‘Work can truly begin’: PM charts course to election

Andrew Brown | July 26, 2026

The prime minister is confident the platform agreed to by factional leaders at Labor’s national conference will position the party for another election win.

However, Anthony Albanese faces disapproval within his parliamentary ranks after a backbench push to strengthen criticism of Israel in Labor’s policy document was scuppered on the final day of the triennial summit.

In closing remarks to the Labor conference on Saturday, Mr Albanese said the event was the start of reforms to be taken to voters. 

“Everything we’ve done in here is about the real change that we want to see out there. This is not the end in itself,” he told the party faithful in Adelaide.

“All of this represents real change for our economy, for health care and housing.”

Mr Albanese singled out recent federal budget reforms limiting negative gearing to new homes and rolling back capital gains tax discounts as making tangible changes for younger generations.

“There will be auctions around the country where for the first time this century, first home buyers are not competing against investors for existing properties,” he said.

The conference was held in the shadow of One Nation, with Pauline Hanson’s party frequently cited on the conference floor as a major threat to Australia ahead of the next election, expected by May 2028.

The right-wing party has been outperforming Labor on primary votes in several opinion polls.

But Mr Albanese said the agenda signed off by Labor delegates at the conference would put the party in a strong position.

“Soon, we’ll be halfway to the next election,” he said.

“They come around pretty fast … now we begin the road to the next election and the opportunity for another victory.

“With this 2026 Labor platform as our guide, our work can truly begin.”

But backbencher Ed Husic spoke out against the party after factional leaders blocked debate on his pro-Palestine motion to sharpen criticism of Israel.

The scuppering of his amendment to formally recognise Israel as committing “genocide” meant the issue was not debated on the conference floor.

Mr Husic said he would remain in the party but urged fellow members to maintain pressure over Labor’s platform.

“I’ve seen some of the big debates and big issues of the time being discussed on the floor of the conference,” the former minister said.

“I have been surprised at the extraordinary amount of energy that has been applied to stop this, as opposed to talking about this.”