Keogh also speaks in favour, as does Shayne Neumann, who declares the conference has delivered: “The most progressive, strong, robust and compassionate” policy platform Labor has ever had on refugees and asylum seekers.”
The amendment is carried.
Rachel Baxendale 4.25pm: ‘We will end indefinite detention’
Now it’s time for the migration amendments.
There’s been a lot of debate behind the scenes between the Left and Right factions, and what’s being presented now are amendments they’ve agreed to support.
Shayne Neumann, Andrew Giles, Ged Kearney and Peter Khalil all speak in favour of a raft of motions earlier foreshadowed by Bill Shorten, which commit Labor to continuing to support the United States Refugee Resettlement Agreement and “accept New Zealand’s generous offer to resettle refugees by negotiating an agreement on similar terms to the United States Agreement”.
Labor Immigration spokesman Mr Neumann hits out at the Coalition for refusing to accept New Zealand’s offer.
“If they can do a deal with the US … they can do a deal with New Zealand,” he says.
“We will end indefinite detention of refugees on Manus and Nauru.”
The amendment also commits to improving the medical transfer process and establishing an independent health advice panel to provide medical advice and maintain ministerial discretion in all decision making.
Two further amendments commit Labor to “progressively increase the community sponsored refugee program intake to 5000 places per year” and give people seeking asylum means-tested access to funded migration assistance and “appropriate social services, including income, crisis housing, healthcare, mental health, community, education and English as a Second Language support during the assessment of the claim for protection.”
Labor immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann, Queensland senator Murray Watt and WA MP Josh Wilson speak in favour of two further amendments, that:
1. “Labor will appoint a Special Envoy for Refugee and Asylum Seeker Issues with responsibilities for advancing Australia’s interests and ensuring Australia plays a global role in the resettlement of displaced people.”
2. “As the Government should have done, Labor will refer the United Nations Global Compact on Migration for consideration through the proper parliamentary committee process.”
Rachel Baxendale 4.20pm: Migrant work commitments
There’s then a commitment to eradicate the exploitation and wage theft experienced by temporary migrant workers.
Labor says it will work closely with trade unions and introduce measures including managing information exchanges between Fair Work and the Department of Home Affairs to prevent unwarranted deportation and explore reforms to visa laws to allow workers who have been exploited or underpaid to remain in Australia until the relevant legal processes for recovery of lost wages have been finalised.
Labor also pledges to:
— Protect international students from exploitation and reduce the ability for businesses to use the cash economy to systematically ignore minimum award entitlements and exploit vulnerable workers;
— Deliver better protections to working holiday visa holders who are subject to exploitation and underpayment;
— Ensure employers — not workers — are the focus of exploitation investigations;
— Increase fines for employers who breach obligations and employ people without work visas; and
— Protect migrant workers from harassment, bullying, discrimination and unsafe practices.
There’s also a lengthy resolution on exploitation of migrant workers which begins with the following:
“Labor affirms that every worker, no matter where they have come from or what languages they speak, must be treated with fairness, dignity and respect inside and outside the workplace.
“Labor notes that migrant workers are at particular risk of wage theft, harassment, bullying, discrimination and unsafe practices and being trapped in the black economy by rogue and unscrupulous employers.”
Rachel Baxendale 4.15pm: Referendum on First Nation’s Voice
Pat Dodson speaks on a carried indigenous affairs amendment, committing to “implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart’s sole proposal for constitutional recognition — including a Voice for First Nations’ Peoples to Parliament.”
Labor has also committed to holding a referendum to enshrine a First Nation’s Voice to Parliament in the Constitution, and put in place safeguards to protect the authenticity and originality of First Nations art, artworks and cultural/heritage goods from inauthentic imports and practices.
Rachel Baxendale 4.05pm: ‘Loneliness affects too many’
A grab-bag of social policy commitments is carried next. They include:
— Removing “the practice of competing on labour costs” in procuring human services “by ensuring tenders and grant programs are sufficient and appropriately funded to provide for adequate and safe staffing levels, and fair and reasonable wages and conditions”;
— Acknowledging that “climate change is already having impacts on Australian sport, including through heatwaves and other extreme weather events” and committing to minimise the impact in partnership with other levels of government and sporting bodies;
— Providing crisis support as well as legal assistance to survivors of family violence;- Maintaining an adequately resourced and specialised family court system;
— Acknowledging “underemployment”, alongside unemployment, as a cause of homelessness;
— Ruling out the expansion of the Cashless Debit card or community wide income management “without clear evidence of community benefit and informed community consent” and committing to ensuring “proper community consultation” in the implementation of any quarantining of social security;
— Recognising that “loneliness is a crisis that is affecting too many Australians”. Labor commits to developing and implementing a comprehensive national strategy to address loneliness and social isolation.
