When Anthony Albanese addressed delegates to close the weekend’s 50th Labor Party conference on Saturday, he was triumphant.
The prime minister — the ultimate backroom negotiator — had demonstrated his mastery of the party’s internal processes, managing three days of debate among 400 delegates representing unions, factions and the rank and file without a major policy blow-up.
There wasn’t a single contested vote. Every issue was resolved on the voices, without the need to count ballots.
“In my view, this is the most purposeful and united national conference I have attended since I joined the Labor Party back in 1979,” the prime minister said.
