Shorten gives a fair impression of a PM

Bill Shorten could not look more authoritative, more sure of his vision or more confident of leading Labor to victory.

In his opening speech to Labor’s 48th national conference, 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.

Speaking from a teleprompter in the middle of a stage in front of a huge sign that read “A Fair Go For Australia”, and flanked by no fewer than five Southern Cross symbols, Shorten’s message to voters was that Labor was united, disciplined and determined.

“Our mission is not just to win back government but to restore trust in Australian democracy,” he said, in a thinly veiled reference to the Coalition’s revolving door leadership.

This was important because “government has the ability to bring meaningful progress to people’s lives”, he argued.

The centrepiece of Shorten’s speech was reiterating his “five-point plan for a fair go”. He promised this would be a plan for “the next decade” rather than “the next election”. Shorten has made a virtue of being bold.

He is no small target. He argues Labor is ready to govern. Labor’s “fair-go action plan” is an activist program for government in health, education, workplace relations, energy and climate change, and infrastructure. It is to be funded by increased taxes and the removal of tax breaks and deductions. A new affordable housing policy was a key announcement.

Shorten gave a systematic critique of the government — on economic management, health, education and climate change — which was met with ritual cries of “shame” and followed by applause when he outlined how Labor would remedy it.

While the Coalition sees Shorten’s union past as a weakness, Labor has embraced it. In her introduction, deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said a union leader was preferred to a “failed accounting executive” (Scott Morrison) or a “banker” (Malcolm Turnbull).

But not everything went to plan. After an upbeat video showcasing Shorten’s character and vision, and a cued-up standing ovation from delegates, his speech was interrupted by asylum-seeker and Adani protesters. Shorten handled it deftly, with respect and humour.

It was a regrettable start for what was supposed to be a stage-managed event and it interrupted the momentum. The party really should have acted more swiftly to remove the protesters.

The task for Labor leaders at these conferences is to give voice to the party’s storied history, illuminate its values and mesh this with their own priorities. They also need to mention the unions, members and key MPs. Shorten hit these targets, and did not leave out any major areas of policy, in an overly long speech.

There were plenty of slogans and key lines, no doubt tested in focus groups. The word “fair” was overdone. But he also articulated detailed policies and outlined a clear vision for Australia.

The delegates were certain they were watching the next prime minister. Shorten will be hoping that voters did too.