Rachel Baxendale 3.55pm: ‘Fair go’ debate begins
The final and likely the most controversial policy chapter for the day opens, namely “A fair go for all Australians”.
A wide range of issues including Newstart, indigenous affairs, migration, live music, the NDIS and a raft of others are set to be the subject of amendments.
Introducing the chapter, social services spokeswoman Linda Burney declares:
“The rate of Newstart is too low. It is a cause of poverty, social isolation and hardship. It is a barrier for people trying to seek work.”
Labor legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus seconds Ms Buney’s introduction of the chapter.
The first amendments are pretty uncontroversial, namely to promote a thriving grassroots music scene, keep venues open and musicians in work, and allow Australia’s music sector to reach its full potential.
There’s also a commitment to the cultural inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in all the national cultural institutions, providing sustainable funding for national cultural institutions, and ensuring Australia’s national cultural institutions are supported to continue growing their collecting, exhibition and education functions.
NSW upper house MP John Graham tells delegates: “When musicians can’t get gigs, these are worker’s issues.”
The amendments are carried.
Rachel Baxendale 3.50pm: CFMEU backdown
The CFMEU has been forced to back down on its demand for a judicial inquiry into the Abbott government’s trade union royal commission, instead putting forward a less controversial amendment committing Labor to “preventing the abuse of royal commissions”, which has been carried.
CFMEU officials were still able to have their say, with National Secretary Dave Noonan decrying the treatment of Victorian Secretary John Setka during court proceedings following the Heydon royal commission.
“We saw people arrested in front of their children,” Mr Noonan said.
Mr Setka had his own say on the separate matter of the Andrews Labor government’s use of the law firm Freehills, securing a commitment to always use Labor-friendly law firms.
“Why should a Labor government use anti-worker, anti-union law firms?” Mr Setka said, observing that conservative governments do not usually engage labour firms such as Maurice Blackburn or Slater & Gordon.
#LaborConf18 Protest to remind â¦@AustralianLaborâ© to back change on refugee policy all the way to #TURNBACKTOHUMANITY. Pls Labor, action is needed urgently. Thx for backing the bill but Oz ppl need huge policy change step by step to a human rights bill. #auspol pic.twitter.com/7Lz308Ghii
— People Just Like Us (@PplJustLikeUs) December 17, 2018
Rachel Baxendale 3.40pm: Protesters removed
Protesters have again made their way into the Adelaide Convention Centre and disrupted the conference, after anti-coal protesters and refugee advocates yesterday stormed the stage and delayed the start of Bill Shorten’s speech.
About a dozen refugee advocate protesters staged a sit-in in the foyer outside the main auditorium, banging drums and yelling, “ALP, close the camps, free the refugees”.
The conference is set to move a range of amendments on migration policy this afternoon.
The protesters were eventually removed from the premises by police and security guards.
Rachel Baxendale 3.15pm: Diversity “moving on from soy sauce”
Egypt-born WA MP Anne Aly moves the next amendment, which commits Labor to promoting the participation of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in decision making processes.
The amendment also commits Labor so supporting inclusiveness of people from diverse backgrounds in “Australia’s parliaments, governments and senior levels in the private sector and community sectors”.
“We need to be moving on from a bit of soy sauce on your sausage roll and a bit of kung pao chicken every now and then to genuine cultural diversity,” Ms Aly says.
The amendment carries.
Rachel Baxendale 3.10pm: ‘We won’t sell the ABC’
The first amendments of this afternoon’s policy debate highlight Labor’s support for the ABC, declaring that the ALP will ensure the ABC and its subsidiaries are never subject to privatisation
Labor has also committed to providing “significant and increasing”, rather than merely “adequate” triennial funding to the ABC and SBS.
They are carried without dissent.
Rachel Baxendale 3.05pm: ABC on agenda
South Australian senator and shadow special minister of state Don Farrell opens the next policy chapter of the conference: “Strong democracy and effective government”.
He flags amendments relating to public broadcasting and foreign donations to political parties.
Communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland speaks in support of protecting the ABC.
“At a time when trust in our institutions is at an all-time low, the majority of Australians trust the ABC,” Ms Rowland says.
