View source for Australian Labor Party

{{Short description|Federal political party in Australia}}
{{About|the federal Labor Party|state and territory Labor parties|List of state and territory branches of the Australian Labor Party}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Australian Labor Party
| logo_size        = 200px
| colorcode        = {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}
| logo             = ALP logo 2017.svg
| abbreviation     = ALP
| slogan           = ''Building Australia's Future''
| leader1_title    = [[Leaders of the Australian Labor Party#Federal leadership|Leader]]
| leader1_name     = [[Anthony Albanese]]
| leader2_title    = [[Leaders of the Australian Labor Party#Deputy Leader|Deputy Leader]]
| leader2_name     = [[Richard Marles]]
| leader3_title    = [[Leaders of the Australian Labor Party#Senate Leader|Senate Leader]]
| leader3_name     = [[Penny Wong]]
| leader4_title    = [[Australian Labor Party National Executive#National Presidents|National President]]
| leader4_name     = [[Wayne Swan]]<ref>{{cite web |title=National Executive |url=https://www.alp.org.au/about/national-executive/ |website=Australian Labor Party |access-date=30 September 2021 |archive-date=28 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928144722/https://www.alp.org.au/about/national-executive/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| leader5_title    = [[Australian Labor Party National Executive#National Secretaries|National Secretary]]
| leader5_name     = [[Paul Erickson (politician)|Paul Erickson]]
| foundation       = {{ubl|'''Oldest branches:'''<br />{{start date and age|1891}}|'''[[Australian Labor Party Caucus|Federal Caucus]]:'''<br />{{start date and age|df=y|1901|05|08}}}}
| headquarters     = 5/9 Sydney Avenue, [[Barton, Australian Capital Territory|Barton]], Australian Capital Territory
| womens_wing      = [[#Networks|Labor Women's Network]]
| youth_wing       = [[Australian Young Labor]]
| wing2_title      = Indigenous wing
| wing2            = [[#Networks|Aboriginal Labor Network]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alp.org.au/media/3572/alp-national-constitution-adopted-19-august-2023.pdf|title=ALP national Constitution 2024|website=alp.org.au|access-date=23 November 2024|archive-date=10 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110044643/https://www.alp.org.au/media/3572/alp-national-constitution-adopted-19-august-2023.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| wing3_title      = Overseas wing
| wing3            = [[#Networks|ALP Abroad]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alpabroad.org/|title=ALP Abroad|website=alpabroad.org|access-date=21 September 2023|archive-date=22 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922140834/https://alpabroad.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| blank1_title     = [[Governing body]]
| blank1           = [[Australian Labor Party National Executive|National Executive]]
| blank2_title     = [[Parliamentary group|Parliamentary party]]
| blank2           = [[Australian Labor Party Caucus|Caucus]]
| blank3_title     = Party branches
| blank3           = {{hlist|[[ACT Labor Party|ACT]]|[[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]]|[[Territory Labor Party|NT]]|[[Queensland Labor Party|Qld]]|[[South Australian Labor Party|SA]]|[[Tasmanian Labor Party|Tas]]|[[Victorian Labor Party|Vic]]|[[Western Australian Labor Party|WA]]}}
| affiliation2_title = [[#Factions|Factions]]
| affiliation2     = [[Labor Left]]<br>[[Labor Right]]
| think_tank       = [[Chifley Research Centre]]
| membership       = {{Increase}} 60,085<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Anne |title=Party hardly: why Australia's big political parties are struggling to compete with grassroots campaigns |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/13/party-hardly-why-australias-big-political-parties-are-struggling-to-compete-with-grassroots-campaigns?CMP=soc_567 |website=The Guardian |access-date=13 December 2020 |language=en |date=13 December 2020 |archive-date=11 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011171753/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/13/party-hardly-why-australias-big-political-parties-are-struggling-to-compete-with-grassroots-campaigns?CMP=soc_567 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| membership_year  = 2020
| ideology         = <!-- It is important to seek and gain broad consensus on the article talk page before changing this --> [[Social democracy]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=McAllister |first=Ian |date=February 1991 |title=Party Adaptation and Factionalism within the Australian Party System |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2111444 |journal=American Journal of Political Science |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=206–227 |doi=10.2307/2111444 |jstor=2111444 |access-date=4 September 2024|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
| position         = <!-- It is important to seek and gain broad consensus on the article talk page before changing this --> [[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]]
| national         = 
| international    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Progressive Alliance]]
* [[Socialist International]] (1966–2014)
}}
| colours          = {{color box|{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Political colour#Red|Red]]
| seats1_title     = [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
| seats1           = {{composition bar|94|150|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[Australian Senate|Senate]] 
| seats2           = {{composition bar|29|76|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| seats3_title     = State/territory governments
| seats3           = {{composition bar|5|8|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| seats4           = {{composition bar|267|465|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| seats4_title     = State/territory lower houses
| seats5           = {{composition bar|65|156|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| seats5_title     = State upper houses
| website          = {{URL|https://alp.org.au|alp.org.au}}
| country          = Australia
| wing1            = [[#Networks|Rainbow Labor]]<ref name="ALPOrganisationalPolices">{{cite web |title=Organisational Polices |url=https://www.alp.org.au/media/3571/alp-organisational-policies-adopted-19-august-2023.pdf |website=alp.org.au |publisher=Australian Labor Party |access-date=2 December 2024 |ref=Yes}}</ref>
| wing1_title      = LGBT wing
}}
The '''Australian Labor Party''' ('''ALP'''), also known as the '''Labor Party''' or simply '''Labor''', is the major [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]] [[List of political parties in Australia|political party in Australia]] and one of two [[Major party|major parties]] in [[Politics of Australia|Australian politics]],<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Australian-Labor-Party |title=Australian Labor Party |encyclopedia=Britannica |access-date=6 November 2021 |language=en |archive-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214202332/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Australian-Labor-Party |url-status=live }}</ref> along with the [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] [[Liberal Party of Australia]]. The party has been in government since the [[2022 Australian federal election|2022 federal election]], and with [[List of state and territory branches of the Australian Labor Party|political branches]] active in all the [[States and territories of Australia|Australian states and territories]], they currently hold government in [[New South Wales]], [[South Australia]], [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], [[Western Australia]], and the [[Australian Capital Territory]]. As of 2025, [[Queensland]], [[Tasmania]] and [[Northern Territory]] are the only states or territories where Labor currently forms the opposition. It is the oldest continuously operating political party in [[History of Australia|Australian history]], having been established on 8 May 1901 at [[Parliament House, Melbourne]], the meeting place of the first [[Parliament of Australia|Federal Parliament]].

The ALP is descended from the labour parties founded in the various Australian colonies by the emerging [[Australian labour movement|labour movement]]. Colonial Labour parties contested seats from 1891, and began contesting federal seats following [[Federation of Australia|Federation]] at the [[1901 Australian federal election|1901 federal election]]. In 1904, the ALP briefly formed what is considered the world's first [[List of Labour parties|labour party]] government and the world's first [[Democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] or [[Social democracy|social democratic]] government at a national level.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rhodes |first=Campbell |url=https://moadoph.gov.au/blog/a-perfect-picture-of-the-statesman-john-christian-watson/ |title=A perfect picture of the statesman: John Christian Watson |publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy |date=27 April 1904 |access-date=19 September 2017 |archive-date=2 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162747/https://moadoph.gov.au/blog/a-perfect-picture-of-the-statesman-john-christian-watson/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At the [[1910 Australian federal election|1910 federal election]], Labor became the first party in Australia to win a majority in either house of the Australian parliament. In every election since 1910 Labor has either served as the governing party or the opposition. There have been 13 Labor prime ministers and 10 periods of federal Labor governments, including under [[Billy Hughes]] from 1915 to 1916, [[James Scullin]] from 1929 to 1932, [[John Curtin]] from 1941 to 1945, [[Ben Chifley]] from 1945 to 1949, [[Gough Whitlam]] from 1972 to 1975, [[Bob Hawke]] from 1983 to 1991, [[Paul Keating]] from 1991 to 1996, [[Kevin Rudd]] from 2007 to 2010 and 2013, [[Julia Gillard]] from 2010 to 2013, and [[Anthony Albanese]] since 2022.

The Labor Party is often called the party of unions due to its close ties to the [[Australian labour movement|labour movement in Australia]] and historical founding by trade unions, with the majority of Australian trade unions being affiliated with the Labor Party. The party's structure allocates 50% of delegate representation at state and national conferences to affiliated unions, with the remaining 50% to rank-and-file party members.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/953976806 |title=Left-of-centre parties and trade unions in the twenty-first century |date=2017 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-879047-1 |editor-last=Allern |editor-first=Elin Haugsgjerd |edition=1st |location=Oxford |pages=58 |oclc=953976806 |editor-last2=Bale |editor-first2=Tim}}</ref> At the federal and state/colony level, the Australian Labor Party predates both the [[Labour Party (UK)|British Labour Party]] and the [[New Zealand Labour Party]] in party formation, government, and policy implementation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australianpolitics.com/political-parties/alp|title=Australian Labor Party|website=AustralianPolitics.com|date=6 October 2013|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=10 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110050258/http://australianpolitics.com/political-parties/alp|url-status=live}}</ref> Internationally, the ALP is a member of the [[Progressive Alliance]], a network of [[Progressivism|progressive]], [[Democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] and [[Social democracy|social democratic]] parties,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://progressive-alliance.info/participants/ |title = Participants |publisher=Progressive Alliance |access-date = 11 June 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150302142054/http://progressive-alliance.info/participants/ |archive-date=2 March 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> having previously been a member of the [[Socialist International]].{{TOC limit|3}}

== Name and spelling ==
In standard [[Australian English]], the word [[wikt:labour|''labour'']] is spelt with a ''u''. However, the political party uses the spelling ''Labor'', without a ''u''. There was originally no standardised spelling of the party's name, with ''Labor'' and ''Labour'' both in common usage. According to [[Ross McMullin]], who wrote an official history of the Labor Party, the title page of the proceedings of the [[Australian Labor Party National Conference|Federal Conference]] used the spelling "Labor" in 1902, "Labour" in 1905 and 1908, and then "Labor" from 1912 onwards.{{sfn|McMullin|1991|p=ix}} In 1908, [[James Catts]] put forward a motion at the Federal Conference that "the name of the party be the Australian Labour Party", which was carried by 22 votes to 2. A separate motion recommending state branches adopt the name was defeated. There was no uniformity of party names until 1918 when the Federal party resolved that state branches should adopt the name "Australian Labor Party", now spelt without a ''u''. Each state branch had previously used a different name, due to their different origins.{{sfn|McMullin|1991|p=116}}{{efn|According to ''[[The Australian Worker]]'', in 1918 the state parties comprised the Political Labor League (New South Wales), the Queensland Labor Party, the United Labor Party (South Australia), the Workers' Political Labor League (Tasmania), the Political Labor Council (Victoria), and the Australian Labor Federation (Western Australia).<ref>{{cite news |url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/72188541 |title = 'The Australian Labor Party: Labor's Uniform Name |newspaper = [[The Australian Worker]] |date = 12 December 1918 |access-date = 15 May 2020 |archive-date = 2 April 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162807/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/72188541 |url-status = live }}</ref> However, according to the ''[[South Australian Register]]'', the state parties in New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria had already adopted the standardised name by 1917.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60323264 |title = What's in a Name? |newspaper = [[South Australian Register]] |date = 15 September 1917 |access-date = 15 May 2020 |archive-date = 2 April 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162809/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60323264 |url-status = live }}</ref>}}

