At the Labor Party’s national conference,the previously staunch left-winger cast himself as a consensus politician who would govern from the centre.
Despite the astronomical cost,Defence Minister Richard Marles said AUKUS is a ‘modest step’ in the face of Chinese military expansion. And his party agreed.
The national conference debate highlighted the dissent within Labor branches over the shift to nuclear-powered submarines and the stronger alliance with the US.
The party that struggled in the past to accept uranium mining now endorses nuclear power – but only on submarines. It rejects nuclear energy anywhere else.
The young speakers at Labor’s national conference had to settle for less than they wanted,but they made their presence felt. The result is a slow burn on policy change.
A push by major Left faction unions to strip out all references to the AUKUS submarine deal from Labor’s national platform is set to fail.
Two party figures say open debate at the party’s triennial conference is being shut down.
Ahead of Labor’s national conference later this week,Defence Minister Richard Marles has sought to quell dissent inside the party telling members Australia will be left “exposed” without nuclear-powered submarines.
The prime minister will face calls for greater ambition on climate change as well as questions over the AUKUS pact.
The US ambassador says Australia will be able to count on the US as a reliable ally,even if Donald Trump is elected president a second time.
The US ambassador to Australia,a member of America’s most storied political dynasty,has embraced everything from sausages and surfing to sheep and “shitboxes”.