Reviving Labor Conference

A version of this article was published in The Australian newspaper as "Party Inner Sanctum leaves new ideas on the outer" on 29 January, 2004. This is the unabridged version.

If you thought the ALPs national conference was about winning Federal elections or representing the nation, you’d be mistaken. The game is to preserve the power of State party bosses. To win the good will of all Australians, and if national conference is warrant respect, Labor must allow the direct election of leaders, delegates and national executive members on the basis of uniform national rules.

This week’s conference will be full of fresh policy and enthusiasm from those left out of the Beazley/Crean era. Latham will welcome ideas and debate about the direction forward.