Although the ALP officially adopted the spelling without a ''u'', it took decades for the official spelling to achieve widespread acceptance.<ref>{{cite book |quote = The Commonwealth conference of the party adopted the spelling 'Labor' in the official title of the Labor Party, but the parliamentary debates did not follow suit. Thereafter the debates recorded the same proceedings with different spellings, and it was many years before the spelling 'Labor' was accepted officially or used consistently in print. |first = Frank |last = Crowley |title = Big John Forrest: A Founding Father of the Commonwealth of Australia |publisher = UWA Press |year = 2000 |page = 394 }}</ref>{{efn|In 1954, Labor MP [[Ted Johnson (politician)|Ted Johnson]] complained in the [[Parliament of Western Australia]] that both ''[[Hansard]]'' and the daily newspapers were still using the spelling "Labour".<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Hansard/hansard1870to1995.nsf/0/1cc22d0f70c1928948257a41000ff21d/$FILE/19540707_Assembly.pdf |publisher = Hansard / Parliament of Western Australia |date = 7 July 1954 |title = Australian Labour Party, as to spelling of "Labour" |page = 302 |access-date = 20 November 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181120095713/http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Hansard/hansard1870to1995.nsf/0/1cc22d0f70c1928948257a41000ff21d/$FILE/19540707_Assembly.pdf |archive-date = 20 November 2018 |url-status = dead }}</ref> As late as the 1980s, historian [[Finlay Crisp]] used the spelling "Labour" in academic works about the party.<ref>Crisp, Finlay (1978) [1951]. ''The Australian Federal Labour Party, 1901–1951''.</ref><ref>Crisp, Finlay; Atkinson, Barbara (1981). ''Australian Labour Party Federal Parliamentarians, 1901–1981''.</ref>}} According to McMullin, "the way the spelling of 'Labor Party' was consolidated had more to do with the chap who ended up being in charge of printing the federal conference report than any other reason".<ref>{{cite journal |journal = Papers on Parliament |publisher = [[Australian Parliamentary Library]] |url = https://www.aph.gov.au/~/~/link.aspx?_id=0C7E239290F64DD8BD55C6C1E9F185EA&_z=z |title = First in the World: Australia's Watson Labor government |last = McMullin |first = Ross |author-link = Ross McMullin |year = 2006 |issue = 44 |access-date = 15 May 2020 |archive-date = 10 May 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200510045446/https://www.aph.gov.au/~/~/link.aspx?_id=0C7E239290F64DD8BD55C6C1E9F185EA&_z=z |url-status = live }}</ref> Some sources have attributed the official choice of ''Labor'' to influence from [[King O'Malley]], who was born in the United States and was reputedly an advocate of [[English-language spelling reform]]; the spelling without a ''u'' is the standard form in [[American English]].<ref>{{cite book |title = Andrew Fisher: An Underestimated Man |first = Peter |last = Bastian |year=2009 |publisher=UNSW Press |page = 372 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-23079177 |title=Disemvowelled |work=BBC News |date=27 June 2013 |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-date=2 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162743/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-23079177 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Andrew Scott, who wrote "Running on Empty: 'Modernising' the British and Australian Labour Parties", suggests that the adoption of the spelling without a ''u'' "signified one of the ALP's earliest attempts at modernisation", and served the purpose of differentiating the party from the [[Australian labour movement]] as a whole and distinguishing it from other British Empire labour parties. The decision to include the word "Australian" in the party's name, rather than just "[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]" as in the United Kingdom, Scott attributes to "the greater importance of nationalism for the founders of the colonial parties".<ref>{{cite book |url = https://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30034395/scott-runningonempty-2000.pdf |publisher = Pluto Press |first = Andrew |last = Scott |year = 2000 |title = Running on Empty: 'Modernising' the British and Australian Labour Parties |page = 39 |access-date = 20 November 2018 |archive-date = 11 April 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190411203148/https://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30034395/scott-runningonempty-2000.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref>

== History ==
{{main|History of the Australian Labor Party}}

[[File:StateLibQld 1 46636 After the swearing in of the Dawson ministry of the Labor Party Brisbane, Queensland.jpg|thumb|left|[[Anderson Dawson]]'s ministry leaving [[Parliament House, Brisbane]], after being sworn in on 1 December 1899. His was the first government formed by a Labour party in the world]]
The Australian Labor Party has its origins in the Labour parties founded in the 1890s in the Australian colonies prior to federation. Labor tradition ascribes the founding of Queensland Labour to a meeting of striking pastoral workers under a ghost gum tree (the [[Tree of Knowledge (Australia)|Tree of Knowledge]]) in [[Barcaldine, Queensland|Barcaldine]], Queensland in 1891. The [[1891 Australian shearers' strike|1891 shearers' strike]] is credited as being one of the factors for the formation of the Australian Labor Party. On 9 September 1892 the ''Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party'' was read out under the well known [[Tree of Knowledge (Australia)|Tree of Knowledge]] at Barcaldine following the Great Shearers' Strike.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-08|title=125th anniversary of the Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party |url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/125th-anniversary-manifesto-queensland-labour-party|access-date=2021-03-23|website=State Library Of Queensland|language=en|archive-date=11 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211195940/https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/125th-anniversary-manifesto-queensland-labour-party|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[State Library of Queensland]] now holds the manifesto;<ref>{{SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/charles-seymour-papers-1880-1924-treasure-collection-john-oxley-library|title=Charles Seymour Papers 1880–1924: Treasure collection of the John Oxley Library|date=8 November 2021|author(s)=Anne Scheu|access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=OM69-18 Charles Seymour Papers 1880–1924|url=http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=slq_alma21148463600002061&vid=SLQ&search_scope=DT&tab=dt&lang=en_US&context=L|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-23|website=State Library of Queensland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109054559/http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=slq_alma21148463600002061&vid=SLQ&search_scope=DT&tab=dt&lang=en_US&context=L |archive-date=9 November 2021 }}</ref> in 2008 the historic document was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Australian Register<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party, 1892 |url=https://www.amw.org.au/register/listings/manifesto-queensland-labour-party-1892|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Australian Memory of the World|archive-date=29 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329200053/https://www.amw.org.au/register/listings/manifesto-queensland-labour-party-1892|url-status=live}}</ref>&nbsp;and, in 2009, the document was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World International Register.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party to the people of Queensland (dated 9 September 1892) |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/memory-of-the-world/register/full-list-of-registered-heritage/registered-heritage-page-5/manifesto-of-the-queensland-labour-party-to-the-people-of-queensland-dated-9-september-1892/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=UNESCO|archive-date=31 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331174524/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/memory-of-the-world/register/full-list-of-registered-heritage/registered-heritage-page-5/manifesto-of-the-queensland-labour-party-to-the-people-of-queensland-dated-9-september-1892|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Balmain, New South Wales|Balmain]], New South Wales branch of the party claims to be the oldest in Australia. However, the Scone Branch has a receipt for membership fees for the Labour Electoral League dated April 1891. This predates the Balmain claim. This can be attested in the Centenary of the ALP book.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} Labour as a parliamentary party dates from 1891 in [[New South Wales Labor Party|New South Wales]] and [[South Australian Labor Party|South Australia]], 1893 in Queensland, and later in the other colonies.

The first election contested by Labour candidates was the [[1891 New South Wales colonial election|1891 New South Wales election]], when Labour candidates (then called the Labor Electoral League of New South Wales) won 35 of 141 seats. The major parties were the [[Protectionist Party|Protectionist]] and [[Free Trade Party|Free Trade]] parties and Labour held the [[Balance of power (parliament)|balance of power]]. It offered parliamentary support in exchange for policy concessions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McMullen |first1=Ross |year=2004 |title=So Monstrous a Travesty: Chris Watson and the World's First National Labour Government |location=Carlton North, Victoria |publisher=Scribe Publications |page=4 |isbn=978-1-920769-13-0}}</ref> The [[South Australian Labor Party#Formation|United Labor Party (ULP) of South Australia]] was founded in 1891, and three candidates were that year elected to the [[South Australian Legislative Council]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sahistorians.org.au/175/chronology/may/9-may-1891-united-labor-party-elected-to-legislati.shtml|title=9 May 1891 United Labor Party elected to Legislative Council (Celebrating South Australia)|author=Alison Painter|access-date=11 June 2015|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306103358/http://www.sahistorians.org.au/175/chronology/may/9-may-1891-united-labor-party-elected-to-legislati.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first successful [[South Australian House of Assembly]] candidate was [[John McPherson]] at the [[1892 East Adelaide colonial by-election|1892 East Adelaide by-election]]. [[Richard Hooper (Australian politician)|Richard Hooper]] however was elected as an Independent Labor candidate at the [[1891 Wallaroo colonial by-election|1891 Wallaroo by-election]], while he was the first labor member of the House of Assembly he was not a member of the newly formed ULP.

At the [[1893 South Australian colonial election|1893 South Australian elections]], the ULP was immediately elevated to balance of power status with 10 of 54 lower house seats. The liberal government of [[Charles Kingston]] was formed with the support of the ULP, ousting the conservative government of [[John Downer]]. So successful, less than a decade later at the [[1905 South Australian state election|1905 state election]], [[Thomas Price (South Australian politician)|Thomas Price]] formed the world's first stable Labor government. [[John Verran]] led Labor to form the state's first of many [[majority government]]s at the [[1910 South Australian state election|1910 state election]].

In 1899, [[Anderson Dawson]] formed a minority Labour<!-- do not change spelling, it is correct in historical context --> government in [[Queensland]], the first in the world, which lasted one week while the [[Conservatism|conservatives]] regrouped after a split.

The colonial Labour<!-- Do not change spelling, it is correct in historical context. --> parties and the trade unions were mixed in their support for the [[Federation of Australia]]. Some Labour representatives argued against the proposed constitution, claiming that the Senate as proposed was too powerful, similar to the anti-reformist colonial upper houses and the [[House of Lords|British House of Lords]]. They feared that federation would further entrench the power of the conservative forces. However, the first Labour<!-- Do not change spelling, it is correct in historical context. --> leader and Prime Minister [[Chris Watson]] was a supporter of federation.

