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The Labor Party is the oldest political party in Australia, and over all those years both in and outside Government, many great things have been achieved. Things that have shaped the country and the people we are today. In our modern era of short-memories, I feel it is worth reflecting back on what has been achieved.
The Labor party did give this country its first female Prime Minister, but long before that, Labor was pivotal in ensuring women were able to vote, first in 1894 through its key support of the minority Kingston Government in South Australia, and later through its support of the minority Barton Government in 1902. These acts put us many years ahead of other countries.
Aged pensions were introduced by the Andrew Fisher led Labor government in 1909.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) was established in 1983 by the Hawke Government as a statutory body, whose functions included the re-balancing of electoral boundaries based on shifts in the population, the cornerstone of representative government. In contrast, the Conservatives have given us compulsory voting, and preferential voting (to protect the fracturing conservative vote of the time).
The Snowy River Hydro Scheme was initiated by the Chifley Labor Government in 1949. It was a landmark engineering feat, developing many world’s first practices. The scheme helped underpin a very successful post war migration program, and resulted in a valuable public asset. In 2006 the Howard Government attempted to sell this asset, but changed their mind following widespread opposition from the general public.
Conscription has always been highly controversial in Australia, it has never had majority support, and was voted down in consecutive referendums. It was introduced covertly by the Menzies government through the re-establishment of National service, with that government later sending National servicemen to the Vietnam war. National service was discontinued by the Whitlam government.
The Whitlam government was among the first Western democracies to recognise the legitimacy of the Chinese government.
The long period of economic expansion that Australia has enjoyed came about as a result of the economic reform which was led by Paul Keating when he was treasurer. Key pieces of this reform included the floating of the Australian dollar and the deregulation of the banking industry. In 1984, Keating was named world’s best finance minister.
Our current Labor government guided Australia through the GFC to its position as the world’s most healthy economy. Wayne Swan in turn earned the same accolade as Keating in 2011. No Coalition treasurer has been so recognised.
And that is just a selection of what Labor governments have achieved over the long history of the party.
It is worth reflecting on which side of politics has achieved the most, and has positioned us the best for where we want to be as a nation.
Share with us the Labor reform which you feel has been of greatest importance to our Nation.