46th National Conference National Platform NATIONAL PLATFORM, AUTHORISED BY GEORGE WRIGHT, 5/9 SYDNEY AVENUE, BARTON ACT 2600 National Platform Contents Welcome to Labor’s National Platform. 12 Chapter 1: Our enduring Labor values 13 Enduring values 13 Reform driven by values 14 Our values 16 Opportunity 16 Fairness 17 Responsibility 17 Our vision for Australia’s future 18 Chapter 2: A strong economy for all Australians 19 Introduction 19 Labor values 20 Labor achievements 22 Jobs and productivity 22 Cost of living 22 Labor priorities 23 Responsible fiscal policy 23 Stable monetary policy 24 Improving corporate and financial regulation for a stronger economy 24 A price on carbon 25 Improving the tax system 26 A professional finance sector 27 Competitive and sustainable banking system 28 Skilled migration 29 International competitiveness and trade policy 32 The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement 36 Chapter 3: Building Australia’s future 37 Introduction 37 Labor values 38 Labor achievements 40 Infrastructure reform and investment 40 Regional, remote and local communities 40 Industry policy 42 Labor priorities 42 A national infrastructure agenda 42 Completing the National Broadband Network 44 Developing Australia’s cities 45 Strengthening regional and remote Australia 46 Local government 49 External territories 50 NATIONAL PLATFORM, AUTHORISED BY GEORGE WRIGHT, 5/9 SYDNEY AVENUE, BARTON ACT 2600 2 National Platform Contents Northern Australia 50 Increasing productivity and opportunity 51 Transforming manufacturing 54 Securing high-skilled jobs: responding to a patchwork economy 56 Putting innovation at the heart of smaller firms 57 A world-class research enterprise 58 Building strategic research strengths 59 Putting researchers on the front-line for industry 60 Science and research 60 Road, rail and aviation infrastructure 61 Shipping and maritime infrastructure 63 Primary industries 64 Australian agriculture 65 Australia’s fisheries industry 66 Australia’s forest and forest products industry 66 Minerals, resources and energy 67 Uranium 68 Strengthening the services sector 70 Chapter 4: A clean energy future 73 Introduction 73 Labor values 73 Labor achievements 74 Climate change 74 Environment and heritage 75 Energy capacity 75 Labor priorities 76 The transition to a clean energy future 76 A carbon price 76 Supporting industry and jobs 77 Household assistance 77 Clean energy 77 Energy efficiency 78 Carbon farming 79 Indigenous economic development 79 International action on climate change 79 Direct investment in clean energy jobs 80 Building energy capacity 80 Adapting to the climate change we cannot avoid 82 Preparing primary industries for climate change and future droughts 83 Strengthening the role of farmers in the delivery of environmental services 83 Managing our water assets 84 NATIONAL PLATFORM, AUTHORISED BY GEORGE WRIGHT, 5/9 SYDNEY AVENUE, BARTON ACT 2600 3 National Platform Contents Leadership on sustainability 85 Protecting biodiversity and natural resources 86 Marine and coastal protection 87 National and World Heritage 88 A cleaner environment for living 88 Environmental diplomacy 89 Chapter 5: Opportunity and fairness for working families 91 Introduction 91 Labor values 91 Labor achievements 93 Participation and skills 93 Industrial relations 94 Labor priorities 94 From welfare to work 94 Paid parental leave 96 Investing in skills and social mobility 96 Indigenous economic development and participation 97 People with disability and mental illness 98 Creating fair workplaces 99 Outworkers 102 A national agenda for workplace safety and workers’ compensation 102 Protecting the entitlements of all employees 104 Chapter 6: New opportunities for an ageing Australia 105 Introduction 105 Labor values 106 Labor achievements 107 Health and wellbeing 107 Further education and employment 107 Financial 107 Support 108 Labor priorities 108 Health and wellbeing 108 Education and employment 108 Financial 109 Engagement 109 Pensions 109 Superannuation 110 Ageing and aged care 110 Securing quality aged care through a quality workforce 112 Dementia 113 Palliative care 113 NATIONAL PLATFORM, AUTHORISED BY GEORGE WRIGHT, 5/9 SYDNEY AVENUE, BARTON ACT 2600 4 National Platform Contents Chapter 7: A world-class education for all Australians 115 Introduction 115 Labor values 115 Labor achievements 117 Early childhood, school education and youth 117 Vocational education, training and universities 118 Labor priorities 119 Early childhood education and care 119 High standards for all in every school 120 Children with disability 123 Providing a strong transition from school to work or training 123 The vocational education and training system of the future 124 Boosting apprenticeships and traineeships 126 Indigenous education 127 Adult and community