Historian Celia Hamilton, examining New South Wales, argues for the central role of Irish Catholics. Before 1890, they opposed Henry Parkes, the main Liberal leader, and of free trade, seeing them both as the ideals of Protestant Englishmen who represented landholding and large business interests. In the strike of 1890 the leading Catholic, Sydney's Archbishop [[Francis Moran (cardinal)|Francis Moran]] was sympathetic toward unions, but Catholic newspapers were negative.  After 1900, says Hamilton, Irish Catholics were drawn to the Labour Party because its stress on equality and social welfare fitted with their status as manual labourers and small farmers. In the 1910 elections Labour gained in the more Catholic areas and the representation of Catholics increased in Labour's parliamentary ranks.<ref>Celia Hamilton, "Irish-Catholics of New South Wales and the Labor Party, 1890–1910." ''Historical Studies: Australia & New Zealand'' (1958) 8#31: 254–267.</ref>

=== Early decades at the federal level ===
[[File:Labor 1901b.jpg|thumb|Group photograph of federal Labour Party MPs elected to the House of Representatives and Senate at the inaugural 1901 election]]
The [[1901 Australian federal election|federal parliament in 1901]] was contested by each state Labour Party. In total, they won 15 of the 75 seats in the House of Representatives, collectively holding the balance of power, and the Labour members now met as the Federal Parliamentary Labour<!-- do not change spelling, it is correct in historical context --> Party (informally known as the [[caucus]]) on 8 May 1901 at [[Parliament House, Melbourne]], the meeting place of the first federal Parliament.{{sfn|Faulkner|Macintyre|2001|p=3}} The caucus decided to support the incumbent [[Protectionist Party]] in [[minority government]], while the [[Free Trade Party]] formed the [[Opposition (Australia)|opposition]]. It was some years before there was any significant structure or organisation at a national level. Labour <!-- Do not change spelling, is correct in historical context. -->under [[Chris Watson]] doubled its vote at the [[1903 Australian federal election|1903 federal election]] and continued to hold the balance of power. In April 1904, however, Watson and [[Alfred Deakin]] fell out over the issue of extending the scope of industrial relations laws concerning the [[Conciliation]] and [[Arbitration]] bill to cover state public servants, the fallout causing Deakin to resign. Free Trade leader [[George Reid]] declined to take office, which saw Watson become the first Labour<!-- Do not change spelling, is correct in historical context. --> [[Prime Minister of Australia]], and the world's first Labour head of government at a national level ([[Anderson Dawson]] had led a short-lived Labour government in Queensland in December 1899), though his was a [[minority government]] that lasted only four months. He was aged only 37, and is still the youngest prime minister in Australia's history.<ref>{{Cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |last= Nairn |first= Bede |year= 1990 |id= A120450b |title= Watson, John Christian (Chris) (1867–1941) |volume=12 | access-date =9 February 2010 }}</ref>

George Reid of the [[Free Trade Party]] adopted a strategy of trying to reorient the party system along Labour vs. non-Labour lines prior to the [[1906 Australian federal election|1906 federal election]] and renamed his Free Trade Party to the Anti-Socialist Party. Reid envisaged a spectrum running from socialist to anti-socialist, with the [[Protectionist Party]] in the middle. This attempt struck a chord with politicians who were steeped in the [[Westminster system|Westminster tradition]] and regarded a [[two-party system]] as very much the norm.<ref>{{cite web|author=Charles Richardson |url=https://www.cis.org.au/app/uploads/2015/04/images/stories/policy-magazine/2009-autumn/25-1-09-charles-richardson.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.cis.org.au/app/uploads/2015/04/images/stories/policy-magazine/2009-autumn/25-1-09-charles-richardson.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Fusion: The Party System We Had To Have? |date=25 January 2009 |access-date=19 September 2017}}</ref>

Although Watson led the party to a plurality victory (though not government, thanks to the [[Liberal Party (Australia, 1909)|union of Free Traders and Protectionists]]) in [[1906 Australian federal election|1906]], he stepped down from the leadership the following year, to be succeeded by [[Andrew Fisher]]'s minority government for seven months until it fell in June 1909. At the [[1910 Australian federal election|1910 federal election]], Fisher led Labor to victory, forming Australia's first elected federal [[majority government]], Australia's first elected [[Australian Senate|Senate]] majority, the world's first [[List of Labour parties|Labour Party]] majority government at a national level, and after the 1904 [[Chris Watson]] minority government the world's second Labour Party government at a national level. It was the first time a Labour Party had controlled any house of a legislature, and the first time the party controlled both houses of a bicameral legislature.<ref>{{Cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |year=1981 |first=D. J. |last=Murphy |title=Andrew Fisher (1862–1928) |volume=8 |id2=fisher-andrew-378 |access-date =31 May 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070619030028/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080529b.htm |archive-date= 19 June 2007 |url-status= live}}</ref> The state branches were also successful, except in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], where the strength of [[Alfred Deakin|Deakinite]] liberalism inhibited the party's growth. The state branches formed their first majority governments in [[1910 New South Wales state election|New South Wales]] and [[1910 South Australian state election|South Australia]] in 1910, [[1911 Western Australian state election|Western Australia]] in 1911, [[1915 Queensland state election|Queensland]] in 1915 and [[1925 Tasmanian state election|Tasmania]] in 1925. Such success eluded the other Commonwealth Labour parties for another decade; the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party in Great Britain]] would not form even a minority government until [[1929 United Kingdom general election|1929]], and would have to wait another [[1945 United Kingdom general election|sixteen years]] to win a majority in its own right. Even in neighboring [[New Zealand]], Labour would not take power until [[1935 New Zealand general election|1935]]. In Canada, a [[Labour candidates and parties in Canada|national labour party]] was not even [[Co-operative Commonwealth Federation|formed until 1932]] and never formed government.

Analysis of the early NSW Labor caucus reveals "a band of unhappy amateurs",{{Quote without source|date=July 2024}} made up of blue collar workers, a squatter, a doctor, and even a mine owner, indicating that the idea that only the socialist working class formed Labor is untrue. In addition, many members from the working class supported the liberal notion of free trade between the colonies; in the first grouping of state MPs, 17 of the 35 were free-traders.

In the aftermath of [[World War I]] and the [[Russian Revolution]] of 1917, support for socialism grew in trade union ranks, and at the 1921 All-Australian Trades Union Congress a resolution was passed calling for "the socialisation of industry, production, distribution and exchange".{{Quote without source|date=July 2024}} The 1922 [[Australian Labor Party National Conference|Labor Party National Conference]] adopted a similarly worded socialist objective which remained official policy for many years. The resolution was immediately qualified, however, by the [[Maurice Blackburn|Blackburn]] amendment, which said that "socialisation" was desirable only when was necessary to "eliminate exploitation and other anti-social features".{{sfn|McKinlay|1981|p=53}} Only once has a federal Labor government attempted to nationalise any industry ([[Ben Chifley]]'s bank nationalisation of 1947), and that was held by the [[High Court of Australia|High Court]] to be unconstitutional. The commitment to nationalisation was dropped by [[Gough Whitlam]], and [[Bob Hawke]]'s government carried out the floating of the dollar.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} [[Privatisation]] of state enterprises such as [[Qantas]] airways and the [[Commonwealth Bank]] was carried out by the [[Paul Keating]] government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jacobin.com/2021/03/australian-labor-party-paul-keating-privatization-neoliberalism |title=How the Labor Party Sold Australia's Public Assets for a Song |year=2021 |work=Max Chandler-Mather |publisher=Jacobin.com |access-date=6 January 2025 }}</ref>

The Labor Party is commonly described{{By whom|date=July 2024}} as a [[social democracy|social democratic]] party, and its constitution stipulates that it is a [[democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alp.org.au/platform/chapter_12.php |title=National Constitution of the ALP |year=2009 |work=Official Website of the Australian Labor Party |publisher=Australian Labor Party |access-date=26 December 2009 |quote=The Australian Labor Party is a democratic socialist party and has the objective of the democratic socialisation of industry, production, distribution and exchange, to the extent necessary to eliminate exploitation and other anti-social features in these fields. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030014535/http://www.alp.org.au/platform/chapter_12.php |archive-date=30 October 2009 }}</ref> The party was created by, and has always been influenced by, the trade unions, and in practice its policy at any given time has usually been the policy of the broader labour movement. Thus at the first federal election 1901 Labor's platform called for a [[White Australia policy]], a citizen army and compulsory arbitration of industrial disputes.{{sfn|McKinlay|1981|p=19}} Labor has at various times supported high [[tariff]]s and low tariffs, [[conscription]] and [[pacifism]], White Australia and [[multiculturalism]], [[nationalisation]] and [[privatisation]], [[isolationism]] and internationalism.

From 1900 to 1940, Labor and its affiliated unions were strong defenders of the [[White Australia policy]], which banned all non-European migration to Australia. This policy was motivated by fears of economic competition from low-wage overseas workers which was shared by the vast majority of Australians and all major political parties.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} In practice the Labor party opposed all migration, on the grounds that immigrants competed with Australian workers and drove down wages, until after [[World War II]], when the [[Chifley government]] launched a major immigration program. The party's opposition to non-European immigration did not change until after the retirement of [[Arthur Calwell]] as leader in 1967. Subsequently, Labor has become an advocate of [[multiculturalism]].

=== World War II and beyond ===
The [[Curtin government|Curtin]] and [[Chifley government|Chifley]] governments governed Australia through the latter half of the [[Second World War]] and initial stages of transition to peace. Labor leader [[John Curtin]] became prime minister in October 1941 when two independents crossed the floor of Parliament. Labor, led by Curtin, then led Australia through the years of the [[Pacific War]]. In December 1941, Curtin announced that "Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom", thus helping to establish the Australian-American alliance (later formalised as [[ANZUS]] by the [[Menzies government (1949–1966)|Menzies government]]). Remembered as a strong war time leader and for a landslide win at the [[1943 Australian federal election|1943 federal election]], Curtin died in office just prior to the end of the war and was succeeded by [[Ben Chifley]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/curtin/ |title=John Curtin – Australia's PMs – Australia's Prime Ministers |publisher=Primeministers.naa.gov.au |access-date=5 July 2013 |archive-date=26 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726084256/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/curtin/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Chifley Labor won the [[1946 Australian federal election|1946 federal election]] and oversaw Australia's initial transition to a peacetime economy.

At the conference of the New South Wales Labor Party in June 1949, Chifley sought to define the labour movement as follows: "We have a great objective – [[the light on the hill]] – which we aim to reach by working for the betterment of mankind.{{Spaces}}... [Labor would] bring something better to the people, better standards of living, greater happiness to the mass of the people."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/chifley/in-office.aspx |title=In office – Ben Chifley – Australia's PMs – Australia's Prime Ministers |access-date=13 July 2011 |date=24 February 2009 |publisher=National Archives of Australia | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110613100927/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/chifley/in-office.aspx| archive-date= 13 June 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> To a large extent, Chifley saw centralisation of the economy as the means to achieve such ambitions. With an increasingly uncertain economic outlook, after his attempt to nationalise the banks and a strike by the Communist-dominated [[Australian Coal and Shale Employees' Federation|Miners' Federation]], Chifley lost office at the [[1949 Australian federal election|1949 federal election]] to [[Robert Menzies]]' Liberal-National Coalition. Labor commenced a 23-year period in opposition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/chifley/ |title=Ben Chifley – Australia's PMs – Australia's Prime Ministers |publisher=Primeministers.naa.gov.au |date=13 June 1951 |access-date=5 July 2013 |archive-date=16 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216203242/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/chifley/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/menzies/elections.aspx |title=Elections – Robert Menzies – Australia's PMs – Australia's Prime Ministers |publisher=Primeministers.naa.gov.au |access-date=5 July 2013 |archive-date=12 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512011252/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/menzies/elections.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> The party was primarily led during this time by [[H. V. Evatt]] and [[Arthur Calwell]].

