The Labor National Conference 2026 opened in Adelaide on Thursday, bringing together Australian Labor Party officials and rank-and-file members for three days of policy deliberations, according to ABC News. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has attended the conference for four decades, entered the venue after an escalator he was riding stopped suddenly en route to his opening address. The gathering follows the 2023 conference, which was dominated by discussion of the AUKUS security pact, and this year’s event is focused on a different set of policy positions.
Labor members reached an agreement late Wednesday to back a national artificial intelligence taskforce bringing together workers, unions and experts to help shape AI policy, the ABC reported, citing its correspondent Clare Armstrong. The conference has also become a focal point for debate over gambling reform, with members calling for tougher national regulation, according to the report. Discussions on the “fair” taxation of natural resources are also expected, though Albanese has continued to resist suggestions of a future tax on gas exports.
The conference also highlights growing debates within Labor over Australia’s future policy direction. Discussions on artificial intelligence, climate and energy, gambling regulation and national security are expected to shape the party’s priorities. The outcomes could influence Labor’s policy agenda and provide a clearer picture of the government’s approach to key issues.
The party is expected to lay groundwork for green energy policies at the conference, and a group of MPs is pushing for Labor to sign and ratify the United Nations treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, the ABC said. Senior Labor figures are reportedly seeking to avoid a divisive floor debate over Gaza when the issue is raised on Saturday. According to the ABC, the party’s left and right factions agreed on wording in the draft platform calling on Israel to end “illegal settlement activity” while also condemning terrorism and violent extremism, including acts carried out by Hamas, though it remains unclear whether further amendments will be proposed.
Speaking to delegates, Albanese acknowledged the impact of cost-of-living pressures on Australians and criticised politicians who he said were exploiting these concerns. “A list of problems only counts for something if it comes with solutions,” he said, according to the ABC. Former treasurer Wayne Swan and former Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney are set to receive life memberships from the party on Friday night, joining previous recipients including Julia Gillard and Bob Hawke.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor this week presented a printed policy document titled “Our Plan,” outlining a pledge to restore Australia’s standard of living, fix the economy and protect the country’s way of life, the ABC reported. Taylor said the document was intended to differentiate the Liberal Party from the Labor government and other parties, and confirmed the Liberals would not merge with One Nation in South Australia. The move comes shortly after the Liberal Party canvassed options with its membership to modernise itself following recent electoral setbacks.
Separately, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson faced criticism this week after describing domestic violence as a “scourge” but calling it a “two-way street” when asked about her message to men who harm their partners, according to the ABC. The comments drew swift criticism from government ministers, Liberal MPs and domestic violence advocacy groups. Hanson had recently returned from overseas travel, during which she made a series of anti-immigration comments that also drew criticism.
The Labor National Conference 2026 is scheduled to continue through the weekend, with further debate expected on the party’s platform, including the Gaza-related resolution and other policy positions. Readers looking for background on Labor’s current membership and ministry can refer to the Australian Labor Party’s official website.
Further coverage of related political developments, including protest activity connected to opposition figures, has previously been reported by StudioX News, including its report on Rahul Gandhi’s detention by Delhi Police.
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