Labor Conferences matter. 

They remind us of the great responsibility we have and the great privilege we hold, the honour of Working for Australia. 

I’m proud that the motto that you see up there, that idea, that cause, that reason for being has been front and centre over the past three days. 

And I’m proud of what we are doing to live up to it, every day. 

To open the doors of opportunity and widen them. 

Before we leave, I wanted to take this chance to recognise and thank everyone who has helped bring this very successful event together. 

In particular, I want to thank our President and Vice President. 

I want to thank our National Secretary and his fantastic team. 

I want to thank all of the vollies who have helped out, on the door, doing the documents, doing all that work.

And to all of my Parliamentary colleagues who have been such a central part of the success of the past three days. 

Delegates

I also want to thank each and every one of you for the spirit you have brought to this Conference. 

The sense of unity. That sense of solidarity. That sense of engagement.

That sense of purpose that has flowed through this conference with the development of the draft platform to the meetings that have been held here over the last three days.

The constructive engagement in every chapter of platform. 

And the optimism, the urgency, the sense of shared determination that has characterised not only all the contributions made up here on this stage but all the conversations of the past three days as well. 

Walking around this building, you see people from every part of our movement and every part of our country, talking about the big challenges Australia has to overcome, but also the big opportunities we are in a position to seize. 

The platform we have built together reflects these ambitions: 

• Building an economy that works for people, not the other way around 
• Protecting our environment – and seizing our place as a renewable energy superpower
• Investing in education to lift people up – child care, TAFE, schools and university. 
• That important task of keeping the great Australian dream of home ownership in reach for the next generation
• Nourishing a stronger and healthier and fairer society – where no-one is held back and no-one is left behind. 
• Strengthening our capabilities and our international relationships to secure Australia’s national security and out place in a changing world
• Strengthening the fabric of our democracy 
• And bringing people together, closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by campaigning together for Recognition and Listening in order to achieve Better Results.  

We came to this conference pledged to Work for Australia. 

And we leave here now to carry on that promise. 

Living up to the best traditions of the labour movement, and this great party formed in 1891.

Measuring up to the finest qualities of the Australian people. 

There are uncertain times ahead but the people of Australia can be sure of this. 

Our movement, our party, our Labor Government will be Working for Australia, every single day. 

19 August 2023