As foreshadowed by Workplace Editor Ewin Hannan in today’s Australian, one of the more controversial amendments on the agenda in this policy chapter is a CFMEU demand for a judicial inquiry into the Abbott government’s trade union royal commission.
Charities spokesman Andrew Leigh foreshadows an amendment on reform in the sector, slamming charities commissioner Gary Johns over comments he made regarding indigenous welfare dependency.
“Gary Johns is somebody who has … described indigenous women as ‘cash cows’, Dr Leigh said, condemning the Coalition’s appointment of him as charities commissioner.
“It’s like putting Bronwyn Bishop in charge of transport for politicians.”
Rachel Baxendale 2.15pm: Northern Australia “management hub”
The “Building Australia’s Future” chapter concludes with a series of carried amendments on commitments ranging from transparency and consultation with indigenous stakeholders on radioactive waste management, to prioritising high speed rail and the training of local aviation workers.
Labor also agrees to seek to better integrate its Northern Australia development agenda with opportunities and challenges in tropical developing countries, and consider developing a “globally significant knowledge management hub” in Northern Australia.
Up next after lunch is a policy chapter entitled “Strong Democracy and Effective Government”.
Rachel Baxendale 2.05pm: Road toll pledge
Labor’s pledge to reverse the Turnbull government’s abolition of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal comes next, with moving speeches from a number of delegates including CFFMEU National Secretary Michael O’Connor, and WA senator Glenn Sterle, who like his father and son previously worked as a long distance truck driver.
The Turnbull government took the decision to abolish the tribunal ahead of the 2016 election, amid strong pressure from truck owner-drivers.
Transport Workers’ Union national secretary Michael Kaine tells the story of two men who were fatally hit as they changed a tyre in Western Australia in 2011 when a truck driver who had been driving for 23 hours.
Labor’s amendments include noting that, “After decades of decline, the road toll is again heading in the wrong direction.”
Labor commits to establishing a National Office of Road Safety as a dedicated unit within the Department of Infrastructure.
The unit will be required to collect date, promote “best practice” research and lead the development of the next ten-year National Road Safety Strategy, beginning in 2021.
Labor also commits to legislating for a national system of “Safe Rates” as a matter of urgency.
The system will consist of an independent body with responsibility for safe standards of work, including fair payments and conditions — effectively reinstating the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal.
Rachel Baxendale 1.45pm: Swipe at absent Ferguson
Mr Crumlin also had a big dig at Rudd-Gillard government minister Martin Ferguson, who is now a resources industry lobbyist.
“We have a right to have our oil refined in our own refineries, supporting our own industries, and as for you Mr Ferguson, you are part of the reason we pack all of our oil up to Singapore and bring it back, so thank you for securing the great vision of Australian Labor, just for the record as well, if you happen to be listening, wherever you are.”
Several attempts have been made to expel Mr Ferguson from the Labor Party and he is not at the conference.
Rachel Baxendale 1.30pm: ‘Fake news isn’t F*** you’
Next up is the MUA’s Paddy Crumlin, who rises to support a shipping motion committing Labor to convene a meeting of all maritime unions and current industry stakeholders in its first 100 days of government to progress a plan for the Australian Merchant Fleet and coastal shipping.
The meeting will discuss international trade opportunities for Australian seafarers in the shipping of Australia resources: gas, coal, iron ore, oil, fuel and commodities.
Mr Crumlin has evidently been reading this blog and taken exception to the description of his criticism yesterday of coverage of then treasurer Wayne Swan’s management of the global financial crisis as “expletive laden”.
He told conference delegates he was in fact saying “Fake news, Mr Murdoch,” in reference to The Australian’s founder.
“Fake news isn’t F*** you, just for the record,” Mr Crumlin said, noting a Fairfax publication made the same error.
“But then again, I measure my success as a union official by negative editorials in The Australian.”
Rachel Baxendale 1.20pm: Infrastructure commitment for regions
The Building Australia’s Future debate kicks off with a raft of uncontroversial amendments committing to decentralisation and infrastructure for regional Australia.
Labor commits to supporting city partnerships, public procurement and infrastructure investments to grow the economy in regional centres, with region-specific programs for areas where growth is weak.
Labor is also calling for a moratorium on job cuts in regional locations by the Coalition and pledging a regional services guarantee that improves services for regional Australians and delivers net growth in permanent jobs in regional cities.
There’s a commitment to “invest in communities struggling with the shift away from traditional manufacturing in partnership with business and those affected to develop a strategic vision that will unlock future industries, jobs and learning opportunities”, and to seek to maximise the economic opportunities created by investment in regional infrastructure.