In 1955, the Australian Labor Party split, and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) was formed. The preferences of the DLP were used to keep the ALP in Opposition until the election of Gough Whitlam in 1972.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/alp-split | title=National Museum of Australia - ALP split }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://theconversation.com/australian-politics-explainer-the-labor-party-split-74149 | title=Australian politics explainer: The Labor Party split | date=18 April 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://labourhistorymelbourne.org/about/past-conferences/171-2/ | title=The Great Labor Split 1955: Fifty years later | date=31 January 2013 }}</ref>

[[File:Shame Fraser Shame - ALP policy launch 24 November 1975 (16268632954).jpg|thumb|Labor Party policy launch before a crowd in the [[The Domain, Sydney|Sydney Domain]] on 24 November 1975.]]
Various ideological beliefs were factionalised under reforms to the ALP under [[Gough Whitlam]], resulting in what is now known as the [[Labor Left|Socialist Left]] who tend to favour a more interventionist economic policy and more [[progressivism|socially progressive]] ideals, and [[Labor Right]], the now dominant faction that tends to be more [[economically liberal]] and focus to a lesser extent on social issues. The Whitlam Labor government, marking a break with Labor's socialist tradition, pursued [[social-democratic|social democratic]] policies rather than [[democratic socialist]] policies. In contrast to earlier Labor leaders, Whitlam also cut [[tariff]]s by 25 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitlam.org/collection/1973/19730718_Tariff_Reduction/ |title=Tariff Reduction |work=The Whitlam Collection |publisher=The Whitlam Institute |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050720062736/http://www.whitlam.org/collection/1973/19730718_Tariff_Reduction/ |archive-date=20 July 2005 }}</ref> Whitlam led the Federal Labor Party back to office at the [[1972 Australian federal election|1972]] and [[1974 Australian federal election|1974]] federal elections, and passed a large amount of legislation. The [[Whitlam government]] lost office following the [[1975 Australian constitutional crisis]] and dismissal by [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]] [[John Kerr (governor-general)|John Kerr]] after the Coalition blocked [[Loss of supply|supply]] in the Senate after a series of political scandals, and was defeated at the [[1975 Australian federal election|1975 federal election]] in the largest landslide of Australian federal history.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/general/the-dismissal-a-brief-history/2005/11/10/1131578175136.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=The dismissal: a brief history | date=11 November 2005 | access-date=22 March 2012 | archive-date=2 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102130937/http://www.theage.com.au/news/general/the-dismissal-a-brief-history/2005/11/10/1131578175136.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Whitlam remains the only Prime Minister to have his commission terminated in that manner. Whitlam also lost the [[1977 Australian federal election|1977 federal election]] and subsequently resigned as leader.

[[Bill Hayden]] succeeded Whitlam as leader. At the [[1980 Australian federal election|1980 federal election]], the party achieved a big swing, though the unevenness of the swing around the nation prevented an ALP victory. In 1983, [[Bob Hawke]] became leader of the party after Hayden resigned to avoid a leadership spill.

[[Bob Hawke]] led Labor back to office at the [[1983 Australian federal election|1983 federal election]] and the party won four consecutive elections under Hawke. In December 1991 [[Paul Keating]] defeated Bob Hawke in a leadership spill. The ALP then won the [[1993 Australian federal election|1993 federal election]]. It was in power for five terms over 13 years, until severely defeated by [[John Howard]] at the [[1996 Australian federal election|1996 federal election]]. This was the longest period the party has ever been in government at the national level.

[[Kim Beazley]] led the party to the [[1998 Australian federal election|1998 federal election]], winning 51 percent of the [[two-party-preferred vote]] but falling short on seats, and the ALP lost ground at the [[2001 Australian federal election|2001 federal election]]. After a brief period when [[Simon Crean]] served as ALP leader, [[Mark Latham]] led Labor to the [[2004 Australian federal election|2004 federal election]] but lost further ground. Beazley replaced Latham in 2005; not long afterwards he in turn was forced out of the leadership by [[Kevin Rudd]].

Rudd went on to defeat John Howard at the [[2007 Australian federal election|2007 federal election]] with 52.7 percent of the two-party vote (Howard became the first prime minister since [[Stanley Bruce]] to lose not just the election but his own parliamentary seat). The [[Rudd government (2007–2010)|Rudd government]] ended prior to the [[2010 Australian federal election|2010 federal election]] with the overthrow of Rudd as leader of the party by deputy leader [[Julia Gillard]]. Gillard, who was also the first woman to serve as prime minister of Australia,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/julia-gillard|title=About Julia Gillard|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=22 May 2022|archive-date=12 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112211542/https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/julia-gillard#:~:text=On%2024%20June%202010%2C%20Julia,by%20the%20Parliamentary%20Labor%20Party.|url-status=live}}</ref> remained prime minister in a [[hung parliament]] following the election. Her government lasted until 2013, when Gillard lost a leadership spill, with Rudd becoming leader once again. Later that year the ALP lost the [[2013 Australian federal election|2013 federal election]].

{{thumb|content={{center|'''Membership of the Australian Labor Party (1948–present)'''}}
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{{legend0|red|Members<ref>{{cite web |title=DATABASE BY COUNTRY |url=http://www.projectmapp.eu/database-by-country/ |website=Members & Activists of Political Parties |language=en |access-date=19 January 2021 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118193100/http://www.projectmapp.eu/database-by-country/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Anne |title=Party hardly: why Australia's big political parties are struggling to compete with grassroots campaigns |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/13/party-hardly-why-australias-big-political-parties-are-struggling-to-compete-with-grassroots-campaigns |work=The Guardian |date=12 December 2020 |access-date=21 February 2024 |archive-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722044942/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/13/party-hardly-why-australias-big-political-parties-are-struggling-to-compete-with-grassroots-campaigns |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Butler: factions are destroying Labor's capacity to campaign |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/23/mark-butler-factions-are-destroying-labors-capacity-to-campaign |access-date=19 January 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=23 January 2018 |language=en |archive-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127221300/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/23/mark-butler-factions-are-destroying-labors-capacity-to-campaign |url-status=live }}</ref>}}}}

Between the 2007 federal election and the [[2008 Western Australian state election]], Labor was in government nationally and in all eight state and territory parliaments. This was the first time any single party or any coalition had achieved this since the ACT and the NT gained self-government.<ref>In 1969–1970, before the ACT and NT achieved self-government, the Liberal and National Coalition was in power federally and in all six states. [http://elections.uwa.edu.au/ University of WA elections database] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118085343/http://elections.uwa.edu.au/ |date=18 January 2015 }}</ref> Labor narrowly lost government in Western Australia at the 2008 state election and Victoria at the [[2010 Victorian state election|2010 state election]]. These losses were further compounded by landslide defeats in New South Wales in [[2011 New South Wales state election|2011]], Queensland in [[2012 Queensland state election|2012]], the Northern Territory in [[2012 Northern Territory general election|2012]], Federally in [[2013 Australian federal election|2013]] and Tasmania in [[2014 Tasmanian state election|2014]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/national/barry-ofarrell-smashes-labor-in-nsw-election/story-e6frfkvr-1226028779988 | work=The Sunday Telegraph | first=Barclay | last=Crawford | title=Barry O'Farrell smashes Labor in NSW election | date=27 March 2011 | access-date=29 March 2011 | archive-date=30 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630194232/http://www.news.com.au/national/barry-ofarrell-smashes-labor-in-nsw-election/story-e6frfkvr-1226028779988 | url-status=live }}</ref> Labor retained government in the Australian Capital Territory in [[2012 Australian Capital Territory election|2012]] and, despite losing its majority, the party retained government in South Australia in [[2014 South Australian state election|2014]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-24/weatherill-pledges-more-regional-focus/5340926 |work=the Australian Broadcasting Corporation |title=Weatherill pledges more regional focus amid Brock support |date=24 March 2014 |access-date=4 May 2015 |archive-date=6 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806021503/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-24/weatherill-pledges-more-regional-focus/5340926 |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, most of these reversals proved only temporary with Labor returning to government in Victoria in [[2014 Victorian state election|2014]] and in Queensland in [[2015 Queensland state election|2015]] after spending only one term in opposition in both states.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-state-election-2015/queensland-election-state-wakes-to-new-political-landscape-20150131-132ybk.html | work=the Brisbane Times | first=Amy | last=Remeikis | title=Queensland election: State wakes to new political landscape | date=1 February 2015 | access-date=4 May 2015 | archive-date=26 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526163240/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-state-election-2015/queensland-election-state-wakes-to-new-political-landscape-20150131-132ybk.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Furthermore, after winning the [[2014 Fisher state by-election|2014 Fisher by-election]] by nine votes from a 7.3 percent swing, the Labor government in South Australia went from minority to majority government.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-16/labor-nat-cook-takes-seat-of-fisher-by-election-recount/5969402|work=the Australian Broadcasting Corporation|title=Fisher by-election: Recount sees Labor's Nat Cook win by nine votes|date=16 December 2014|access-date=4 May 2015|archive-date=30 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630081154/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-16/labor-nat-cook-takes-seat-of-fisher-by-election-recount/5969402|url-status=live}}</ref> Labor won landslide victories in the [[2016 Northern Territory general election|2016 Northern Territory election]], the [[2017 Western Australian state election|2017 Western Australian election]] and the [[2018 Victorian state election]]. However, Labor lost the [[2018 South Australian state election]] after 16 years in government.

After Labor's 2013 federal election defeat, [[Bill Shorten]] became leader of the party. The party narrowly lost the [[2016 Australian federal election|2016 election]], yet gained 14 seats. Despite favourable polling, the party also did not return to government in the [[2019 New South Wales state election]] or the [[2019 Australian federal election|2019 federal election]]. The latter has been considered a historic upset due to Labor's consistent and significant polling lead; the result has been likened to the Coalition's loss in the 1993 federal election, with 2019 retrospectively referred to in the media as the "unloseable election".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/may/19/labor-unloseable-election-morrison-australia-plan |title=Labor lost the unlosable election – now it's up to Morrison to tell Australia his plan |date=19 May 2019 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |first=Katharine |last=Murphy |access-date=21 August 2019 |archive-date=31 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531001527/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/may/19/labor-unloseable-election-morrison-australia-plan |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-22/labor-strategising-on-how-to-rebuild-fortunes/11530354 |title=Labor was going to hit the ground running – it hit a brick wall instead |date=22 September 2019 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |first=Jane |last=Norman |access-date=9 October 2019 |archive-date=11 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011201914/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-22/labor-strategising-on-how-to-rebuild-fortunes/11530354 |url-status=live }}</ref>  After the 2019 defeat, Shorten resigned from the leadership, though he remained in parliament. [[Anthony Albanese]] was elected as leader unopposed.

