2026 Australian Labor Party National Conference

2026 Australian Labor Party National Conference
DateJuly 23–25, 2026 (2026-07-23 – 2026-07-25)
VenueAdelaide Convention Centre
Location
TypeParty conference
ThemeDelivering Real Change
Organised byALP National Executive
Participants2,000+[a]
Websitewww.laborconference.org.au

The 2026 Australian Labor Party National Conference was the 50th triennial political party conference of the Australian Labor Party. It took place in Adelaide, South Australia from 23 to 25 July 2026.

Background

Political situation

The 50th National Conference occurred amidst what some pundits have claimed is a "realignment" of right-wing politics in Australia.[1][2][3][4][5] Pauline Hanson and her party One Nation have experienced a significant surge in national opinion polls, with several showing the party winning the two-party-preferred vote. Although this has come mostly at the expense of the opposition Liberal-National Coalition, some polls had One Nation matching the Labor party's primary vote or even winning (within the margin of error).[6] One Nation's victory in the 2026 Farrer by-election, their first federal election victory in a lower house seat,[7] also caused concern among many across the political spectrum.[8] Former Labor strategist Kos Samaras claimed that the surge in support for a third party meant the classic two-party system of Australian politics had effectively been dismantled.[9]

Labor's 2026 budget included several key changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, and reactions to the policy announcements had been mixed.[10][11][12][13] Several groups, including One Nation, had labelled the government "liars" for making changes they had not signalled they would make make prior to the 2025 election.[14][15]

Draft platform

The 50th National Conference will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre

In the lead up to each national conference, the party's platform is drafted by the National Policy Forum, a 65-member group which includes senior party leadership, elected grassroots party members, nominated members of affiliated trade unions and members of the federal caucus. The group is co-chaired by the party leader and national president.[16][17]

The initial draft of the 2026 platform was viewed by members of the media in April 2026. Labor's longstanding opposition to mandatory jail terms was seemingly omitted from the first draft, and it included "assertive" language on Australia's relationship with China. The draft also articulated Labor's aim to position Australia as an “active middle power” to tackle increasingly fraught geopolitical situations.[18] The leaked draft also no longer included an 82% renewable energy target.[19] An updated version of the draft platform was also revealed to commit the party to cracking down on inducements for online gambling.[20] Other policies expected to be debated at conference include artificial intelligence in the workplace, fuel rebates for mining companies, interest rates and Israel and Palestine.[17] There was speculation a week before the conference that the policy platform will be amended to include legislating a tax on gas exports.[21][22][23]

Several unaffiliated interest groups made public submissions to the policy forum following the release of the draft platform, including Universities Australia and the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network.

Retirement of Wayne Swan

Former federal treasurer and deputy prime minister Wayne Swan had served as National President of the Labor Party since his formal election at the 48th national conference in 2018[24][25] and re-election at the 49th national conference in 2023.[26] In October 2025, Swan announced he would not compete for the presidency again, effectively retiring from politics after more than 30 years.[27] In his announcement, Swan noted Labor's two consecutive election victories under his presidency as a source of pride, but warned his successor increasing membership must remain an urgent priority for the party.[28][29][30]

Former federal minister Kate Ellis was chosen as the replacement to Swan, in a factional deal that included national secretary Paul Erickson retaining his position unchallenged.[31] Her presidency was formally ratified with a vote at the 50th conference.[32]

Agenda

Anthony Albanese addressed the conference on Day 1

Day 1

  • Conference opening with an address by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese[33]
  • Platform Chapter 1 - An Economy That Works for Everyone
  • Platform Chapter 3 - Safeguarding Our Climate and Environment and Powering Australia's Future

Day 2

  • Platform Chapter 4 - A Strong and Healthy Society
  • Platform Chapter 5 - Bringing People Together
  • Platform Chapter 2 - Opening the Doors of Opportunity
  • ALP Constitution & Organisational Policies

Day 3

  • Platform Chapter 7 - Australia's Place in a Changing World
  • Platform Chapter 6 - Strengthening Australian Democracy

Delegates

Size of delegations

The ALP National Constitution, adopted in 2023 by the 49th National Conference, determined the total number of delegates for the 50th National Conference as:[34][35]

ALP Conference Delegate Allocations
New South Wales Victoria Queensland Western Australia South Australia Tasmania Australian Capital Territory Northern Territory Federal Caucus Party Leadership Young Labor
105 89 73 45 33 23 9 7 6 4 3