Labor says it will review the performance of Rural Research and Development Corporations in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors “to ensure that every dollar spent is spent well, including investigating the benefits of having Governance arrangements which have industry representation, union(s) representatives and skills based representation.”
Rachel Baxendale 12.35pm: Commit to a better NBN
Michelle Rowland commits to building a better NBN than the Coalition’s copper wires.
“They are the party of copper and coal. We are the party of fibre and renewables,” she says.
Rachel Baxendale 12.33pm: ‘Restore safety rates’
Labor infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese introduces the next chapter: “Building Australia’s Future.”
The policy platform is seconded by communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland.
One of the more controversial moves will be the restoration of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, which was abolished by the Turnbull government ahead of the last election, with support from owner-drivers and strong opposition from the Transport Workers’ Union.
“One of the things we will do is restore safe rates around this country when it comes to truck drivers,” Mr Albanese said.
“We’re seeing an increase in fatalities on our roads, and some of that involves heavy vehicles.
“We will deliver safe rates. We’ll do it in a way that doesn’t damage the economy.”
Rachel Baxendale 12.30pm: ‘They’ll do anything to distract’
As she concludes the education chapter of the conference, Tanya Plibersek notes the “breaking news” about Andrew Broad’s resignation from Scott Morrison’s front bench.
“Many of you wouldn’t have heard of him, but he is the Member for Mallee, and he came to the front bench just three months ago, so it’s been a meteoric career for him,” Ms Plibersek says.
She reads a Fairfax media report describing Mr Broad’s resignation over “bombshell sex scandal resignations.”
“Delegates, it proves that they’ll do just anything to distract from our conference,” Ms Plibersek says, to much laughter from the conference floor.
Rachel Baxendale 12.20pm: Motion over sexual discrimination
In response to controversy over exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act (put in place by the Gillard Labor government, but recently debated in response to the Ruddock review into religious freedom) that allow religious schools to discriminate against students and staff, senators Kristina Keneally and Louise Pratt move a resolution noting community reaction.
The resolution affirms that the Australian Labor Party:
— Stands for the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of class, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status, religion, political affiliation, national origin, citizenship, ages, disability, regional location, economic or household status. Labor will act against all forms of discrimination and harmonise anti-discrimination laws and procedures.
— Stands for recognition and protection of fundamental political and civil rights, including freedom of religion. Labor supports the appropriate protection of the religious freedom of all people.
— Believes that no faith, no religion, no set of beliefs should ever be used as an instrument of division or exclusion. Discriminating against anyone is a violation of the values we all share, a violation that can never be justified by anyone’s faith or belief.
— Respects the right of parents to send children to the school of their choice and to have their children educated in accordance with their religious convictions. We also respect that religious schools, and parents of students, are entitled to require employees to act in their roles in ways that uphold the ethos and values of that faith, and that this requirement may be taken into account when a person is first employed and in the course of their employment.
Labor commits to:
— Remove all exemptions for religious schools from the Sex Discrimination Act (SDA);
— Provide a positive entitlement to permit religious schools to require teachers and staff to act in their professional roles in ways that uphold the values and ethos of the faith.
“Labor calls on the Prime Minister to keep the promise he made before the Wentworth by-election to ensure that no child in Australia faces discrimination at school because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status,” the resolution concludes.
It is carried.
Rachel Baxendale 12.10pm: Education funding tied to quality
The next education policy motion ties commonwealth TAFE and registered training organisation funding to the states and territories to the delivery of “consistently high quality education and training”.
The motion is moved by CFMMEU National Secretary Michael O’Connor, seconded by NSW senator Doug Cameron. It is carried.
Other carried motions include ensuring that teachers are again represented as a profession on the board of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, and recognising the importance of music and the creative arts as part of school education.
Labor has committed to establishing and Apprenticeship Advocate, and committed to working with employers to create more opportunities for young people to develop technical and work skills while completing Year 12.
In the school curriculum area, a commitment has been made to supporting schools in revitalising Civics and Citizenship education as a critical aspect of their curriculum in the 21st Century.
In the vocational education sector, Labor has pledged to “investigate all avenues and mechanisms to increase employer investment while noting that the UK Conservative government has instituted an apprentice training levy in an effort to increase employer engagement in training.”
A resolution enshrining Labor’s commitment to “fully funding” the original Gonski education model has also passed, committing a Shorten Labor government to delivering an extra $14 billion for public schools over the next decade, with $3.3 billion extra flowing in the first three school years alone.