In March 2022, Labor returned to government in South Australia after defeating the Liberal Party in the [[2022 South Australian state election]].

[[Anthony Albanese]] led the party into the [[2022 Australian federal election]], in which the party returned to power with a majority government. Despite Labor's win, Labor nevertheless recorded its lowest primary vote since either [[1903 Australian federal election|1903]] or [[1934 Australian federal election|1934]], depending on whether the [[Lang Labor]] vote is included.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 July 2022 |title=Barnaby Joyce says Labor's 2022 primary vote was its lowest since 1910. Is that correct? |work=ABC News |publisher= |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-05/fact-check-barnaby-joyce-labor-primary-vote/101129054 |access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref>

In 2023, Labor won the March [[2023 New South Wales state election]] returning to government for the first time since 2011. This victory marked the first time in 15 years that Labor were in government in all mainland states. In 2024, Labor lost in a landslide in the [[2024 Northern Territory general election|2024 Northern Territory election]], losing its first mainland state or territory since the [[2018 South Australian state election|2018 South Australian election]]. Labor would also lose in the [[2024 Queensland state election]].

Albanese later led the party into the [[2025 Australian federal election]], in which the party once again won a majority government in a landslide.

== National platform ==
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2018}}
The policy of the Australian Labor Party is contained in its National Platform, which is approved by delegates to Labor's National Conference, held every three years. According to the Labor Party's website, "The Platform is the result of a rigorous and constructive process of consultation, spanning the nation and including the cooperation and input of state and territory policy committees, local branches, unions, state and territory governments, and individual Party members. The Platform provides the policy foundation from which we can continue to work towards the election of a federal Labor government."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alp.org.au/platform/index.php |publisher=Australian Labor Party |title=ALP National Platform and Constitution 2007 |access-date=23 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820193739/http://www.alp.org.au/platform/index.php |archive-date=20 August 2006 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

The platform gives a general indication of the policy direction which a future Labor government would follow, but does not commit the party to specific policies. It maintains that "Labor's traditional values will remain a constant on which all Australians can rely." While making it clear that Labor is fully committed to a market economy, it says that: "Labor believes in a strong role for national government – the one institution all Australians truly own and control through our right to vote." Labor "will not allow the benefits of change to be concentrated in fewer and fewer hands, or located only in privileged communities. The benefits must be shared by all Australians and all our regions." The platform and Labor "believe that all people are created equal in their entitlement to dignity and respect, and should have an equal chance to achieve their potential." For Labor, "government has a critical role in ensuring fairness by: ensuring equal opportunity; removing unjustifiable discrimination; and achieving a more equitable distribution of wealth, income and status." Further sections of the platform stress Labor's support for equality and human rights, labour rights and democracy.

In practice, the platform provides only general policy guidelines to Labor's federal, state and territory parliamentary leaderships. The policy Labor takes into an election campaign is determined by the Cabinet (if the party is in office) or the Shadow Cabinet (if it is in opposition), in consultation with key interest groups within the party, and is contained in the parliamentary Leader's policy speech delivered during the election campaign. When Labor is in office, the policies it implements are determined by the Cabinet, subject to the platform. Generally, it is accepted that while the platform binds Labor governments, how and when it is implemented remains the prerogative of the parliamentary caucus. It is now rare for the platform to conflict with government policy, as the content of the platform is usually developed in close collaboration with the party's parliamentary leadership as well as the factions. However, where there is a direct contradiction with the platform, Labor governments have sought to change the platform as a prerequisite for a change in policy. For example, privatisation legislation under the Hawke government occurred only after holding a special national conference to debate changing the platform.

== Party structure ==
{{Labor|sp=uk|expanded=parties}}
{{Labour politics in Australia}}

=== National executive and secretariat ===
The [[Australian Labor Party National Executive]] is the party's chief administrative authority, subject only to Labor's [[Australian Labor Party National Conference|national conference]]. The executive is responsible for organising the triennial national conference; carrying out the decisions of the conference; interpreting the national constitution, the national platform and decisions of the national conference; and directing federal members.<ref name="Australian Labor Party-2015">{{cite web|title=ALP National Platform 2011. |url=http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/australianlaborparty/pages/121/attachments/original/1365135867/Labor_National_Platform.pdf?1365135867 |website=Australian Labor Party |access-date=9 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182841/http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/australianlaborparty/pages/121/attachments/original/1365135867/Labor_National_Platform.pdf?1365135867 |archive-date=23 September 2015  }}</ref>

The party holds a national conference every three years, which consists of delegates representing the state and territory branches (many coming from affiliated trade unions, although there is no formal requirement for unions to be represented at the national conference). The national conference decides the party's platform, elects the national executive and appoints office-bearers such as the national secretary, who also serves as national campaign director during elections. The current national secretary is [[Paul Erickson (politician)|Paul Erickson]].
The head office of the ALP, the national secretariat, is managed by the national secretary. It plays a dual role of administration and a national campaign strategy. It acts as a permanent secretariat to the national executive by managing and assisting in all administrative affairs of the party. As the national secretary also serves as national campaign director during elections, it is also responsible for the national campaign strategy and organisation.

=== Federal Parliamentary Labor Party ===
{{Main|Australian Labor Party Caucus}}
The elected members of the Labor party in both houses of the national Parliament meet as the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party, also known as the Caucus (see also [[Caucus#Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa|caucus]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=National Platform of the Australian Labor Party|url=https://cdn.australianlabor.com.au/documents/ALP_National_Platform.pdf|publisher=Australian Labor Party|access-date=16 March 2016|page=215|archive-date=22 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322193603/https://cdn.australianlabor.com.au/documents/ALP_National_Platform.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Besides discussing parliamentary business and tactics, the Caucus also is involved in the election of the federal parliamentary leaders.

=== Federal parliamentary leaders ===
{{main|Leaders of the Australian Labor Party}}
Until 2013, the parliamentary leaders were elected by the Caucus from among its members. The leader has historically been a member of the House of Representatives. Since October 2013, a ballot of both the Caucus and by the Labor Party's rank-and-file members determined the party leader and the deputy leader.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bill-shorten-elected-labor-leader-20131013-2vfzy.html|title=Bill Shorten elected Labor leader|author=Harrison, Bill|date=13 October 2013|access-date=19 July 2014|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|archive-date=13 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013232934/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bill-shorten-elected-labor-leader-20131013-2vfzy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> When the Labor Party is in government, the party leader is the [[Prime Minister of Australia|prime minister]] and the deputy leader is the [[Deputy Prime Minister of Australia|deputy prime minister]]. If a Labor prime minister resigns or dies in office, the deputy leader acts as prime minister and party leader until a successor is elected. The deputy prime minister also acts as prime minister when the prime minister is on leave or out of the country. Members of the Ministry are also chosen by Caucus, though the leader may allocate portfolios to the ministers.

[[Anthony Albanese]] is the leader of the federal Labor party, serving since 30 May 2019. The deputy leader is [[Richard Marles]], also serving since 30 May 2019.

=== State and territory branches ===
{{main|List of state and territory branches of the Australian Labor Party}}
The Australian Labor Party is a federal party, consisting of eight branches from each state and territory. While the National Executive is responsible for national campaign strategy, each state and territory are an autonomous branch and are responsible for campaigning in their own jurisdictions for federal, state and local elections. State and territory branches consist of both individual members and [[affiliated trade union]]s, who between them decide the party's policies, elect its governing bodies and choose its candidates for public office.

Members join a state branch and pay a membership fee, which is graduated according to income. The majority of [[Australian labour movement|trade unions in Australia]] are affiliated to the party at a state level. Union affiliation is direct and not through the [[Australian Council of Trade Unions]]. Affiliated unions pay an affiliation fee based on the size of their membership. Union affiliation fees make up a large part of the party's income. Other sources of funds for the party include [[political funding in Australia|political donations]] and [[Elections in Australia#Public funding|public funding]].

Members are generally expected to attend at least one meeting of their local branch each year, although there are differences in the rules from state to state. In practice, only a dedicated minority regularly attend meetings. Many members are only active during election campaigns.

The members and unions elect delegates to state and territory conferences (usually held annually, although more frequent conferences are often held). These conferences decide policy, and elect state or territory executives, a state or territory president (an honorary position usually held for a one-year term), and a state or territory secretary (a full-time professional position). However, [[ACT Labor Party|ACT Labor]] directly elects its president. The larger branches also have full-time assistant secretaries and organisers. In the past the ratio of conference delegates coming from the branches and affiliated unions has varied from state to state, however under recent national reforms at least 50% of delegates at all state and territory conferences must be elected by branches.

In some states, the party also contests local government elections or endorses local candidates. In others it does not, preferring to allow its members to run as non-endorsed candidates. The process of choosing candidates is called [[preselection]]. Candidates are preselected by different methods in the various states and territories. In some they are chosen by ballots of all party members, in others by panels or committees elected by the state conference, in still others by a combination of these two.

