Australian Labor Party

federal political party in Australia

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is one of the two major political parties in Australia. The party was formed in 1891, and is the oldest political party in Australia. It is a social democratic party with strong links to the Trade Union movement. Since 1944, their main opponents have been the Liberal Party. Since the 2022 federal election, the Labor Party became the majority government of Australia with Anthony Albanese as prime minister.

Australian Labor Party
LeaderAnthony Albanese
Deputy LeaderRichard Marles
PresidentWayne Swan[1]
National SecretaryNoah Carroll
Founded8 May 1901
Headquarters161 London Circuit, Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2600
Youth wingAustralian Young Labor
IdeologySocial democracy
Democratic socialism
Political positionCentre-left
International affiliationProgressive Alliance
Socialist International (Formerly)
House of Representatives
69 / 150
Senate
26 / 76
Website
www.alp.org.au

In the state and territory parliaments, Labor currently governs in every state and territory except Tasmania.

Group photograph of Federal Labour Party MPs elected to the Australian House of Representatives and Australian Senate at the first 1901 election, including Chris Watson, Andrew Fisher, Billy Hughes, Frank Tudor, King O'Malley and Lee Batchelor.

History

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In the 1860s the trade unions in Australia began to try to get better wages and working conditions for their members. They were defeated by employers, the legal system, and the governments of the Australian colonies. Workers soon decided that they needed to become active in politics, and make changes through parliament. The first meeting of the ALP is said to have taken place in Barcaldine, Queensland in 1891.[2] A group of shearers, who were involved in a big strike action, held a meeting in the shade of a large ghost gum (eucalyptus) tree, Corymbia aparrerinja.[3] This tree became known as the "Tree of Knowledge".[2]

ALP Prime Ministers of Australia

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Current leaders of states and territories of Australia

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References

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  1. "Wayne Swan elected Labor national president". 18 June 2018.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Australian Labor- History". alp.org.au. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  3. "Eucalypts...but not Eucalyptus". anpsa.org.au. Retrieved 19 August 2010.