“Labor will give public schools the biggest funding increases in the fastest time because they teach the neediest kids,” the resolution states.
Richard Ferguson 11.50am: MYEFO ‘based on hope’
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen says Josh Frydenberg’s projected higher budget surpluses are “based on hope and good luck.”
The Treasurer’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook today revealed that next year’s projected budget surplus will be $4.1bn — nearly double the size projected in May — and this year’s deficit has been more than halved since Scott Morrison handed down his last budget.
But Mr Bowen said the projected surpluses were based on a strong global economy and increased tax revenues in Australia.
“This is a budget which is being delivered by a strong global economy, but we have a weak government,” he told reporters in Adelaide today.
“Now the government is patting itself on the back for budgeting and forecasting a surplus when in fact they’ve been failing to deliver surpluses now for almost six years.
“What we’re seeing is a Treasurer and a Finance Minister focused on the politics and not on the best interests of the Australian people, not on good budgeting, not a budgeting which is based on an appropriate forecast in terms of wages and the world economy, but is more based on hope and good luck.”
Mr Bowen said he would not change any of Labor’s policy promises as a result of MYEFO today.
Opposition finance spokesman Jim Chalmers said more than $9 million of “decisions not taken” in MYEFO was a sign of a possible early election, before Mr Frydenberg’s promised April budget.
“That is a concession that they might not make it to the budget,” Mr Chalmers said.
“The fact that they have put aside so much money for an election campaign is an admission that they are so divided and so dysfunctional and so chaotic that they might not even make it to an April budget.”
Rachel Baxendale 11.30am: Education debate underway
The first policy topic of the day “A first-class education for all Australians” gets underway with speeches from education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek and early childhood education spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth.
There is furious agreement on the first amendment, which relates to the already announced policy of universal early childhood education for three-year-olds.
Ms Rishworth moves the amendment and it is seconded by Victorian federal MP Joanne Ryan, ACT MP Chris Steel, Tasmanian Senator Catryna Bilyk, and young mother, former early childhood educator and ASU delegate Jannette Armstrong.
The motion is carried.
A motion recognising an achievement gap of up to 12 months between students in metropolitan schools and those in regional and remote schools also passes.
Rachel Baxendale 11.15am: ‘$500m for UNHCR’
Bill Shorten says there are almost 70 million displaced people in the world. “No one country can hope to fix it on its own, but Australia can do better, so if elected, we will look to take up New Zealand’s offer to resettle refugees from Manus and Nauru by immediately negotiating an agreement on similar terms with that that has already been negotiated with the United States.”
Just as Mr Shorten attempts to make a key announcement, an emergency siren sounded.
“I’m not going to blame the government!” Mr Shorten jokes. The siren stopped and he resumed his announcement of $500m over five years for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
“This funding will directly improve orderly regional processing and resettlement in the region and countries closer to where refugees originally come from,” Mr Shorten says.
“This funding will speed up legitimate settlement pathways. It will deny people smugglers a product to sell.”
.@billshortenmp: If elected, we will look to take up New Zealand's offer to resettle refugees from Manus and Nauru by immediately negotiating an agreement on similar terms with that that has already been negotiated with the US.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) December 17, 2018
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He also announces that if elected, Labor will seek immediate advice from the Chief of the Defence Force, Department of Home Affairs, ASIO and other relevant agencies about Australia’s preparedness to disrupt people smuggling operations before people leave the shores of other countries.
“A Labor government will triple the number of Australian Federal Police officers working overseas in co-operation with other countries to stop the people smugglers at their source, to prevent people even contemplating getting on that unsafe vessel in the first place,” Mr Shorten says.
He also announces an expansion of the community sponsored refugee program from 1000 places a year to 5000 places.
“This means state and local governments, community organisations, businesses and unions and faith-based institutions will be able to sponsor humanitarian entrants into Australia and support the economic and social integration of refugees into communities,” Mr Shorten says.
.@billshortenmp: I wonder sometimes even deep down that some of our opponents know this to be true - that it is not one or the other - strong borders or indefinite detention.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) December 16, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/LKE4RmPOvO #LabConf18 pic.twitter.com/55STB4ejZk
“And to be clear, this would be in addition to the existing humanitarian intake, not instead of it, so we will take more refugees as part of our migration mix. We will make sure that it is a safe process. Our approach is both more practical and more affordable. We’re not afraid of immigration in the country. Immigration has been a success in this country. Labor will empower local communities, country towns, business and community groups, if country towns and regions want to sponsor humanitarian intake, well, it is not the job of the commonwealth to get in the way. This will make sure there’s no cost to the taxpayer.”