Outcomes

Notes

  1. ↑ Including 397 delegates

References

  1. ↑ Hannaford, Patrick (2 February 2026). "'Structural realignment': One Nation surges in new poll as Liberals and Nationals plummet to a 'political rump'". News Corporation. Sky News Australia. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  2. ↑ McIlroy, Tom (21 February 2026). "Pauline Hanson is already distorting policy and politics on immigration. It's threatening to take us down a dark road". The Guardian Australia. theguardian.com. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "One Nation Poll surge fuels debate over political realignment". The Indian Sun. indiansun.com.au. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Green, Antony. "The Coalition Split and the Re-emergence of One Nation". antonygreen.com.au. Antony Green. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Fildes, Nic (6 July 2026). "Is this Pauline Hanson's moment in Australia?". The Financial Times Ltd. The Financial Times. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "ALP in election-winning position after Pauline Hanson's comments on monoculturalism cost One Nation support". roymorgan.com. Roy Morgan Australia. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Briggs, Casey (17 April 2026). "Farrer By-election 2026". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  8. ↑ Armstrong, Clare (2 June 2026). "Even Hanson knows polling isn't everything but major parties have their work cut out". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Wakelin, James (23 May 2026). "Australia's two-party system 'already collapsed' with the rise of One Nation, analyst says". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Butler, Josh (27 May 2026). "Guardian Essential poll: Labor's housing and tax changes fail to win over voters as support for One Nation swells". The Guardian Australia. theguardian.com. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Armstrong, Clare (12 May 2026). "$250 tax break for millions of workers in federal budget 2026". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Barrett, Jonathan (12 May 2026). "Budget capital gains tax changes and negative gearing reform explained". The Guardian Australia. theguardian.com. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "One Nation Leads ALP and Coalition as voters sour on budget". demosau.com. DemosAU. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  14. ↑ Coorey, Phillip (26 May 2026). "Budget tax changes struggle for voter support". Nine Entertainment Co. Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  15. ↑ Brent, Peter (25 May 2026). "Pundits and polls versus the budget". Inside Story. /insidestory.org.au. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "National Policy Forum". alp.org.au. Australian Labor Party. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  17. 1 2 Jervis-Bardy, Dan (19 July 2026). "There will be disagreement at next week's Labor conference – but don't expect the feuds of the past". The Guardian Australia. theguardian.com. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  18. ↑ Jervis-Bardy, Dan (1 April 2026). "Labor's draft party platform more assertive on China and omits mandatory jail term stance". The Guardian Australia. theguardian.com. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Renewable target missing from ALP draft national platform". News Corporation. The Australian. 8 April 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Jervis-Bardy, Dan (7 July 2026). "Labor's draft policy platform waters down rather than scraps its long-held opposition to mandatory jail sentences". The Guardian Australia. theguardian.com. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "Gas export tax reportedly set to become Labor policy at ALP National Conference". The Australia Institute. The Point. 19 July 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  22. ↑ Coorey, Philip (17 July 2026). "Gas tax plans to be enshrined in ALP policy platform". Nine Entertainment Co. Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  23. ↑ Marin-Guzman, David (17 July 2026). "What unions want next after four years of Labor changes". Nine Entertainment Co. Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  24. ↑ Kenny, Mark (18 June 2018). "Wayne's World 2: former treasurer now ALP president". Nine Entertainment Co. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Murphy, Katharine (18 June 2018). "Wayne Swan outpolls Mark Butler to be elected Labor national president". The Guardian Australia. theguardian.com. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  26. ↑ "Re-elected Swan to grow ALP and push 'progressive change'". News Corporation. The Australian. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  27. ↑ Olbrycht-Palmer, Joseph (17 October 2025). "Labor heavyweight Wayne Swan to step down as ALP president". News Corporation. news.com.au. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  28. ↑ Tolhurst, Isabella; Long, Claudia (17 October 2025). "Wayne Swan steps down as Labor president urging party to focus on membership boost". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  29. ↑ "'Don't assume you're a shoo-in': Labor's recipe for success is Wayne's swan song". News Corporation. The Australian. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  30. ↑ Jervis-Bardy, Dan (6 December 2025). "Wayne Swan warns Labor not to speak to Australians in 'highly stylised political way'". The Guardian Australia. theguardian.com. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  31. ↑ "Ellis to succeed Swan in ALP post". News Corporation. The Australian. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  32. ↑ McIlroy, Tom (26 June 2026). "Wayne Swan likens Hanson to Trump and says Labor must stop One Nation's 'dark, dystopic picture of the future'". The Guardian Australia. theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "50th ALP National Conference - Agenda". alp.org.au. Australian Labor Party. 27 July 2026. Archived from the original on 27 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  34. ↑ "ALP National Constitution 2023" (PDF). alp.org.au. Australian Labor Party. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  35. ↑ "Current Federal Electorates". www.aec.gov.au. Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
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