education 127 Greater equity, higher quality teaching and world-class research at our nation’s universities 127 Chapter 8: Preparing for Australia’s future health needs 130 Introduction 130 Labor values 130 Labor achievements 131 Public hospitals 131 Primary and preventive health care 132 Labor priorities 133 A hospital system that works 133 Medicare 134 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme 135 A world-class health system: supporting public and private health 135 Tackling chronic disease 136 Promoting wellness, preventing disease 136 Access to frontline care in the community 137 Sexual and reproductive health 137 Lesbian gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex health 138 Child and maternal health 138 Men’s health 139 Indigenous health 139 Young people 140 Drug strategy 140 Mental health 140 Health workforce 143 NATIONAL PLATFORM, AUTHORISED BY GEORGE WRIGHT, 5/9 SYDNEY AVENUE, BARTON ACT 2600 5 National Platform Contents Doctors 143 Nurses 144 Allied health professionals 144 Health support workers 145 Regional and rural health 145 The health system of the future 146 Investing in health and medical research 146 Dental 147 Chapter 9: A fair go for all Australians 148 Introduction 148 Labor values 149 Labor achievements 150 Labor priorities 152 Creating an inclusive Australia 152 Human rights 154 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders 154 Closing the Gap 155 Providing opportunities for people with disability 158 Reforming disability support services 159 National Disability Strategy 160 Acknowledging and supporting carers 160 Homelessness 161 Labor’s National Housing Strategy 162 Indigenous housing 165 Women 165 Reducing violence against women and children 166 Children 166 Young Australians 167 Removing discrimination 168 Justice in the community 168 Custody and sentencing 169 Family law 170 Migrants and refugees 170 Maintaining the integrity of our migration system 171 Protection and humanitarian assistance 172 Compliance and immigration detention policy 174 Sport 176 Arts and culture 177 Assistance to families 179 Animal welfare 179 NATIONAL PLATFORM, AUTHORISED BY GEORGE WRIGHT, 5/9 SYDNEY AVENUE, BARTON ACT 2600 6 National Platform Contents Chapter 10: Open and accountable government 180 Introduction 180 Labor values 180 Labor achievements 182 Labor priorities 182 Progressing constitutional reform 182 Reforming electoral law 183 Ensuring women’s equal place in a stronger democracy 184 Labor will work to ensure women’s equal place in the world by: 184 LGBTI place in a stronger democracy 185 Transparent government 186 Protecting privacy 186 Freedom of speech 187 A dynamic, effective and modern public sector 188 Vibrant community and not-for-profit sectors 189 Delivering quality community services 190 Government procurement 191 Australian media 193 Public broadcasting 194 Community broadcasting 195 Keeping Australia Post public 195 Chapter 11: Australia’s place in a changing world 196 Introduction 196 Labor values 196 Labor achievements 197 Foreign affairs 197 Defence 197 National security 198 Labor priorities 199 Maintaining our national security 199 Protecting Australia’s economic interests abroad 200 A stable and just international order 201 Democracy 201 Human rights 202 International law 204 Strengthening our engagement with the countries of the world 205 The fight to overcome poverty 207 Assisting Australians abroad 209 The challenge of terrorism 209 Emergency management 210 NATIONAL PLATFORM, AUTHORISED BY GEORGE WRIGHT, 5/9 SYDNEY AVENUE, BARTON ACT 2600 7 National Platform Contents Strength, sustainability and self reliance in defence 211 International and regional defence relationships 211 Pine Gap 212 Ballistic missile defence 212 Defence relationships in the Asia–Pacific region 212 Allied use of Australian facilities 213 Defence personnel and training 213 Occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation 214 Military justice 214 Defence administration, industry and procurement 214 Defence industry sectoral plans 215 Defence exports 215 Meeting the needs of Australia’s veterans 216 Veterans’ needs 216 Veterans’ families 217 Programs of income support 217 Disability compensation 217 War widows 217 Health care 218 Commemoration 218 Administration 218 Resolutions to the National Platform 219 Resolutions for Chapter 1 219 Members and our values 219 Resolutions for Chapter 2 219 Public services supporting a strong economy 219 The trans pacific partnership agreement 220 Resolutions for Chapter 3 220 Live animal exports 220 Australian manufacturing 221 Resolutions for Chapter 4 224 Marine parks 224 Resolutions for Chapter 5 224 Aviation — qantas 224 Resolutions for Chapter 7 224 Gonski review into education 224 Resolutions for Chapter 8 225 Increasing the birthweight of Indigenous babies