The state and territory Labor branches are the following:
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center;"
!colspan=2 rowspan=3 |Branch
!rowspan=3 |Leader
!colspan=6| Last state/territory election
!rowspan=3| Status
! colspan="2" | [[Parliament of Australia|Federal representatives]]
|-
!colspan=4| Lower house
!colspan=2| Upper house
! rowspan="2" |[[Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 2025–2028|MPs]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Members of the Australian Senate, 2025–2028|Senators]]
|-
!Year
!Votes (%)
!Seats
![[Two-party-preferred vote|TPP]] (%)
!Votes (%)
!Seats
|-
|style="width:2px;background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}};"|
|[[New South Wales Labor Party|New South Wales Labor]]
|[[Chris Minns]] <br> {{small|(since [[2021 New South Wales Labor Party leadership election|2021]])}}
|[[2023 New South Wales state election|2023]]
|37.1
|{{composition bar|45|93|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|54.3
|37.1
|{{composition bar|15|42|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{yes2|[[Minns ministry|Minority]]}}
|{{composition bar|28|46|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{composition bar|4|12|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|-
|style="width:2px;background:{{Australian politics/party colours|labor vic}};"|
|[[Victorian Labor Party|Victorian Labor]]
|[[Jacinta Allan]] <br> {{small|(since [[2023 Victorian Labor Party leadership election|2023]])}}
|[[2022 Victorian state election|2022]]
|36.7
|{{composition bar|56|88|hex={{Australian politics/party colours|labor vic}}}}
|55.0
|33.0
|{{composition bar|15|40|hex={{Australian politics/party colours|labor vic}}}}
|{{yes2|[[Allan ministry (2023)|Majority]]}}
|{{composition bar|27|38|hex={{Australian politics/party colours|labor vic}}}}
|{{composition bar|5|12|hex={{Australian politics/party colours|labor vic}}}}
|-
|style="width:2px;background:{{Australian politics/party colours|labor qld}};"|
|[[Queensland Labor Party|Queensland Labor]]
|[[Steven Miles]] <br> {{small|(since [[2023 Queensland Labor Party leadership election|2023]])}}
|[[2024 Queensland state election|2024]]
|32.6
|{{composition bar|36|93|hex={{Australian politics/party colours|labor qld}}}}
|46.2
|align=center colspan=2 {{n/a}}{{efn|Queensland has maintained a [[Unicameralism|unicameral legislature]] since 1922.}}
|{{no2|[[Opposition (Queensland)|Opposition]]}}
|{{composition bar|12|30|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{composition bar|4|12|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|-
|style="width:2px;background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}};"|
|[[Western Australian Labor Party|Western Australian Labor]]
|[[Roger Cook (politician)|Roger Cook]] <br> {{small|(since [[2023 Western Australian Labor Party leadership election|2023]])}}
|[[2025 Western Australian state election|2025]]
|41.4
|{{composition bar|46|59|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|57.1
|40.9
|{{composition bar|16|36|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{yes2|[[Cook ministry (Western Australia)|Majority]]}}
|{{composition bar|11|16|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{composition bar|5|12|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|-
|style="width:2px;background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}};"|
|[[South Australian Labor Party|South Australian Labor]]
|[[Peter Malinauskas]] <br> {{small|(since 2018)}}
|[[2022 South Australian state election|2022]]
|40.0
|{{composition bar|27|47|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|54.6
|37.0
|{{composition bar|9|22|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{yes2|[[Malinauskas ministry|Majority]]}}
|{{composition bar|7|10|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{composition bar|5|12|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|-
|style="width:2px;background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}};"|
|[[Tasmanian Labor Party|Tasmanian Labor]]
|[[Dean Winter]] <br> {{small|(since [[2024 Tasmanian Labor Party leadership election|2024]])}}
|[[2024 Tasmanian state election|2024]]
|29.0
|{{composition bar|10|35|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|align=right {{n/a}}{{efn|Tasmania uses a semi-proportional system and thus TPP is not calculated.}}
|align=right {{n/a}}{{efn|Tasmania elects [[Tasmanian Legislative Council|legislative council]] representatives on a periodic basis, with elections held almost every year.}}
|{{composition bar|3|15|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{no2|[[Opposition (Tasmania)|Opposition]]}}
|{{composition bar|4|5|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{composition bar|4|12|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|-
|style="width:2px;background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}};"|
|[[ACT Labor Party|ACT Labor]]
|[[Andrew Barr]]
|[[2024 Australian Capital Territory election|2024]]
|34.5
|{{composition bar|10|25|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|align=right {{n/a}}{{efn|The ACT uses a semi-proportional system and thus TPP is not calculated.}}
|align=center colspan=2 {{n/a}}{{efn|The ACT has a [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] parliament.}}
|{{yes2|[[Fourth Barr ministry|Minority]]}}
|{{composition bar|3|3|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{composition bar|1|2|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|-
|style="width:2px;background:{{party color|Australian Labor Party}};"|
|[[Territory Labor Party|Territory Labor]]
|[[Selena Uibo]] <br> {{small|(since [[2024 Territory Labor Party leadership election|2024]])}}
|[[2024 Northern Territory general election|2024]]
|28.7
|{{composition bar|4|25|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|42.0
|align=center colspan=2 {{n/a}}{{efn|The Northern Territory has a [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] parliament.}}
|{{no2|[[Opposition (Northern Territory)|Opposition]]}}
|{{composition bar|2|2|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|{{composition bar|1|2|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|}

=== Country Labor ===
The '''Country Labor Party''', commonly known as '''Country Labor''', was an affiliated organisation of the Labor Party. Although not expressly defined, Country Labor operated mainly within [[Regions of New South Wales#Informal divisions|rural New South Wales]], and was mainly seen as an extension of the [[New South Wales Labor Party|New South Wales branch]] that operates in rural electorates.

Country Labor was used as a designation by candidates contesting elections in rural areas. The Country Labor Party was registered as a separate party in [[New South Wales]],<ref>[http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/candidates_and_parties/registered_political_parties/list_of_registered_parties List of Registered Parties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330055833/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/candidates_and_parties/registered_political_parties/list_of_registered_parties |date=30 March 2019 }}, Electoral Commission NSW.</ref> and was also registered with the [[Australian Electoral Commission]] (AEC) for federal elections.<ref name="Current register of political parties">[http://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/party_registration/Registered_parties/ Current register of political parties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418193211/https://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/party_registration/Registered_parties/ |date=18 April 2018 }}, Australian Electoral Commission.</ref> It did not have the same status in other states and, consequently, that designation could not be used on the ballot paper.

The creation of a separation designation for rural candidates was first suggested at the June 1999 ALP state conference in New South Wales. In May 2000, following Labor's success at the [[2000 Benalla state by-election|2000 Benalla by-election]] in Victoria, [[Kim Beazley]] announced that the ALP intended to register a separate "Country Labor Party" with the AEC;<ref>[https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/country-labor-new-direction Country Labor: a new direction?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228083258/https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/country-labor-new-direction |date=28 February 2020 }}, 7 June 2000. Retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> this occurred in October 2000.<ref name="Current register of political parties"/> The Country Labor designation was most frequently used in New South Wales. According to the ALP's financial statements for the 2015–16 financial year, NSW Country Labor had around 2,600 members (around 17 percent of the party total), but almost no assets. It recorded a severe funding shortfall at the [[2015 New South Wales state election|2015 New South Wales election]], and had to rely on a $1.68-million loan from the party proper to remain solvent. It had been initially assumed that the party proper could provide the money from its own resources, but the NSW Electoral Commission ruled that this was impermissible because the parties were registered separately. Instead the party proper had to loan Country Labor the required funds at a commercial interest rate.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/nearinsolvent-country-labor-may-never-repay-168m-to-party/news-story/b760e84faa14fda082bbb33600ec4743 Near-insolvent Country Labor 'may never repay' $1.68m to party], ''[[The Australian]]'', 28 July 2017.</ref>

The Country Labor Party was de-registered by the New South Wales Electoral Commission in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cancellation of Registration of Political Party |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/NSWEC/media/NSWEC/Registers/Register%20of%20parties/Public-notice-Country-Labor-Party.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/NSWEC/media/NSWEC/Registers/Register%20of%20parties/Public-notice-Country-Labor-Party.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |website=New South Wales Electoral Commission}}</ref>

=== Australian Young Labor ===
{{main|Australian Young Labor}}
Australian Young Labor is the youth wing of the Australian Labor Party, where all members under age 26 are automatically members. It is the peak youth body within the ALP. Former presidents of AYL have included former NSW Premier [[Bob Carr]], Federal [[Leader of the House (Australia)|Leader of the House]] [[Tony Burke]], former Special Minister of State Senator John Faulkner, former Australian Workers Union National Secretary, former Member for Maribyrnong and former Federal Labor Leader Bill Shorten, as well as dozens of State Ministers and MPs. The current National President is Manu Risoldi.

=== Networks ===
{{primary sources|section|date=October 2023}}

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) includes a variety of networks and associations that connect members, advocate for issues, and contribute to the party's policy development. The national platform currently mandates or encourages state branches to formally establish these groups along with calling for generalised interest groups known as policy action caucuses.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Platform of the Australian Labor Party|url=https://cdn.australianlabor.com.au/documents/ALP_National_Platform.pdf|publisher=Australian Labor Party|access-date=16 March 2016|page=232|archive-date=22 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322193603/https://cdn.australianlabor.com.au/documents/ALP_National_Platform.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Examples of such groups include the Labor Environment Action Network,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lean.net.au/|title=Labor Environment Action Network|access-date=11 June 2015|archive-date=30 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530075629/http://www.lean.net.au/|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[LGBTQ wing]] Rainbow Labor,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainbowlabor.org/pages/ |title=Rainbow Labor |access-date=16 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923163414/http://www.rainbowlabor.org/pages/ |archive-date=23 September 2011 }}</ref><ref name="ANUPressChapter28">{{cite web |title=Chapter 28: [Insert Title Here] |url=https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n4149/pdf/ch28.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com |website=ANU Press |format=PDF |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref> Labor For Choice, the [[women's wing]] Labor Women's Network,<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Labor Women's Network |url=https://www.facebook.com/NationalLaborWomensNetwork |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Facebook |language=en |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512151749/https://www.facebook.com/NationalLaborWomensNetwork |url-status=live }}</ref> Labor for Drug Law Reform<ref>{{Cite web |title=Labor for Drug Law Reform – NSW |url=https://www.facebook.com/L4DLR/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Facebook |language=en |archive-date=8 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608062722/https://www.facebook.com/L4DLR/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Labor for Refugees,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Labor for Refugees NSW/ACT |url=http://www.labor4refugees.com/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |language=en-AU}}</ref> Labor for Housing,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Labor for Housing |url=https://www.facebook.com/laborforhousing |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Facebook |language=en |archive-date=13 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113223255/https://www.facebook.com/laborforhousing/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Labor Teachers Network,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Labor Teachers |url=https://www.facebook.com/laborteachers/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Facebook |language=en |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512151752/https://www.facebook.com/laborteachers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Aboriginal Labor Network,<ref>{{Cite web |title=NSW Aboriginal Labor Network |url=https://www.facebook.com/NSWNILN |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Facebook |language=en |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512152922/https://www.facebook.com/NSWNILN |url-status=live }}</ref> and recently, Labor Enabled – the action group for Disability Advocacy<ref>{{Cite web |title=NSW Labor Enabled |url=https://www.facebook.com/nswlaborenabled |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Facebook |language=en |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512151755/https://www.facebook.com/nswlaborenabled |url-status=live }}</ref>

These groups operate under different names across states and territories and are categorized into '''equity groups''', which focus on representation based on identity or shared characteristics, and '''policy-focused groups''', which emphasize thematic advocacy. In Queensland, these networks are formally referred to as ''Equity Groups'' and ''Associations'', which are distinct entities.<ref name="QLDLaborRules">{{cite web |title=Queensland Labor Rules |url=https://queenslandlabor.org/rules/ |website=Queensland Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref> Other states use terms such as forums, caucuses, or committees.

