Welcome to Labor’s 2021 National Platform In March 2021, delegates to the Australian Labor Party’s Special Platform Conference gathered to debate and adopt our National Platform. Our online Special Platform Conference was an event like nothing Labor – or any other Australian political party – had attempted before. Over two days, delegates, branch members and observers joined from home, from work and from community spaces in every corner of the country. The coronavirus pandemic may have prevented our movement from coming together as we traditionally have, but it did not prevent Labor from updating and renewing our National Platform. As Anthony Albanese notes in the foreword to the National Platform, Labor’s historic task is to advance an agenda of fairness that creates a better society, a better nation and a better world. The 2021 National Platform sets out the contemporary policy agenda that an Albanese Labor Government will implement to progress that great task. It is the product of countless hours of debate, discussion, and deliberation by Labor members in the 18 months leading up to the Special Platform Conference. I want to particularly acknowledge the work of the National Policy Forum, particularly the Forum’s office bearers led by our National President, Wayne Swan; Senators Jenny McAllister and Deborah O’Neill; and our NPF Secretary, Misha Zelinsky. I commend the 2021 National Platform to the Party and the people of Australia. Paul Erickson ALP National Secretary Conference resolution relating to the ALP National Platform That the Conference reconfirm the longstanding resolution relating to the Platform as follows: • Conference recognises that the Platform and Resolutions of the Party represents short and long-term aspirations of the ALP; • The program for each of the three years of a Labor Government will continue to be drawn from the Platform; and • Therefore, the Conference requests that the FPLP will, in preparing the program for the next three years: (a) Continue to give priority to economic growth, a fair distribution of the benefits of economic growth and improvements in the welfare and standard of living of the Australian people; and (b) Implement other platforms and policies according to a time scale to be determined having regard to the above overall priorities of the Party. CARRIED ALP Special Platform Conference Revesby, March 2021. Contents PLATFORM FOREWORD: RECOVERY, REBUILDING, RENEWAL ...................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1: BUILDING AUSTRALIA'S PROSPERITY ......................................................................................... 4 Security, resilience and opportunity .......................................................................................................... 4 Prudent fiscal and monetary policy ........................................................................................................... 5 Inclusive and sustainable growth ............................................................................................................... 5 A smart, strong and diverse economy ....................................................................................................... 7 A better connected Australia ..................................................................................................................... 8 More trade to create jobs and prosperity ................................................................................................. 9 Modern infrastructure, transport and regional development .................................................................. 9 Northern Australia ................................................................................................................................... 13 Building a stronger nation through migration ......................................................................................... 13 A strong, fair and well-regulated financial sector .................................................................................... 14 Dignity and security in retirement ........................................................................................................... 15 Building a dynamic and vibrant business sector ...................................................................................... 17 A collaborative partner for industries ...................................................................................................... 18 A real future for manufacturing and industry .......................................................................................... 18 A strong services sector ........................................................................................................................... 19 A better future for farmers, fishers and foresters ................................................................................... 19 Resources for the nation .......................................................................................................................... 20 Growing tourism ...................................................................................................................................... 21 Sport for all .............................................................................................................................................. 21 A creative culture: arts and entertainment ............................................................................................. 22 CHAPTER 2: DEVELOPING OUR PEOPLE ....................................................................................................... 23 An economy that works for everyone ..................................................................................................... 23 Building full employment and higher workforce participation................................................................ 23 Better working conditions ........................................................................................................................ 25 Safer workplaces ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Defending the right to organise ............................................................................................................... 30 Education and training—a ticket to opportunity ..................................................................................... 31 Stronger universities ................................................................................................................................ 35 CHAPTER 3: CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT ............................................................ 37 Creating a low-emissions economy ......................................................................................................... 37 A national energy policy ........................................................................................................................... 40 Stronger environmental protections ....................................................................................................... 41 Environmental governance, management and international obligations ............................................... 42 First Nations and heritage ........................................................................................................................ 43 The Great Barrier Reef ............................................................................................................................. 43 Parks and reserves, and caring for landscapes and waterways ............................................................... 44 Wildlife trade ........................................................................................................................................... 45 Reducing waste, building a circular economy and reducing pollution .................................................... 45 Water, rivers, oceans and coasts ............................................................................................................. 46 CHAPTER 4: A STRONG AND HEALTHY SOCIETY .......................................................................................... 48 Health: equity, access and reform ........................................................................................................... 48 Nurturing our children ............................................................................................................................. 52 Valuing older Australians ......................................................................................................................... 53 High quality aged care services ................................................................................................................ 54 Supporting Australians with disability ..................................................................................................... 55 A fair social security system ..................................................................................................................... 57 Access to affordable housing ................................................................................................................... 58 Support for the community sector .......................................................................................................... 58 Humane animal welfare ..........................................................................................................................