Mr Shorten says Australia can have secure borders and live up to its humanitarian obligations.
Rachel Baxendale 11.00am: ‘Stop boats but end indefinite detention’
Mr Shorten then turns to the issue of border security, with debate on the issue expected to be lively this afternoon.
The alarm just went off as Bill Shorten was announcing Labor’s border protection policy ... #auspol #LabCon18
— Troy Bramston (@TroyBramston) December 16, 2018
“I sincerely respect the right of delegates to put arguments, to make the case. I appreciate that everyone in this room comes to this issue with a passion that is genuine in deep,” Mr Shorten says.
“My own view on this is straightforward: we cannot and we must not and we will not allow criminal people smuggling syndicates to get back into business, but let me say, it is not a crime to want to come to this country.
“It is a crime to exploit vulnerable people to put them in dangerous and unsafe vessels and have them drown at sea.
“We cannot, we must not, and we will not permit the reopening of their trade in human desperation and the drownings and the irreplaceable loss of life that it brings.
“This requires rigorous security, character and health assessments throughout both our humanitarian and general migration programs, it means pursuing regional resettlement, turning back boats where it is safe to do so and maintaining offshore processing.
“But also in our party we understand that keeping our borders secure and keeping the people smugglers out of business should and has never meant leaving men, women and children to languish for years and years in indefinite detention in substandard facilities and unacceptable conditions.
“It has never meant allowing people’s mental and physical health to deteriorate while under direct or I direct Australian care. It has never meant fighting every step of the way
against medical advice which says that more needs to be done to treat people.
“I believe that Australia can meet our international humanitarian and legal responsibilities without compromising our national security or a commitment to strong border protection.”
Rachel Baxendale 10.55am: ‘Increase Newstart’
Bill Shorten makes another speech to open the official proceedings of today’s conference.
He gives particular attention to the final topic this afternoon: “A Fair Go for all Australians” and makes reference to calls for Labor to commit to increasing Newstart.
“Newstart should lift people back into work, not punish them in poverty,” Mr Shorten says.
“For a lot of jobseekers trying to survive on $40 a day is not enough.
“As it stands our system makes it too hard for some people to even get to the starting line.
“You have to be able to own a pair of boots to be able to pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”
Mr Shorten commits a Labor to an urgent review of the level of Newstart, to be completed within 18 months.
Rachel Baxendale 10.50am: Reconciliation ‘unfinished business’
Bill Shorten thanks Mr Dodson for his words, wisdom and decision to join the Labor Party.
“How lucky are we that we have the father of reconciliation seeking to serve in the next Labor government,” he says.
He also pays tribute to Linda Burney and Malarndirri McCarthy.
Mr Shorten criticises those who oppose providing additional support to indigenous Australians.
“Why are you so scared by providing an equal go to those who do not have an equal go to start with?” he says.
“We must and we will focus on the local empowerment, on the principle of community control.
“This plan is not a nod to good intentions … it is a set of overdue concrete steps and clear goals.
“We want to deliver and make Labor the party of choice for first Australians, but we need to earn that right.
“Reconciliation is Australia’s unfinished business, and delegates, it is everyone’s business.”
There are hugs and cheering as Mr Shorten concludes his speech.
Linda Burney then reads Labor’s resolution.
“The Australian Labor Party acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are the First peoples of Australia, and have sustained spiritual beliefs, cultural and ceremonial practices on traditional estates,” she says.
“In the true spirit of reconciliation, the Australian Labor Party affirms its equal partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples for the ongoing custodianship and maintenance of land and ‘sea country’ throughout this nation.”
Rachel Baxendale 10.40am: Work for the dole goes
Pat Dodson announces that Labor will abolish the government’s remote work-for-the-dole scheme, the Community Development Program, and replace it with their own program.
There are loud cheers from the crowd.
“This will be a community development program that creates jobs, meets community needs and delivers meaningful change and economic development,” Senator Dodson says.
“A program that gives back community control and direction.”
ACTU President Michele O’Neill has welcomed the move.
“The announcement that an ALP government would abolish the CDP is a huge win for 30,000 workers who have been racially discriminated against through this scheme for the last 3 years, and for workers’ rights in this country,” Ms O’Neil said in a statement.
“This program discriminated against people on the basis of the colour of their skin and the place they chose to live.
