With a commanding 12-seat gain, lifting Labor’s total to 90 in the federal Parliament, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese walked into Labor’s first caucus meeting after the election victory.
The prime minister reflected on the party’s 125-year journey from its humble beginnings.
“There were 22 people“ in the first Labor caucus on May 8, 1901 in Melbourne, said Albanese. ”And guess what they had in common? They were all blokes, every one of them.”
Gesturing to the new caucus, he said, “I see a representative group, a majority of women, up to where, we’re still counting of course, but at least 57 percent women.”
He also hailed the cultural diversity in the party.
“I also see people of different ethnicities, different backgrounds, different experiences, different faiths. I see a diverse group of people that are truly representative of our nation, and that’s what our parliament should be, because we seek to represent the entire nation.”
Albanese said it was now Labor’s duty to deliver for those who put their faith in the party—particularly young Australians and suburban families, many of whom backed Labor for the first time.
“Focus out on the Australian people, on the people who voted for us. That’s got to be our focus each and every day.”
Albanese Reminds Caucus of the Need to Stay in Power
The Labor leader also welcomed new MPs.“What a room—and for those of you who are new, welcome,” Albanese said.
Yet, he was quick to redirect the mood from celebration to purpose.
“And your objective should be really clear, which is to continue to earn the right to sit in this room.”
Pointing down the corridor towards the Parliament, he reminded his team: “At the end of this corridor ... this is where decisions are made that actually make a difference to the country. You need to be in government to make a difference.”
Help the Private Sector
Albanese spoke of the need for the party’s modernisation.“When I became Labor leader, in my first speech at the Sydney CPO, I said that I thought that Labor should be the natural party of government,” he recalled.
Often criticised as a party of red tape and anti-private sector, Albanese underscored the importance of a thriving private sector.
“From a political party that has grown from working people, arising from the trade union movement, but one that reaches out to the business community and understands that you need a successful private sector to generate growth and economic activity and jobs.
Reception From World Leaders
The prime minister was also welcomed by leaders around the world.“I received last night a long conversation with His Majesty the King,” he said.
“President of the United States, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, President Macron, Prime Minister Sanchez of Spain, Prime Minister Luxon, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Lawrence Wong of Singapore, President Pub, who I'll visit next week in Indonesia, Prime Minister Modi in India ... the prime ministers of all of the regions—Vietnam, Thailand, etc.”
Message of Unity Amid Cabinet Jostling
Amid reports of factional jostling ahead of the cabinet announcement—with Minister Ed Husic notably absent from caucus and speculation swirling around Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus’s future—Albanese doubled down on the importance of solidarity.“I repeated the message a number of times in this room of the importance of unity, of not getting ahead of ourselves, of being focused not on ourselves,” he said.
“That’s got to be our focus each and every day. How do we improve their lives? How do we make a positive difference for them? For those families, many of whom backed Labor for the first time in their lives, some of whom came back to us.”
“My final ask is that over the next three years we remain with a laser-like focus on [the Australian people],” he concluded.
The PM’s speech was followed by all new MPs shaking hands with Albanese and signing the register.
Ali France, who claimed the high-profile Queensland seat of Dickson from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, received a loud cheer and hug from Albanese.
