New leader pledges ‘blank canvas’ on policy while signalling pro-business shift and appeal to ‘successful’ Australians

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Labor leader Anthony Albanese says the party will do things differently to win the next election, indicating a pro-business shift and an appeal to “successful” Australians.

Repudiating Bill Shorten’s campaign rhetoric that targeted the “top end of town”, Albanese emphasised his links to corporate Australia, and singled out the party’s franking credit policy as a key failure of Labor’s bid for election.

He said he had met several people during the election campaign who felt alienated by the party’s policy to wind back dividend imputation, giving the example of a Caboolture retiree who earned $1,200 a year from franking credits.

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“They felt as though we weren’t giving them respect and that we were classifying them as wealthy, (but) they weren’t wealthy,” Albanese said.

“We need to learn the mistakes and listen to what they’re saying.”

Albanese has indicated he will take a “blank canvas” approach to policy after the party’s defeat, which has been widely blamed on Labor’s tax reform agenda, particularly its negative gearing and dividend imputation changes.

On Thursday, former leader Bill Shorten pegged the loss on powerful vested interests, saying they had spent an “unprecedented” amount to block the rise of a Labor government.

Albanese, however, told caucus MPs that he believed senior members of the party should take responsibility for the loss, suggesting Labor’s policy platform was a key part of the defeat.

Recasting the party’s approach to middle Australia after the party suffered swings against it in outer suburban and regional seats, particularly in Queensland, Albanese said the party needed to “build relationships” and talk about aspiration.

“I speak about the need to talk about aspiration and to appeal to people who want to get on in life and want a better life for themselves,” Albanese said.

“I want to appeal to people who are successful as well as lift people up who aren’t as successful.”

But he said he believed in a broader definition of aspiration than the Coalition, saying people wanted a better life for their neighbourhood and nation, beyond just their own personal circumstances.

Scott Morrison made aspiration a key thrust of his campaign message, criticising Labor for its tax and spend agenda, while focusing on the government’s economic agenda, centred on tax cuts.

As he prepares for a reset of the party’s agenda, Albanese has called for the government to separate tax cuts for higher income earners from its tax package, suggesting the party will support the first stages but oppose the Coalition’s long-term plan to reduce the tax rate to 30% for people earning between $45,000 and $200,000 by 2024-25.

Speaking to the full caucus of the Labor party in Canberra on Thursday for the first time since the election, Albanese told MPs that the party had “fundamental differences” with the Coalition about the direction of the country, but acknowledged change was a difficult message to sell.

“We went to an election campaign fighting for a change agenda – that’s harder than if you’re just trying to preserve the status quo of existing relationships within society.”

He also indicated that Labor under his leadership would be less confrontational with the business sector than under Shorten, flagging a cooperative approach between business and unions and emphasising his connections with corporate Australia.

“Labor supports economic growth as the core part of our agenda, because jobs are always first, second, and third priority of this great party.”

He pledged to be a constructive leader who would be prepared to work with Morrison on areas of common interest.

“My job and our job in this room so to hold you to account,” Albanese said.

“But I say this also: that where we can reach agreement, we will do so. I want to be known as the Labor leader, not the opposition leader.”

Thursday’s caucus meeting finalised Albanese’s new shadow ministry, after several days of factional posturing about who would be elevated to the frontbench.

Former NSW premier Kristina Keneally was promoted to cabinet after MP Ed Husic gave up his frontbench role for his factional ally, and she successfully secured the role of Senate deputy leader when South Australian factional boss Don Farrell also stepped aside.

The manoeuvring ensures Labor’s new leadership team has gender balance, with Penny Wong remaining Senate leader, and Richard Marles becoming Albanese’s deputy.

With 16 members of the new shadow ministry to come from the party’s right faction, and 14 from the party’s left, Albanese will now allocate portfolios.

Those promoted to the frontbench include Andrew Giles, Pat Conroy, Murray Watt and Katy Gallagher from the left faction, and Matt Keogh from the right faction.

Western Australia MP Keogh, Queensland senator Murray Watt, New South Wales MP Pat Conroy and ACT senator Katy Gallagher will all be promoted to the frontbench.

Those no longer in the ministry include Kim Carr, Clare Moore, Doug Cameron and Pat Dodson. Dodson, who had been nominated as indigenous affairs minister in a Shorten government, did not want to be on the opposition frontbench.