NATIONAL PLATFORM A smart, modern, fair Australia Welcome to Labor’s National Platform Australian Labor’s new National Platform confirmed at our 47th National ConFerence provides Labor, its members, supporters and the community with a clear statement of our Party’s beliefs, values and program to advance Australia. This is the first National Platform developed through Labor’s new National Policy Forum (NPF) framework. Through the NPF ALP members directly elected representatives to join affiliAte, parliamentary and policy experts to work on renewing our Party’s Platform. Since 2013, the NPF has conducted more than 30 member workshops around the country during which more than 1,500 Labor members directly contributed to the development of this new National Platform. This process of direct Party member participation in Labor’s policy development is, I believe, one of the reasons that this National Platform is one of the strongest the PArty has ever produced. The role of the NPF in the development of Labor’s National Platform has now been included in our Party’s rules and will become a permanent part of how our Party develops policy. Australia faces challenges and changes in so many areas. Challenges For our economy and for our jobs; for the cities, suburbs and regions we live in; for our environment; for foreign affairs and trade; and for the health and education needs of our young, our adults and elderly. This National Platform outlines Labor’s key priorities for the future – A future that Australians can believe in and belong to. One that embraces the chAnge that our nation needs to make it better, to preserve and grow our living standards and our security, to spread opportunity to those to whom it is currently denied, to never accept entrenched inequality, and to ensure the vulnerable are not left behind. As we prepare for the next Federal election and the decades ahead this is what today’s Labor Party is Focused on. Only Labor has the values and plAns to build the Australia of the future. I extend my thanks to the many thousands of people who have contributed to the development of this National Platform. I commend it to the Party and the people of Australia. George Wright ALP NAtional Secretary AUTHORISED BY GEORGE WRIGHT, 5/9 SYDNEY AVENUE, BARTON ACT 2600 WELCOME TO LABOR’S NATIONAL PLATFORM 1 National Platform Contents Welcome to Labor’s National Platform ............................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: Labor’s enduring values ................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2: A strong economy for all Australians ............................................................................... 15 The contemporary challenge ........................................................................................................ 15 Labor values ................................................................................................................................... 15 Labor priorities .............................................................................................................................. 17 Responsible Fiscal Policy ............................................................................................................... 17 Stable Monetary Policy ................................................................................................................. 18 Retirement Incomes and SuperAnnuation .................................................................................... 18 A Strong And Vibrant Small Business Sector ................................................................................. 19 A ProFessional Financial Services Industry .................................................................................... 20 Trading with the World ................................................................................................................. 23 Skilled Migration ............................................................................................................................ 27 A Fair And EfFicient Tax System ..................................................................................................... 29 Housing AFFordAbility ..................................................................................................................... 31 Innovation and the Economy oF the Future .................................................................................. 31 ManuFacturing ............................................................................................................................... 32 Industry, Science and Research CollAboration .............................................................................. 35 Science and Research .................................................................................................................... 36 Strengthening the services sector ................................................................................................. 38 Chapter 3: Building Australia’s future ................................................................................................ 40 The contemporary challenge ........................................................................................................ 40 Labor values ................................................................................................................................... 40 Labor priorities .............................................................................................................................. 41 A nAtional inFrastructure agendA .................................................................................................. 41 InFrastructure PlAnning Framework .............................................................................................. 42 InFrastructure Australia ................................................................................................................. 42 Programs to address particular needs .......................................................................................... 43 Project Financing ............................................................................................................................ 44 Mode neutrality and public transport ........................................................................................... 44 Smart InFrastructure ...................................................................................................................... 44 Skills and jobs ................................................................................................................................ 44 Transformative projects ................................................................................................................ 45 National BroAdbAnd Network ....................................................................................................... 45 High Speed Rail .............................................................................................................................. 45 Inland Rail ...................................................................................................................................... 45 Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry ................................................................................................... 46 MinerAls, resources And energy .................................................................................................... 47 Australia’s cities – productive, sustainAble, liveable ..................................................................... 48 Strengthening regional And remote AustraliA ............................................................................... 49 AUTHORISED BY GEORGE WRIGHT, 5/9 SYDNEY AVENUE, BARTON ACT 2600 WELCOME TO LABOR’S NATIONAL PLATFORM 2 Local government .......................................................................................................................... 51 Transport regulAtion ...................................................................................................................... 52 Land transport regulAtion ............................................................................................................. 52 Aviation .......................................................................................................................................... 53 Shipping ......................................................................................................................................... 54 Transport and the environment .................................................................................................... 55 External territories ........................................................................................................................ 55 Northern Australia ......................................................................................................................... 56 Tourism .......................................................................................................................................... 56 Uranium ......................................................................................................................................... 57 Chapter 4: Tackling climate chAnge & our environmental challenges .............................................. 60 The contemporary challenge .......................................................................................................