WHAT IS THE LABOR CONFERENCE?
* The Labor national conference takes place once every parliamentary term and is responsible for laying out for the positions of the party
* The 2026 iteration will be the 50th conference, with the three-day affair being held in Adelaide from Thursday
* Motions voted on at the conference become binding policy, but how and when they are implemented remains up to Labor members in parliament
* About 3000 people are expected to attend the conference, with 400 being Labor delegates who can vote on motions
* Of the 400 delegates, 150 are rank and file members elected by local branches
* Other delegates include the federal parliamentary team, state and territory leaders and the party's youth branch
* Delegates will vote on motions from a 126-page draft policy platform, but any delegate can move amendments and motions on the platforms
* Votes will also take place on the party's executive
WHAT HAPPENED ON DAY ONE?
* The conference started with a speech from new Labor national president Kate Ellis
* After an address from SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opened the conference
* He used the speech to announced payments for students while on practical placements will be expanded to include more allied health positions
* The prime minister also unveiled plans to set up a federal Fair Work Court, which would help resolve workplace disputes
* Labor delegates also voted to adopt plans to set up an AI task force which would help protect workers from the technology
WHAT TO EXPECT
* While contentious policy issues are expected to be worked out behind the scenes, some debates are still expected to feature on the conference floor
* Calls have been growing for Labor to introduce a tax on gas exports, after the policy was dropped ahead of the federal budget
* The draft policy document prompted speculation a gas tax would be on the agenda after it called for wealth from resources to be redistributed to the people via taxation
* Rank and file members have also called for Labor to go further on gambling reform, such as a national regulator
* The party's position on the Middle East will be in the spotlight, after the Israeli embassy criticised Labor's draft position which called for stronger action on Palestinian rights
* The AUKUS deal is expected to feature heavily, after some members at the previous conference in 2023 spoke out against the nuclear submarine deal with the UK and US
* Several Labor branches have passed motions calling for the party to reconsider the AUKUS pact
QUOTES FROM THE CONFERENCE
* "We all know the true meaning of real change is beyond these walls and outside the political debate." - Anthony Albanese
* "This is one of those reforms where it is hard to believe that it didn't already exist." - Anthony Albanese on the expansion of paid prac
* "While you can go a long way in politics, for a long time by raging against a system that you are a part of, without a plan to fix it ... that doesn't build anything. It doesn't change anything." - Anthony Albanese on the rise of right-wing politics
* "In an erratic world filled with ill discipline and division, we've been reminded this week of that time-honoured political truth: if you can't govern your dog, you can't govern the country." - SA Premier Peter Malinauskas on One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce yelling at his dog during a live interview
* "The Liberals, Nationals and One Nation would be the worst possible coalition of callous and chaos."- Treasurer Jim Chalmers
* "We face a time when there is a massive political realignment happening, both globally and at home." - Labor national president Kate Ellis
Australian Associated Press
