About 2000 party faithful gathered at Novotel Twin Waters on Saturday for the 2022 Queensland Labor Party conference to hear from Labor Party elite including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Party members, many with children, greeted each other outside like family before entering the auditorium where they rose to their feet, clapping and cheering, as political leaders took to the stage in a presidential-style address.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Treasurer Jim Chalmers revved up the audience before some stirring music was played and a beaming Prime Minister made his way through the crowd to the stage to rapturous applause.
“What a cracking Queensland welcome. I’m happy to be leading a Labor government,” he said.
“I love Queensland. Some southerners have moved up here, figures show that’s happened, and why wouldn’t you want to live in Queensland.”
He praised party members for their efforts in gaining Labor’s election win. “Never underestimate the difference you make, giving your time and energy, knocking on doors,” he said.
And he praised Annastacia Palaszczuk’s leadership, saying Queensland was a template for all governments, operating through respect, straight talking, taking responsibility and matching words with actions.
On a national scale Labor was now tasked with “cleaning up the mess of a wasted decade”, he said.
Labor would do so with a majority of women – the first government in Australia to have more women than men with 54 out of 103 women in the Caucas, he boasted.
A 15 per cent pay rise to aged care workers – “the heroes of the pandemic”, a commitment to build one million affordable houses, renewable energy and the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart were commitments he gave from Labor.
“A better future is what we will deliver together,” he said.
There were a few jibes at the former LNP government which brought some laughs from the crowd.
The Prime Minister reflected on his amazement at former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who being given the honour of being the PM, chose to provide himself several more ministerial positions – “and not tell anyone”, calling the action “an extraordinary series of events”.
He spoke about the LNPs opposition to Labor’s push for increased wages, saying, “they looked at the title (of the report) – “Secure wage, better pay” – didn’t read it”.
Before the Prime Minister’s arrival Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke of her improved relationship with the federal government.
“He gets Queensland. He understands our issues. Instead of attacks I get phone calls, meetings and good, firm handshakes,” she said.
“We have a government that’s agile and driven by Labor values of fairness, equality and dignity.”
Ms Palaszczuk spoke about the state government’s energy and jobs plan that would provide 70 per cent of renewable energy by 2032 through a clean energy revolution and the construction of the largest pumped hydrogen facility and delivery of 100,000 new jobs.
She said the government would deploy Q-build to manufacture prefabricated houses from a new factory in Eagle Farm to help ease housing pressures, 2500 additional hospital beds would be delivered over six years and a $700million cancer centre would be built in Queensland.
“We have the strongest economic growth in the nation. The opportunities are endless,” she said. “Our best days are ahead of us.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers spoke about a global economy downturn and the pressures of an ongoing war in Europe that would mean hard days ahead giving rise to a responsible budget, but an optimistic Prime Minister he knew would make the right call for the right reasons.
“We know a changing government is our big chance to change the country for the better,” he said.
