The surging One Nation was front of mind for Labor faithful attending their national conference on Thursday, with leaders lining up to take aim at the party and the federal opposition.

South Australian Premier Malinauskas opened the gathering in Adelaide with a jab at One Nation deputy leader Barnaby Joyce’s appearance on the ABC’s 7.30 earlier this week.

“In an erratic world filled with ill-discipline and division, we’ve been reminded this week of that time-honoured political truth: If you can’t govern your dog, you can’t govern the country,” Malinauskas said, in reference to Joyce interrupting the tense interview with journalist Sarah Ferguson to yell at his dog to “Sit down!”.

The Labor Party gathering, held about once every three years, comes as the government seeks to fend off a challenge from One Nation, which has recorded surging support during 2026 among voters disillusioned with the major parties.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ­– who took a stumble earlier when an escalator suddenly stopped as he entered the venue ­– took the stage to the tune of GANGgajang’s 1985 pop rock Sounds of Then (This is Australia).

During his opening speech, he took aim at One Nation, referencing its “personality clashes, policy confusion, conspiracy theories, and candidate chaos”.

He also claimed that “regardless of who leads the Liberals to the next election, in every way that matters, the Liberals, Nationals, and One Nation are already a coalition”.

“All those attention-seeking culture wars imported from overseas, all those trips around the world to talk Australia down, cannot disguise the fact that none of them have anything new or anything positive to offer our country,” he said.

Albanese said it was up to Labor to show the difference its government was making to people’s lives, rather than just airing grievances.

“People’s genuine frustrations deserve a practical response, not just an emotional one,” he said on Thursday.

“You can go a long way in politics, for a long time, by raging against a system that you are part of, without a plan to fix it … that doesn’t build anything.”

Albanese announced a new Fair Work Court, saying it would working with the Fair Work Commission to resolve disputes faster and more cheaply.

Expanded paid health placements were also promised, with students in 10 more study areas – including physiotherapy, clinical psychology, speech pathology, paramedics, audiology –eligible to receive $338.60 a week when they do practical placements.

While the 50th Labor conference is not expected to be confrontational, several major policy issues will be on the agenda for debate.

Among them will be artificial intelligence protections, gas taxes, gambling reform and the party’s support for the Palestinian cause. Attendees at the conference will agree on party positions, but it will be up to Labor’s parliamentary team to determine how, and when, the measures are implemented.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers told the conference Labor was the only remaining mainstream party, adding that ongoing reform was critical for success with voters.

“We are the last ones standing in the sensible centre of Australian politics but we aren’t standing still,” he said.

Tax changes in the budget, aimed at making housing more affordable, were an example.

“It’s how we address the very real and legitimate concerns people have about their place in our economy, democracy and society,” he said. “The Liberals, Nationals and One Nation would be the worst possible coalition of callous and chaos.”

–InDaily /  AAP