Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s dig at pro-Palestinian protesters during major speech to Labor conference at Sydney Town Hall

In his address to hundreds of Labor Party supporters, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lashed out at pro-Palestinian protesters who gathered outside Sydney Town Hall, where the New South Wales branch was hosting its annual conference.

From 10am, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters, including a man covered in fake blood, gathered on George Street, holding flags and banners and chanting: “Albanians, blood on your hands.”

A large police force patrolled the central location and the organizers had also implemented stricter security measures, including having their bags checked and being checked by security upon arrival.

The two-day event is also expected to be rocked by delegates calling for more action and a tougher party stance on Palestinian statehood.

Members are also likely to disagree on motions on protest laws, child bail laws and the legalization of drug and pill testing services.

However, Mr Albanese said the labour movement prefers “progress over protest”.

“We choose action over empty words, and our members choose to help vulnerable people inside elected offices – not intimidate them outside,” he said, directly criticising months of protests that have led to the closure of his west inner-city polling station since January.

Albanese was likely referring to Labor’s recent loss of face after Western Australian Senator Fatima Payman defected to the right seat, and he also stressed the party’s rules, which require members to vote in unity.

“The people of the Labor Party in this room always put the Australian people first. Because once we have had our say and made a decision, we move forward together as one, knowing that we are part of something bigger than any of us as individuals,” he said.

Moments earlier, the Prime Minister and her fiancée Jodie Haydon entered the packed hall to loud applause and blasted out the soundtrack, featuring an instrumental version of The Killer’s Mr Brightside.

In his address to around 800 delegates, including state and federal MPs, trade unionists and Labor Party supporters, Albanese made the case for his federal government’s 66 emergency clinics, new bulk-billing bonus schemes and the Labor Party’s “equal job, equal pay” employment policy.

Shady bosses were alerted and the prime minister announced that government lawyers would be hired to “support the workers”.

“Our principle is simple and our position is clear. Same job, same salary,” he said.

In addition, a further $350 million in federal funding has been allocated to the Thriving Suburbs program, which Albanese announced is open to all suburbs in Australia from today.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also came under fire for his role as Health Minister under the Abbott government. Albanese said: ‘Peter Dutton was so bad at his job that Tony Abbott sacked him.’

Mr Albanese also stressed that the nuclear versus renewable energy debate is a key point of contention for the yet-to-be-announced elections due in early 2025.

He echoed the same Labor Party positions, criticizing Dutton’s plan to build seven nuclear reactors by 2050 as a plan that lacked a cost estimate and gave no details on key issues such as the location of the reactors and how nuclear waste would be dealt with.

However, Mr Albanese was confident that Australia had “no time to lose”.

‘The one asset we don’t have is time and that’s why the next election is about so much more than the next three years. It’s about the next generation of Australian jobs and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure a new era of growth and fairness.’

Mr Albanese also paid tribute to his old left-wing Labor Party ally and outgoing Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney, who recently announced she would not seek re-election for her inner-city seat of Barton at the next election.

“Linda’s approach is defined by respect, listening and collaboration. Doing things with communities, not against them,” he said.

He said consultations between Ms Burney, Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek and the Mirrar Indigenous People were responsible for the government’s recent announcement to add Jabiluka to the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, meaning it will never again function as a uranium mine.

It was previously leased by Energy Resources of Australia.