“The work that the First Nations Worker Alliance has done to organise and educate CDP workers is unprecedented and has been hugely important to this campaign.
“This scheme is an appalling example of state-sanctioned racial discrimination and worker exploitation and Australia will be a better place without it.”
Richard Ferguson 10.30am: Frydenberg channels Keating
Josh Frydenberg has turned to Paul Keating as an unlikely inspiration to sell his Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook today.
The Treasurer mocked his opposition counterpart, Chris Bowen, in his MYEFO press conference today and echoed the famous words of the former prime minister, and Mr Bowen’s hero, to sell his increased projected surpluses of more than $30 billion.
“Chris Bowen, my counterpart, he likes to mimic and to quote Paul Keating. Well, he should think about this,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“These are the surpluses that Australia needs to have.”
Mr Keating, as treasurer under Bob Hawke, famously labelled the economic downturn of the late 1980s as “the recession we had to have.”
Today’s MYEFO figures have given the government the opportunity to sell their success in getting the budget back into the black, and has left room for pre-election tax cuts.
Projections of a doubled surplus in 2019 and a halved deficit this year, compared to initial budget projections, in May are the result of Scott Morrison’s economic management, Mr Frydenberg said.
“Today’s update shows the Australian economy is on the right track giving us much to look forward to,” he said.
“The benefit of the strong economy under the Liberal and National Government and Prime Minister Scott Morrison is that more and improved services are being funded without increasing taxes.”
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann also harked back to a former Labor leader, Kim Beazley, to dismiss Labor’s criticism of MYEFO and wide-held expectations that they will win next year’s federal election.
“The last time I’ve seen the Labor Party this cocky about the upcoming election, and the last time I remember senior representatives of the press gallery declaring the election result five months out, was 2001 when Kim Beazley as opposition leader,” he said.
“Everybody knows how that turned out. And Mr Beazley was much more electable than Mr Shorten.”
Troy Bramston 10.25am: Good impression of PM
In his opening speech to Labor’s 48th national conference yesterday, Bill Shorten could not look more authoritative, more sure of his vision for the country or more confident of leading Labor to victory at the next election.
This was not about reassuring the 400 delegates at the Adelaide Convention Centre or the thousands of Labor Party members and supporters around the nation about his leadership or his program — this was a pitch to voters.
Read the article in full here.
Rachel Baxendale 10.20am: Reconciliation Plan introduced
Malarndirri McCarthy introduces discussion of the Reconciliation Action Plan by saying she’s “grown up watching” first speaker Pat Dodson.
Dodson says it’s the first reconciliation action plan that’s been developed by any political party in Australia.
He says he hopes the plan will make Labor the “party of choice” for first national people and those who care about them.
The key points of the plan are:
1. Labor will raise internal and external awareness of our RAP to promote reconciliation across our party, including state and local branches.
2. Labor will work to better understand the current involvement of, and relationships with, First Nations People.
3. Labor will celebrate and participate in National Reconciliation Week (NRW), building and maintain relationships with First Nations Peoples.
4. Labor will develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with the First Nations Peoples’ communities and organisations and support positive outcomes.
5. Labor Members and Senators to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with their local First Nations People.
6. Labor will provide a permanent forum of engagement between FPLP and indigenous organisations. 7. Labor will encourage our leadership to engage in cultural learning and key cultural activities and programs.
8. Labor will support staff to identify continuous cultural learning opportunities and increase their understanding and appreciation of First Nations People culture histories.
9. Labor will ensure all members and employees understand the significance of First Nations People’s cultural protocols, such as Welcome to Country and the Acknowledgement of Country, to ensure a shared understanding.
10. Labor will provide opportunities for -all staff to engage with their culture and communities by celebrating NAIDOC Week.
11. Labor will investigate opportunities to improve and increase First Nations People employment outcomes within our workplace.
12. Labor will investigate opportunities to incorporate First Nations People supplier diversity across our organisation.
13. Labor will facilitate First Nations People networking across the ALP.
14. Labor will establish a Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group (RWG) to actively monitor RAP development.
15. Labor’s National Executive will oversee the implementation of the Actions, track progress and monitor the reporting of the RAP.
16. Labor will report RAP achievements, challenges and learnings to Reconciliation Australia.
17. Labor will report RAP achievements, challenges and learnings internally and externally.
18. Labor will review the RAP at the end of the 2 years and work with Reconciliation Australia on developing a new RAP.
PDF: RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN
Rachel Baxendale 10.00am: Conference kicks off with reconciliation action
The second day of Labor’s national conference is about to get underway at 9:30am Adelaide time (10am AEDT), with the suspension of standing orders to allow the party to debate its reconciliation action plan.
It will be the first time an Australian political party has launched such a plan and the discussion will be led by Labor’s three indigenous federal MPs, with NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy chairing the discussion and NSW MP Linda Burney and WA senator Pat Dodson taking leading roles.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is also expected to speak.
Paul Kelly’s anthem, From Little Things, Big Things Grow is currently playing in the conference auditorium, with a photo montage of Labor’s achievements in indigenous affairs.
At about 10am Adelaide time Mr Shorten will officially open the conference with a ten minute opening address, which is expected to include three announcements on Labor’s migration policy.
Debate over migration policy, which is expected to highlight divisions between the ALP’s left and right factions, is not expected to take place until later this afternoon.
The first policy chapter for the day will be education, introduced by Tanya Plibersek and seconded by Amanda Rishworth.
Uncontroversial amendments enshrining universal three-year-old kindergarten and a number of previously flagged policies on school and vocational education are expected to be carried.
The second policy chapter, “Building Australia’s Future”, is expected to include discussion on infrastructure, forestry, and the road safety remuneration tribunal, which Labor controversially wants to reinstate.
After lunch the topics are “Strong Democracy and Effective Government” and “A Fair Go for All”.
The second topic is expected to involve debate on amendments relating to the Uluru Statement, increasing the Newstart payment and other social policy issues, as well as a number of controversial migration amendments.
A resolution is expected to be carried condemning the government for its treatment of asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island, which were reopened by the Rudd Labor government.
Richard Ferguson 9.15am: No negative gearing date until election
Labor will not announce the date their negative gearing policy will take effect until an election is called, opposition assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh says.
”We don’t yet know an election date. Once we know we will give Australians absolute clarity as to when the policy kicks in,” he told Sky News.
“You’ve got the details of the policy and people know that if you’ve got a (negatively geared) property today, they won’t be affected”.
Mr Leigh also said the party was committed to the policy despite falling house prices and a Nine Newspapers poll showing Labor’s negative gearing policy has split voters.
“It’s true we’ve seen a little bit of softness over recent years … but house prices to income ratios are still extraordinarily high compared to a generation ago,” he told Sky News
Richard Ferguson 8.55am: Leigh — I want more refugees
Opposition assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh says he wants Australia’s refugee intake to increase, as the Labor Left tries to secure a commitment from Bill Shorten to take more asylum seekers.
“It’s going to be an important conversation … I’m sure where that particular one is going to land. It’s going to be a matter of discussion for Shayne (Neumann, the opposition immigration spokesman) and others,” he told Sky News this morning.
“Absolutely I do (support an increase in the refugee intake). I think we can play a larger role in dealing with the world’s humanitarian crises.
“We need to make sure that we send our values of compassion and egalitarianism into the world through a fair refugee policy.”
.@ljayes: The Left of the party are pushing to increase the humanitarian intake, is that likely to get up?@ALeighMP: I’m no tea leaf reader on national conferences … but I think we can play a larger role in dealing with humanitarian crises.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) December 16, 2018
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Richard Ferguson 8.00am: ‘No blood on the floor’
Wayne Swan says there will be “no blood on the floor” at the Labor national conference, despite late-night attempts to quell left-wing rebellions on boats and refugees.
The newly elected national president of the Labor Party said his party was not afraid of debates at their Adelaide meeting, in its second day today, but that he wanted to project “unity and purpose”.
“I sat through the whole day yesterday. There was some very good debate yesterday, and they’ll be some very good debate today,” he told ABC radio.
“If you’re looking for blood on the floor you won’t find it … because what people want unity and purpose.
“They want strong, passionate debate, but they want unity and purpose. And that’s what they’re getting.”
Bill Shorten was last night attempting to prevent policy spot fires as pro-refugee supporters and union chiefs pressured him to support overhauls of Labor’s asylum-seeker and industrial relations policies.
Ahead of the conference debate on asylum-seeker policy today, Labor Left figures were last night trying to secure a deal to neutralise amendments to the party’s platform by Labor for Refugees, which calls for the abolition of offshore processing and scrapping of boat turnbacks.
The Australian understands Labor’s Left faction wants a commitment to increase Australia’s humanitarian intake, implement a formal process to bring refugees from Indonesia, introduce a stronger safety net for asylum-seekers on bridging visas and offer a fairer system for them to appeal cases through a revived refugee review tribunal.
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