The Australian Labor Party is Australia’s oldest political party.
It was formed in the 1890s and was represented in the first Federal Parliament elected in 1901. It is the only party to have been continuously represented since that time.
Since 1901, the ALP has governed at the Federal level for just 38 years. Thirteen of those years (1983-1996) were under Bob Hawke and Paul Keating. Eight years (1941-1949) were under John Curtin and Ben Chifley. Six years (2007-2013) were under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. Gough Whitlam governed for three years (1972-1975).
The party has experienced 3 traumatic splits (1917, 1931 and 1955) which debilitated it and kept it out of office for many years.
The current leader of the federal ALP, and Leader of the Opposition, is Anthony Albanese. He was elected unopposed to the position on May 27, 2019. He replaced Bill Shorten, following the ALP’s defeat at the May 18, 2019 elections. Shorten had been leader since October 2013.
- ALP Federal Election Results Since 1910 – tables showing results for the ALP at every election since 1910, including the number of seats won in the House, the two-party-preferred vote and the primary vote.
Party Organisation
- 2015 – National Constitution
- ALP Pledge and Proscribed organisations
- Unions affiliated to the ALP in Victoria
- Role and Composition of the ALP National Executive
- 2002 – Whitlam Proposes Major ALP Reforms
- 2000 – Victorian ALP Members’ Handbook
Party History
- The Founding of the ALP Caucus
- 2001 – “True Believers” – Kim Beazley’s speech at the launch of the history of the ALP Caucus
ALP Philosophy & Values
- 1949 – Ben Chifley’s Light on the Hill Speech
- 1998 – Gareth Evans on Labor Values
- 2001 – Labor Values: An interview with Kim Beazley in which he speaks of Labor values
- 2002 – The Fabian Society And The Labor Tradition: Speech By Simon Crean
ALP Policies
ALP policies are determined at State and National Conferences. The National Conference, now held once every parliamentary term, is the supreme policy-making body of the party. Its decisions are theoretically binding on the elected ALP members of parliament.
Personnel
- Sep 13, 2016: 2016 Shorten Shadow Ministry (revised)
- Sep 13, 2016: ALP Shadow Ministry – Statistical Analysis (revised)
- Jul 23, 2016: 2016 Shorten Shadow Ministry
- Jul 23, 2016: ALP Shadow Ministry – Statistical Analysis
- Apr 11, 2016: The Ages of the Shorten Shadow Ministers
- Oct 18, 2013: 2013 Shorten Shadow Ministry
- Dec 08, 2003: 2003 Latham Shadow Ministry
- Jul 02, 2003: 2003 Crean Shadow Ministry
- Aug 23, 2002: 2002 Crean Shadow Ministry
- Feb 27, 2001: 2001 Beazley Shadow Ministry
- Mar 19, 1996: 1996 Beazley Shadow Ministry
ALP Official Web Sites
- National
- Victoria
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Australian Capital Territory
Archived News Items
- Mar 02, 2023: 1996 Federal Election Count – 27 Years Ago
- Aug 31, 2020: Kristy McBain (ALP – Eden-Monaro) – Maiden Speech
- Aug 27, 2020: Anthony Albanese Address to the National Press Club
- Sep 10, 2019: Graham Freudenberg Tribute – Anthony Albanese
- Sep 10, 2019: Elizabeth Coker (ALP-Corangamite) – Maiden Speech
- Aug 01, 2019: David Smith (ALP-Bean) – Maiden Speech
- Aug 01, 2019: Dr Daniel Mulino (ALP-Fraser) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 31, 2019: Sen. Nita Green (ALP-Qld) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 31, 2019: Sen. Tony Sheldon (ALP-NSW) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 30, 2019: Sen. Tim Ayres (ALP-NSW) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 30, 2019: Fiona Phillips (ALP-Gilmore) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 24, 2019: Sen. Raff Ciccone (ALP-Vic) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 24, 2019: Alicia Payne (ALP-Canberra) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 24, 2019: Kate Thwaites (ALP-Jagajaga) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 24, 2019: Peta Murphy (ALP-Dunkley) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 22, 2019: Anika Wells (ALP-Lilley) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 22, 2019: Josh Burns (ALP-Macnamara) – Maiden Speech
- Nov 24, 2018: Daniel Andrews Claims Victory As Labor Wins Landslide Re-Election In Victoria
- Jun 27, 2018: Sen. David Smith (ALP-ACT) – Maiden Speech
- May 24, 2018: Speaker Sets July 28 As Date For Five By-Elections; Opposition Outraged
- May 21, 2018: Ged Kearney (ALP-Batman) – Maiden Speech
- May 14, 2018: 1911 Was The Last Time A Government Won A Seat From The Opposition. Oh, Really?
- Mar 27, 2018: Sen. Kristina Keneally (ALP-NSW) – Maiden Speech
- Feb 15, 2018: Sen. Kristina Keneally (ALP-NSW) Sworn In
- Sep 05, 2017: Doug Everingham Condolences
- Sep 04, 2017: Shorten Releases Proof Of Renunciation Of British Citizenship
- Sep 04, 2017: Doug Everingham Condolences: House Remembers Whitlam Minister
- May 10, 2017: Women In The 45th Australian Parliament
- Apr 01, 2017: Who’s Left – The Surviving Members Of Every House Of Representatives Since 1949
- Mar 17, 2017: Western Australian McGowan Labor Government: Full Cabinet List
- Feb 25, 2017: Victorian Speaker Telmo Languiller Resigns Over Expenses Scandal
- Feb 07, 2017: Current Federal Parliamentary Leaders
- Jan 31, 2017: Bill Shorten: National Press Club Address
- Jan 13, 2017: Keating Warns Against Tillerson’s South China Sea Adventurism
- Dec 08, 2016: Success And Failure: The ALP’s Results In Federal Elections Since 1910
- Nov 30, 2016: Chris Bowen: The End Of Australian Exceptionalism?
- Nov 09, 2016: Sen. Kimberley Kitching (ALP-Vic) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 16, 2016: Stephen Conroy Announces Resignation From Senate In Undelivered Speech
- Sep 15, 2016: Final Two-Party Figures: Coalition Won 2016 Election With 50.36%; Swing To Labor Of 3.13%
- Sep 14, 2016: Mike Freelander (ALP-Macarthur) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 14, 2016: Sen. Malarndirri McCarthy (ALP-NT) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 14, 2016: Susan Templeman (ALP-Macquarie) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 14, 2016: Brian Mitchell (ALP-Lyons) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 13, 2016: Justine Keay (ALP-Braddon) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 13, 2016: Sen. Murray Watt (ALP-Qld) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 13, 2016: Shorten ALP Shadow Ministry – Statistical Analysis (Revised)
- Sep 13, 2016: Shorten Announces Minor Changes To Shadow Ministry; O’Neill Promoted
- Sep 13, 2016: Julian Hill (ALP-Bruce) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 13, 2016: Government And ALP Agree On Budget Repair Deal
- Sep 12, 2016: Cathy O’Toole (ALP-Herbert) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 12, 2016: Josh Wilson (ALP-Fremantle) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 12, 2016: Anne Aly (ALP-Cowan) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 12, 2016: Emma Husar (ALP-Lindsay) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 12, 2016: Peter Khalil (ALP-Wills) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 12, 2016: Shorten And Bandt Introduce Bills To Legalise Same-Sex Marriage
- Sep 07, 2016: Chris Bowen: The Case For Openness
- Sep 07, 2016: Dastyari Resigns From ALP Frontbench
- Sep 06, 2016: Dastyari Apologises, Regrets Actions: Unimpressive Media Conference
- Sep 02, 2016: How The Turnbull Government Lost Control Of The House
- Sep 01, 2016: Senator Patrick Dodson (ALP-WA) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 01, 2016: Mike Kelly (ALP – Eden-Monaro) – Second Maiden Speech
- Sep 01, 2016: Ross Hart (ALP-Bass) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 01, 2016: Senate Passes Resolution Calling For Royal Commission Into Banking Industry
- Aug 31, 2016: Steve Georganas (ALP-Hindmarsh) – Second First Speech
- Aug 31, 2016: Luke Gosling (ALP-Solomon) – Maiden Speech
- Aug 31, 2016: Linda Burney (ALP-Barton) – Maiden Speech
- Aug 31, 2016: Dastyari Statement On Top Education Payments; Bernardi On The Attack
- Aug 31, 2016: Coalition-Labor Deal On Rotation Of Members Confirmed By Senate
- Aug 30, 2016: 45th Parliament Opens; Members And Senators Sworn In; House Speaker And Senate President Re-Elected Unopposed
- Aug 30, 2016: Current Federal Parliamentary Leaders
- Aug 29, 2016: Xenophon Senators Will Oppose Same-Sex Marriage Plebiscite; Senate Now Seems Certain To Oppose Poll
- Aug 24, 2016: Bill Shorten Address To The National Press Club
- Aug 24, 2016: 2016 House Of Representatives Primary Votes: State-By-State Breakdown
- Aug 22, 2016: 2016 Senate Votes: A Higher But Fragmented Vote For Minor And Micro Parties
- Aug 21, 2016: The New Senate: The Defeated, The Retired, The New And The Returning
- Aug 20, 2016: MPs Who Won Their Seats On First Preferences In The 2016 Federal Election
- Aug 19, 2016: 2016 Primary Vote Winners, Preference Vote Losers
- Aug 17, 2016: Election Funding Payments: 2016 Federal Election
- Aug 17, 2016: Seats Changing Hands At The 2016 Federal Election
- Aug 12, 2016: Government And ALP Agree On Senate Terms; First Elected To Get 6 Years
- Aug 11, 2016: Shorten On Census: A Failure To Take Responsibility And A Failure Of Leadership
- Aug 10, 2016: Shorten Says Incompetent Turnbull Government Is Undermining Faith In Australian Institutions
- Aug 10, 2016: Andrew Leigh: “If They Can’t Manage The Census, How Can They Manage The Other Arms Of Government?”
- Aug 07, 2016: 2016 Federal Election: The Oncers Who Have Become Twicers
- Aug 04, 2016: Getting Things Done In The New Senate
- Aug 04, 2016: One Nation Wins Another Seat In NSW; Coalition Loses One More, Leyonhjelm Returns; Crossbench Grows To 20
- Aug 04, 2016: One Nation Wins Two Queensland Senate Seats; Coalition Loses Ground; ALP And Greens Unchanged
- Aug 03, 2016: Victorian Senate Results Finalised; Liberals Gain 1, Greens Keep 2, Hinch Elected
- Aug 02, 2016: South Australian Senate Results Finalised; Xenophon Soars As Liberals, ALP And Greens Lose Ground; Bob Day Re-Elected
- Aug 01, 2016: ACT Senate Results Finalised: One-All, No Change
- Aug 01, 2016: Western Australian Senate Results Finalised; One Nation Wins Second Seat
- Jul 31, 2016: New Members Of The House Of Representatives
- Jul 31, 2016: ALP Wins Herbert By 37 Votes; Turnbull Government Re-Elected With Barest Majority Of 76 Seats
- Jul 27, 2016: Tasmanian Senate Results Finalised; ALP, Liberals, Greens And Lambie Take All 12 Seats
- Jul 27, 2016: Election Funding Payments: 2016 Federal Election
- Jul 25, 2016: Northern Territory Senate Results Finalised: One Each To ALP And CLP
- Jul 23, 2016: ALP Shadow Ministry 2016 – Statistical Analysis
- Jul 23, 2016: Shorten Announces ALP Shadow Ministry Portfolio Allocations
- Jul 22, 2016: ALP Caucus Elects Expanded Shadow Ministry Of 32; Carr Survives
- Jul 19, 2016: Herbert Heads For Recount With ALP 8 Votes Ahead
- Jul 15, 2016: LNP Lead Slips To 12 Votes In Herbert; Current Preference Flows Suggest ALP Win By 55 Votes (…Or Perhaps Not)
- Jul 15, 2016: Bill Shorten Re-Elected Unopposed As Federal ALP Leader
- Jul 14, 2016: Herbert Still Too Close To Call; LNP Leads By 44 Votes
- Jul 14, 2016: The 120 Seats That Swung To The ALP In The Federal Election
- Jul 13, 2016: ALP Claims Hindmarsh, Now Holds 68 Seats; LNP Takes Lead In Herbert, Last Undecided Seat
- Jul 13, 2016: National Swing To ALP Currently 3.17%; Swings To ALP In Every State And Territory
- Jul 12, 2016: Turnbull Seems Set For Floor Majority Of Three In 45th Parliament
- Jul 11, 2016: Coalition Secures Absolute Majority Of 76; Labor Claims Cowan; Just Two Seats Still Undecided
- Jul 11, 2016: Is Melbourne Ports Going To Be The Surprise Result In The Election?
- Jul 10, 2016: As Turnbull Claims Election Victory, Coalition Seems On Track For 76 Seats
- Jul 10, 2016: Bill Shorten Concedes Defeat In Federal Election
- Jul 10, 2016: Informal Vote Declines In Federal Election; Sydney Again Records Highest Rates
- Jul 08, 2016: Government’s Victory Assured But Still No Definite Results In Key Seats
- Jul 07, 2016: Turnbull Government Returned To Office, But Majority Or Minority Status Still Not Clear
- Jul 07, 2016: Which Seats Have Changed Hands So Far In The Federal Election?
- Jul 06, 2016: Undecided Seats: Turnbull Edges Towards Narrow Victory
- Jul 05, 2016: Update On Undecided Seats – Hung Parliament Looks Most Likely
- Jul 03, 2016: House Of Representatives Undecided Seats: Latest Figures
- Jul 03, 2016: Provisional List Of House Of Representatives Seat Winners
- Jul 03, 2016: Turnbull Likely To Win Narrowly As Voters Punish Coalition; ALP Secures Nationwide Swing Of 3.18% But Falls Short
- Jun 26, 2016: Minutes After Turnbull Launch, ALP Releases Its Election Costings
- Jun 25, 2016: Get To Know Bill: ALP Election Advertisement
- Jun 19, 2016: Bill Shorten Delivers ALP Policy Speech At Penrith Campaign Launch
- Jun 19, 2016: ALP Ad: Labor’s Positive Plan For The Economy
- Jun 18, 2016: Another Medicare Advertisement From The ALP
- Jun 17, 2016: Facebook Leaders’ Debate: Turnbull And Shorten
- Jun 15, 2016: The Greening Of Labor: Liberals Step Up Attack On Greens Influence
- Jun 14, 2016: ALP Victoria: Statewide How-To-Vote Guide
- Jun 13, 2016: Bill Shorten Appears On QandA
- Jun 12, 2016: ALP – Cowper (NSW) How-To-Vote Card
- Jun 12, 2016: Election Gets Willing As Preference Deals Announced; Turnbull Says Libs Will Put Greens Last
- Jun 12, 2016: Bob Hawke Does Medicare Advertisement For ALP Campaign
- Jun 11, 2016: A Cautionary Tale: Senate Votes In The 2013 Federal Election
- Jun 10, 2016: Parties And Groups Contesting The Senate In The 2016 Federal Election
- Jun 10, 2016: Breakdown Of House Nominations: 2016 Federal Election
- Jun 10, 2016: Nominations – House of Representatives & Senate 2016
- Jun 09, 2016: Election Nominations: Three MPs Who Blundered Their Way Out Of Parliament
- Jun 05, 2016: The 1983 Australian Federal Election: Funfillums
- May 31, 2016: Labor’s Foreign Policy: Tanya Plibersek Speech To Lowy Institute
- May 27, 2016: Treasurers Debate: Scott Morrison And Chris Bowen At The National Press Club
- May 25, 2016: David Feeney’s ALP Talking Points Document
- May 09, 2016: “Our Policy Is Clear” – Liberals Pounce On ALP’s Border Protection Dissension
- May 08, 2016: 2016 Federal Election: The First ALP TV Advertisement
- May 08, 2016: Shorten’s Response To July 2 Election Announcement: “We Have Positive Plans”
- May 08, 2016: Malcolm Turnbull Formally Announces July 2 Double Dissolution Election
- May 05, 2016: Bill Shorten Delivers ALP Budget Reply Speech As 44th Parliament Ends
- May 04, 2016: Minor Changes To Opposition Shadow Ministry; Dodson Promoted To Executive In First Week As A Senator
- Apr 27, 2016: Victorian Budget Delivered: Big Surplus, Capital Works, Transport Projects
- Apr 27, 2016: ALP Releases Climate Change Policy
- Apr 11, 2016: The Ages Of The Shorten ALP Shadow Ministry
