Anthony Albanese accuses Liberals of having a ‘pathological problem’ with saying ‘Yes’ in desperate bid to kickstart stalled Voice to Parliament push at Labor’s national conference

Working-class believers from across the country have gathered in Brisbane for a three-day political spectacle that comes only once in an election cycle.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese kicked off the national conference with a call to arms ahead of the Voice to Parliament referendum and a scathing denunciation of the Liberal party for having a “pathological problem with ever saying yes.”

“We are here to work for Australia, and on behalf of our Labor government I say to every Australian; we are here to work for you.

Labor wants to make sure no one is left behind. It’s what we do, it’s in our character.’

Mr Albanese noted that the cost of living remains ‘the biggest pressure on Australian families’, vowing it is the ‘first priority’ under his government.

Harking back to when “his election campaign turned,” Mr. Albanese took a $1 coin out of his pocket to reminisce about when he was asked if he supported a $1-an-hour increase in the minimum wage.

“The liberals said this $1 coin and our raise for the poorest workers in our society would destroy the economy,” he said. “They said the sky would fall in.

“When asked if I supported the pay rise for Australia’s lowest paid workers, the heroes who got us through the pandemic, what did I say? Absolute.’

Since then, Mr Albanese’s government has also introduced a 15 percent wage increase for aged care workers – a move which the prime minister says must have left “the opponents beside themselves”.

Mr Albanese praised the work of Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Chancellor of the Exchequer Katy Gallagher in securing a surplus for the first time in 15 years while still delivering those wage increases.

The prime minister then set his sights on the former liberal party, the ‘Noalition’, as he called them.

“Never again can the Liberals call themselves the Party of Fiscal Responsibility when all they left behind was $1 trillion in debt.

Workers’ faithful from across the country have converged on Brisbane for a three-day political spectacle that comes only once in an election cycle

“Never again can the liberals pretend to support the drive for jobs when all they did was erode production and keep wages low as a deliberate policy.

“Never again can Robodebt’s party pretend to care about fighters.

“Because they will forever be condemned for illegally pursuing hundreds of thousands of Australia’s most vulnerable.”

Mr Albanese expressed his hope to lead a ‘long-term government’ that will ‘shape the future’ of Australia.

Over the next three days, Labor politicians, business leaders, trade unionists, activists and ordinary members will mingle and debate the framework of the government’s agenda.

AUKUS, taxes, climate change and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are all expected to dominate the schedule.

Infighting between the factions is to be expected as protesters pour into the front of the convention center to oppose housing policies announced after the national cabinet met on Wednesday.

Although Labor holds a national conference every three years, this is the first in over a decade that Labor has been in power

Mr Albanese described the result as the “most significant housing policy reform in a generation”.

Although Labor holds a national conference every three years, this is the first in over a decade that Labor has been in power.

On the first day there are three ‘chapters’ or sessions. The first will be led by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Chancellor of the Exchequer Katy Gallagher, who discuss Labour’s economic agenda.

This afternoon will focus on the environment and climate, but also on health policy.

As part of the economic discussion, Labor will discuss the prospect of paying a pension on paid parental leave.

The policy is supported within the crossbench and is a reform the Albanian government has previously said it would like to implement.

Mr. Albanese was greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation