Albanese declares fight for democracy amid populist threat
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The news: Prime Minister Anthony Alabanese told the British Labour Party conference in Liverpool, UK on Sunday (11:00pm AEST) that he will work with UK PM Keir Starmer to “defend democracy itself” and raised warnings about threats to the world’s “capacity for peaceful disagreement.”
The context: Albanese’s address at the conference followed official meetings with Starmer and the UK’s opposition leader Kemi Badenoch, as the UK’s PM continues to suffer in the polls. Albanese did not meet with the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, despite the far-right leader dominating British polling.
In his speech, Albanese said: “We all know this is a time when trust in governments and institutions is under challenge,” according to media reports. “We all sense this is an era when our capacity for peaceful disagreement is being tested."
“But what I see here in UK Labour is the same determination that I know lives in every member of Australian Labor. An absolute resolve to stand together and defend democracy itself.”
Albanese referred to Starmer as his “mate” and said that Australian Labor and UK Labour could meet the challenges driving voters to lean towards populist parties. “At a time when young people feel the housing market is beyond their reach, we must build the new homes and create the economic opportunity that revives the dream of home ownership,” he said.
“For cities and regions on the frontlines of economic change we must invest in the education and training that empowers people to fulfil their potential and we must build the clean energy that will power new jobs and industries.”
Albanese also told attendees that in an era where AI is transforming economies, progressive governments must stand up for secure jobs and fair wages.
Albanese was criticised by the opposition for his appearance in Liverpool given the partisan nature of the event, with Sussan Ley accusing him of “swanning around on the taxpayer dollar at Labour political conferences, hanging out with his left-wing mates.”
“If the Prime Minister wants to turn an official trip into a personal detour to the UK Labour Party conference, Australians are entitled to know how much it is costing them and whether he intends to make any personal contribution to cover it,” Ley said.
The sources: AFR, The Australian, SBS, SMH