{| class=wikitable
|+ Equity Groups
|-
!colspan=1 rowspan=2 |Organisation
!colspan=9| Branches Organisation is Present in
|-
!colspan=1| Federal
!colspan=1| [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]]
!colspan=1| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]]
!colspan=1| [[Victorian Labor Party|Vic]]
!colspan=1| [[Western Australian Labor Party|WA]]
!colspan=1| [[South Australian Labor Party|SA]]
!colspan=1| [[Tasmanian Labor Party|Tas]]
!colspan=1| [[ACT Labor Party|ACT]]
!colspan=1| [[Territory Labor Party|NT]]
|-
|National Labor Women's Network
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="ALPNationalConstitution2023">{{cite web |title=ALP National Constitution (Adopted 19 August 2023) |url=https://www.alp.org.au/media/3572/alp-national-constitution-adopted-19-august-2023.pdf |website=Australian Labor Party |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="NSWLaborRules2024">{{cite web |title=ALP NSW Branch Rules (31 October 2024) |url=https://assets.nationbuilder.com/nswlabor/pages/820/attachments/original/1730683425/ALP_Rules_Book_31.10.2024.pdf?1730683425 |website=NSW Labor |format=PDF |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="QLDEquityGroups">{{cite web |title=Equity Groups |url=https://queenslandlabor.org/members/get-involved/equity-groups/ |website=Queensland Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="VicLaborNewMemberInfo">{{cite web |title=Victorian Labor: New Member Information |url=https://thisislabor.org/media/3617/victorian-labor-new-member-info.pdf |website=Victorian Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="WALaborRules2023">{{cite web |title=WA Labor Rules 2023 |url=https://walabor.org.au/media/exhhf3ox/2023-rules.pdf |website=WA Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="SALaborRules2023">{{cite web |title=ALP South Australian Branch Rules (May 2023) |url=https://sa.alp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2023_May_Finalised_ALP_Rules_Word_Doc.pdf |website=South Australian Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="TasLaborRules2023">{{cite web |title=Australian Labor Party Tasmanian Branch Rules (June 2023) |url=https://www.taslabor.org.au/media/0xyn0bdl/australian-labor-party-tasmanian-branch-rules-current-june-2023.pdf |website=Tasmanian Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="ACTLaborRules2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="NTLaborRules2023">{{cite web |title=ALP NT 2023 Constitution and Rules |url=https://ntec.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1225486/ALP-NT-2023-Constitution-Rules.pdf |website=Northern Territory Electoral Commission |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
|-
|Rainbow Labor
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="ALPOrganisationalPolicies2023">{{cite web |title=ALP Organisational Policies (Adopted 19 August 2023) |url=https://www.alp.org.au/media/3571/alp-organisational-policies-adopted-19-august-2023.pdf |website=Australian Labor Party |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="QLDEquityGroups" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="VicLaborNewMemberInfo" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="TasPolicyCaucuses">{{cite web |title=Policy Action Caucuses |url=https://taslabor.org.au/members/policy-action-caucuses/ |website=Tasmanian Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|-
|Aboriginal Labor Network
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="ALPOrganisationalPolicies2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="NSWLaborRules2024" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="QLDEquityGroups" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="VicLaborNewMemberInfo" />
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="SALaborRules2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="TasLaborRules2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="ACTLaborRules2023">{{cite web |title=ACT Labor Party Rules 2022-23 (Final) |url=https://www.actlabor.org.au/media/otnpyykd/act-labor-party-rules-2022-23-final.pdf |website=ACT Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="NTLaborRules2023" />
|-
|Labor Enabled
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="QLDEquityGroups" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="VicLaborNewMemberInfo" />
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="TasPolicyCaucuses" />
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|-
|Young Labor
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="ALPNationalConstitution2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="NSWLaborRules2024" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="QLDEquityGroups" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="VicLaborNewMemberInfo" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="WALaborRules2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="SALaborRules2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="TasLaborRules2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="ACTLaborRules2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="NTLaborRules2023" />
|-
|Multicultural Labor
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="QLDEquityGroups" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="VicMulticulturalLabor">{{cite web |title=Victorian Multicultural Labor |url=https://viclabor.com.au/about/victorian-multicultural-labor/ |website=Victorian Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="WALaborRules2023" />
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|-
|Regional Labor / Country Labor
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="ALPNationalConstitution2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="NSWLaborRules2024" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="QLDEquityGroups" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="VicLaborNewMemberInfo" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="WALaborRules2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="SALaborRules2023" />
| [[File:Yes check.svg|15px|Yes]]<ref name="TasPolicyCaucuses" />
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center;"
|+ Interest Groups
!Organisation
!Branches Organisation is Present in
!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|Labor Environment Action Network (LEAN)
| [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]], [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]], [[Victorian Labor Party|Vic]], [[Western Australian Labor Party|WA]], [[South Australian Labor Party|SA]], [[Tasmanian Labor Party|Tas]], [[ACT Labor Party|ACT]], [[Territory Labor Party|NT]]
|<ref name="QLDLaborAssociations">{{cite web |title=Labor Associations |url=https://queenslandlabor.org/members/get-involved/labor-associations/ |website=Queensland Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="NSWActionCommittees">{{cite web |title=Action Committees |url=https://www.nswlabor.org.au/action_committees |website=NSW Labor |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="VicLaborNewMemberInfo" /><ref name="TasPolicyCaucuses" />
|-
|Labor for Drug Law Reform
| [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|
|-
|Labor For Choice
| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]](Retired), [[Tasmanian Labor Party|Tas]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="TasPolicyCaucuses" />
|-
|Labor for Housing
| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="QLDLaborAssociations" />
|-
|Labor Teachers Network
| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="QLDLaborAssociations" />
|-
|Business with Labor
| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="QLDLaborAssociations" />
|-
|Labor for Brisbane City Council
| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]]
|<ref name="QLDLaborAssociations" />
|-
|Australian Israel Labor Dialogue
| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]], [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="QLDLaborAssociations" /><ref name="NSWActionCommittees" />
|-
|Labor for the Future
| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]]
|<ref name="QLDLaborAssociations" />
|-
|Labor for Decriminalisation
| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]]
|
|-
|Labor for Refugees
| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]], [[Victorian Labor Party|Vic]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="QLDLaborAssociations" /><ref name="VicLaborNewMemberInfo" />
|-
|Labor Friends of Palestine
| [[Queensland Labor Party|QLD]], [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="QLDLaborAssociations" /><ref name="NSWActionCommittees" />
|-
|Labor Friends of Palestine
| [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="NSWActionCommittees" />
|-
|Labor Ending Homelessness Action Committee
| [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="NSWActionCommittees" />
|-
|Labor for the Arts (L4TA)
| [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="NSWActionCommittees" />
|-
|Labor for Innovation
| [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="NSWActionCommittees" />
|-
|Labor for Treaty
| [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="NSWActionCommittees" />
|-
|Labor Science Network
| [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="NSWActionCommittees" />
|-
|Labor Action for Multiculturalism Policy (LAMP)
| [[New South Wales Labor Party|NSW]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="NSWActionCommittees" />
|-
|Labor for An Australian Republic (LFAR)
| [[Victorian Labor Party|Vic]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="VicLaborNewMemberInfo" />
|-
|Labor for the Wise Use of Resources
| [[Tasmanian Labor Party|Tas]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="TasPolicyCaucuses" />
|-
|Tasmanian Labor Affiliated Unions Policy Action Caucus
| [[Tasmanian Labor Party|Tas]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="TasPolicyCaucuses" />
|-
|Labor for the Wise Use of Resources
| [[Tasmanian Labor Party|Tas]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="TasPolicyCaucuses" />
|-
|Local Government PAC
| [[Tasmanian Labor Party|Tas]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="TasPolicyCaucuses" />
|-
|Labor for Civil & Political Rights Policy Action Caucus
| [[Tasmanian Labor Party|Tas]], [[File:Emblem-question.svg|15px|Unknown]]
|<ref name="TasPolicyCaucuses" />
|}

== Ideology and factions ==
Labor's constitution has long stated: "The Australian Labor Party is a democratic socialist party and has the objective of the democratic [[Social ownership|socialisation]] of industry, production, distribution and exchange, to the extent necessary to eliminate exploitation and other anti-social features in these fields".<ref name="Australian Labor Party-2015"/> This "socialist objective" was introduced in 1921, but was later qualified by two further objectives: "maintenance of and support for a competitive non-monopolistic private sector" and "the right to own private property". Labor governments have not attempted the "democratic socialisation" of any industry since the 1940s, when the [[Chifley government]] failed to nationalise the private banks, and in fact have [[Privatization|privatised]] several industries such as aviation and banking.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://newleftreview.org/issues/I221/articles/boris-frankel-beyond-labourism-and-socialism-how-the-australian-labor-party-developed-the-model-of-new-labour.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://newleftreview.org/issues/I221/articles/boris-frankel-beyond-labourism-and-socialism-how-the-australian-labor-party-developed-the-model-of-new-labour.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Beyond Labourism and Socialism: How the Australian Labor Party developed the Model of 'New Labour'|last=Frankel|first=Boris|journal=New Left Review|date=1997|volume=1|issue=221|pages=3–33|access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Social Democrats and Neo-Liberalism: A Case Study of the Australian Labor Party|last=Lavelle|first=Ashley|journal=Political Studies|date=1 December 2005|volume=53|issue=4|pages=753–771|doi=10.1111/j.1467-9248.2005.00555.x|s2cid=144842245}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=The Ties that Unwind? Social Democratic Parties and Unions in Australia and Britain|last=Lavelle|first=Ashley|s2cid=152364613|journal=Labour History|date=May 2010|volume=53|issue=98|pages=55–75|doi=10.5263/labourhistory.98.1.55|jstor=10.5263/labourhistory.98.1.55}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Humphrys |first=Elizabeth |title=How Labour Built Neoliberalism: Australia's Accord, the Labour Movement and the Neoliberal Project |date=8 October 2018 |publisher=Brill Academic Publishers |isbn=978-90-04-38346-3 |author-link=Elizabeth Humphrys}}</ref>

=== Factions ===
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Parliamentary caucus seats<ref name="TheNightlyFactions">{{cite web |last1=Smith|last2=Curtis |last3=Ransley|first1=Nicola|first2=Katina |first3=Ellen |title=Inside the Labor machine: Your guide to all the factions |url=https://thenightly.com.au/politics/australia/inside-the-labor-machine-your-guide-to-all-the-factions-c-18621566 |website=The Nightly |access-date=11 May 2025 |date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| native_name      =
| logo             = File:Australian Labor Party Federal Caucus 2025.svg
| colorcode        = {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}
| seats1_title     = [[Labor Left]]
| seats1           = {{composition bar|61|123|color=#FFF|hex=#FF0000}}
| seats2_title     = [[Labor Right]]
| seats2           = {{composition bar|60|123|color=#FFF|hex=#B00D0D}}
| seats3_title     = Unaligned
| seats3           = {{composition bar|2|123|color=#FFF|hex={{party color|Independent politician}}}}
}}
The Labor Party has always had a left wing and a right wing; however, since 1989, it has been organised into formal factions.<ref name="Chen-2019">{{cite book |last1=Chen |first1=Peter |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/327988307.pdf#page=116 |title=Australian Politics and Policy |last2=Barry |first2=Nicholas |last3=Butcher |first3=John |last4=Clune |first4=David |last5=Cook |first5=Ian |last6=Garnier |first6=Adele |last7=Haigh |first7=Yvonne |last8=Motta |first8=Sara |last9=Taflaga |first9=Marija |date=1 November 2019 |publisher=Sydney University Press |isbn=9781743326671 |location=Australia |publication-date=2019 |page=254 |language=English |access-date=20 December 2023 |archive-date=20 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220200751/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/327988307.pdf#page=116 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The two largest factional groupings are the [[Labor Left]], who are supportive of [[democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] ideals, and the [[Labor Right]] who generally support [[Social democracy|social democratic]] traditions. The national factional groupings are themselves divided into formal factions, primarily state-based such as Centre Unity in New South Wales and Labor Forum in Queensland.<ref name="Chen-2019" />

