00:02This is the Prime Minister in his keynote address putting cost of living front and centre
00:07at the beginning of this three-day conference here in Adelaide.
00:10So to underscore what he says the government is doing to address those concerns,
00:14he'll announce an expansion of this scheme which basically gives students in nursing,
00:19social work and teaching about $340 a week when they undergo their unpaid placements.
00:25He's expanding that scheme today to 10 more health courses including physio, psychology, pharmacy and speech pathology students.
00:33So very much safe Labor territory here focusing on skills and training.
00:39And this is all part of the Prime Minister's plan to contrast the Labor Party with its political opponents,
00:45One Nation and the Coalition.
00:46He'll say in his speech today that there is a negative sentiment about the economy right now.
00:51And he'll acknowledge that by saying it's a reality that people are up against it.
00:56But he'll also go on to say that it's one thing to rage against the system,
00:59a thinly veiled swipe at his opponents, it's another to put forward solutions and address it.
01:03So that's what the Prime Minister is really showing with this new paid prac expansion.
01:09Now these conferences happen every three years.
01:14Some of the past conferences have seen really fiery debates on the conference floor
01:19as the Labor factions seek to settle big policy debates within the party.
01:25This conference we're expecting to be a little more stage managed
01:29because the Prime Minister is trying to sort of tightly control the public debate
01:34to present the Labor Party as a more united and cohesive team,
01:39particularly at a time of, you know, shifting political landscape
01:44when we have One Nation fracturing the centre-right
01:47and a lot of disruption in politics.
01:49So it's really trying to present the Labor Party as a more united option for voters.
01:52Now, Jane, we know this is a three-day conference.
01:55Just how much influence does it have on the government itself?
01:59Well, this is a hugely influential conference
02:02because basically it's a 125-page document that delegates here are debating.
02:06And behind the scenes there is a whole, there's a huge sort of tussle over policy direction.
02:13So what this document seeks to do is lay out the policies, priorities and direction of the Labor Party.
02:18And it's the expectation of Labor members that this document is largely reflected in the government's agenda.
02:24And so, as you mentioned, we are expecting a lot of debate on AI, on gambling, on the issue of
02:28a gas tax.
02:29What's been notable about the draft platform that's been put forward to be debated at this conference
02:34is the inclusion of a line about Labor committing to ensure a fairer return from natural resources
02:41through appropriate tax arrangements.
02:43That's being seen as Labor leaving the door open to a possibility of a gas tax at some stage.
02:48There is a push for the government to go further, or for Labor to go further
02:51and actually enshrine in the platform an explicit commitment to a gas tax.
02:56And we'll see Labor MP Ed Husic make that case publicly today.
02:59The other notable inclusion, among many, I should say, is in the gambling space.
03:04The government has legislation before Parliament right now to crack down on gambling ads,
03:09but nothing relating to gambling inducements.
03:11These are things like bonus bets and cashbacks.
03:14In the platform, there is now a commitment to go further and minimise harm from inducements.
03:20And so I think what we can see here is just some signposts in this platform
03:25for policies that Labor members expect the government to be pursuing
03:29over the next few years in government.
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