Some trade unions are affiliated with the Labor Party and are also factionally aligned. Important unions supporting the right faction are the [[Australian Workers' Union]] (AWU), the [[Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association]] (SDA) and the [[Transport Workers' Union of Australia]] (TWU).<ref name="Marin-Guzman-2018">{{cite web |last1=Marin-Guzman |first1=David |title=Inside the union factions that rule the ALP conference |url=https://www.afr.com/news/policy/industrial-relations/inside-the-union-factions-that-rule-the-alp-conference-20181216-h19692 |website=Australian Financial Review |access-date=6 August 2019 |date=16 December 2018 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806125938/https://www.afr.com/news/policy/industrial-relations/inside-the-union-factions-that-rule-the-alp-conference-20181216-h19692 |url-status=live }}</ref> Important unions supporting the left include the [[Australian Manufacturing Workers Union]] (AMWU), [[United Workers Union]], the [[Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union]] (CFMEU) and the [[Community and Public Sector Union]] (CPSU).<ref name="Marin-Guzman-2018" />

== Election results ==
=== House of Representatives ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Election
! Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! ±
! Position
! Status
|-
![[1901 Australian federal election|1901]]
| rowspan=1 | ''None''
| 79,736
| 15.8
| {{composition bar|14|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 14
| {{increase}} 3rd
| {{partial2|External support}}
|-
!rowspan="4"|[[1903 Australian federal election|1903]]
| rowspan=7 | [[Chris Watson]]
|rowspan="4"| 223,163
|rowspan="4"| 31.0
|rowspan="4"| {{composition bar|22|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|rowspan="4"| {{increase}} 7
|rowspan="4"| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{partial2|Support (1903–04)}}
|-
| {{yes2|Minority (1904)}}
|-
| {{no2|Opposition (1904–05)}}
|-
| {{partial2|Support (1905–06)}}
|-
!rowspan="3"|[[1906 Australian federal election|1906]]
|rowspan="3"| 348,711
|rowspan="3"| 36.6
|rowspan="3"| {{composition bar|26|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|rowspan="3"| {{increase}} 4
|rowspan="3"| {{increase}} 1st
| {{partial2|Support (1906–08)}}
|-
| {{yes2|Minority (1908–09)}}
|-
| {{no2|Opposition (1909–10)}}
|-
![[1910 Australian federal election|1910]]
| rowspan=3|[[Andrew Fisher]]
| 660,864
| 50.0
| {{composition bar|42|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 16
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[1913 Australian federal election|1913]]
| 921,099
| 48.5
| {{composition bar|37|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 5
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1914 Australian federal election|1914]]
| 858,451
| 50.9
| {{composition bar|42|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 5
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[1917 Australian federal election|1917]]
| rowspan=2|[[Frank Tudor]]
| 827,541
| 43.9
| {{composition bar|22|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 20
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1919 Australian federal election|1919]]
| 811,244
| 42.5
| {{composition bar|26|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 4
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1922 Australian federal election|1922]]
| rowspan=2|[[Matthew Charlton]]
| 665,145
| 42.3
| {{composition bar|29|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 3
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1925 Australian federal election|1925]]
| 1,313,627
| 45.0
| {{composition bar|23|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 6
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1928 Australian federal election|1928]]
| rowspan=4|[[James Scullin]]
| 1,158,505
| 44.6
| {{composition bar|31|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 8
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1929 Australian federal election|1929]]
| 1,406,327
| 48.8
| {{composition bar|46|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 15
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[1931 Australian federal election|1931]]
| 859,513
| 27.1
| {{composition bar|14|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 32
| {{decrease}} 3rd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1934 Australian federal election|1934]]
| 952,251
| 26.8
| {{composition bar|18|74|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 4
| {{increase}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1937 Australian federal election|1937]]
| rowspan=4|[[John Curtin]]
| 1,555,737
| 43.2
| {{composition bar|29|74|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 11
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
!rowspan=2|[[1940 Australian federal election|1940]]
|rowspan=2| 1,556,941
|rowspan=2| 40.2
|rowspan=2| {{composition bar|32|74|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|rowspan=2| {{increase}} 3
|rowspan=2| {{steady}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition (1940–41)}}
|-
| {{yes2|Minority (1941–43)}}
|-
![[1943 Australian federal election|1943]]
| 2,058,578
| 49.9
| {{composition bar|49|74|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 17
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[1946 Australian federal election|1946]]
| rowspan=3|[[Ben Chifley]]
| 2,159,953
| 49.7
| {{composition bar|43|75|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 6
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[1949 Australian federal election|1949]]
| 2,117,088
| 46.0
| {{composition bar|47|121|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 4
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1951 Australian federal election|1951]]
| 2,174,840
| 47.6
| {{composition bar|52|121|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 5
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1954 Australian federal election|1954]]
| rowspan=3|[[H. V. Evatt]]
| 2,280,098
| 50.0
| {{composition bar|57|121|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 5
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1955 Australian federal election|1955]]
| 1,961,829
| 44.6
| {{composition bar|47|122|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 10
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1958 Australian federal election|1958]]
| 2,137,890
| 42.8
| {{composition bar|45|122|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1961 Australian federal election|1961]]
| rowspan=3|[[Arthur Calwell]]
| 2,512,929
| 47.9
| {{composition bar|60|122|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 15
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1963 Australian federal election|1963]]
| 2,489,184
| 45.5
| {{composition bar|50|122|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 10
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1966 Australian federal election|1966]]
| 2,282,834
| 40.0
| {{composition bar|41|124|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 9
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1969 Australian federal election|1969]]
| rowspan=6|[[Gough Whitlam]]
| 2,870,792
| 47.0
| {{composition bar|59|125|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 18
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1972 Australian federal election|1972]]
| 3,273,549
| 49.6
| {{composition bar|67|125|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 8
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
!rowspan="2"|[[1974 Australian federal election|1974]]
|rowspan="2"| 3,644,110
|rowspan="2"| 49.3
|rowspan="2"| {{composition bar|66|127|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
|rowspan="2"| {{decrease}} 1
|rowspan="2"| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority (1974–75)}}{{efn|The [[Gough Whitlam|Whitlam]]-led party became the [[Opposition (Australia)|Opposition]] after the [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]], [[John Kerr (governor-general)|John Kerr]], dismissed it during the [[1975 Australian constitutional crisis|1975 constitutional crisis]], despite Labor maintaining a majority in the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]].}}
|-
| {{no2|Opposition (1975)}}
|-
![[1975 Australian federal election|1975]]
| 3,313,004
| 42.8
| {{composition bar|36|127|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 30
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1977 Australian federal election|1977]]
| 3,141,051
| 39.7
| {{composition bar|38|124|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1980 Australian federal election|1980]]
| [[Bill Hayden]]
| 3,749,565
| 45.2
| {{composition bar|51|125|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 13
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1983 Australian federal election|1983]]
| rowspan=4|[[Bob Hawke]]
| 4,297,392
| 49.5
| {{composition bar|75|125|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 24
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[1984 Australian federal election|1984]]
| 4,120,130
| 47.6
| {{composition bar|82|148|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 7
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[1987 Australian federal election|1987]]
| 4,222,431
| 45.8
| {{composition bar|86|148|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 4
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[1990 Australian federal election|1990]]
| 3,904,138
| 39.4
| {{composition bar|78|148|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 8
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[1993 Australian federal election|1993]]
| rowspan=2|[[Paul Keating]]
| 4,751,390
| 44.9
| {{composition bar|80|147|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[1996 Australian federal election|1996]]
| 4,217,765
| 38.7
| {{composition bar|49|148|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 31
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[1998 Australian federal election|1998]]
| rowspan=2|[[Kim Beazley]]
| 4,454,306
| 40.1
| {{composition bar|67|148|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 18
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2001 Australian federal election|2001]]
| 4,341,420
| 37.8
| {{composition bar|65|150|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2004 Australian federal election|2004]]
| [[Mark Latham]]
| 4,408,820
| 37.6
| {{composition bar|60|150|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 5
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2007 Australian federal election|2007]]
| [[Kevin Rudd]]
| 5,388,184
| 43.4
| {{composition bar|83|150|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 23
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[2010 Australian federal election|2010]]
| [[Julia Gillard]]
| 4,711,363
| 38.0
| {{composition bar|72|150|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 11
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
![[2013 Australian federal election|2013]]
| [[Kevin Rudd]]
| 4,311,365
| 33.4
| {{composition bar|55|150|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 17
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2016 Australian federal election|2016]]
| rowspan=2|[[Bill Shorten]]
| 4,702,296
| 34.7
| {{composition bar|69|150|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 14
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2019 Australian federal election|2019]]
| 4,752,110
| 33.3
| {{composition bar|68|151|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2022 Australian federal election|2022]]
| rowspan=2|[[Anthony Albanese]]
| 4,776,030
| 32.6
|{{composition bar|77|151|hex={{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 9
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
![[2025 Australian federal election|2025]]
| 5,354,437
| 34.5
| {{Composition bar|94|150|{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 17
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|}

== Donors ==
{{See also|Political funding in Australia}}

In 2023/24, state and federal branches of Labor reported $67.5 million in donations. Labor's largest donation was $1m from [[Anthony Pratt (businessman)|Anthony Pratt]]. Other large donors were unions and gambling companies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Billionaires, betting companies and 'dark' donations: 2023-24's political finance data released |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/who-are-the-biggest-donors-to-australias-political-parties/ojow9dhy3 |work=SBS News |language=en}}</ref>

The Labor Party also receives undisclosed funding through several methods, such as "associated entities". [[John Curtin House]], Industry 2020, IR21 and the Happy Wanderers Club are entities which have been used to funnel donations to the Labor Party without disclosing the source.<ref>{{cite web|title=Australian political donations: Who gave how much?|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-24/aec-political-donations-table/7959394|access-date=7 September 2017|date=24 October 2016|archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162754/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-24/aec-political-donations-table/7959394|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Slush fund royal commission: the labour movement faces its demons|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/slush-fund-royal-commission-the-labour-movement-faces-its-demons-20140307-34cqu.html|access-date=7 September 2017|date=7 March 2014|archive-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907170951/http://www.smh.com.au/national/slush-fund-royal-commission-the-labour-movement-faces-its-demons-20140307-34cqu.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bill Shorten: Campaign for Labor leadership received money from allegedly dodgy, multi-million-dollar-union slush fund|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/bill-shorten-campaign-for-labor-leadership-received-money-from-allegedly-dodgy-multimilliondollarunion-slush-fund/news-story/0e42db612fbc73f93f03a9bb97bbad29|access-date=7 September 2017|archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162800/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/bill-shorten-campaign-for-labor-leadership-received-money-from-allegedly-dodgy-multimilliondollarunion-slush-fund/news-story/0e42db612fbc73f93f03a9bb97bbad29|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Union set up Labor slush fund, court told|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/politics-news/union-set-up-labor-slush-fund-court-told/news-story/91229aa02919a20dcf8fa75749b26dfb|access-date=7 September 2017|archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162804/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/politics-news/union-set-up-labor-slush-fund-court-told/news-story/91229aa02919a20dcf8fa75749b26dfb|url-status=live}}</ref>

A 2019 report found that the Labor Party received $33,000 from pro-gun groups during the 2011–2018 periods compared to $82,000 received by the Coalition.<ref name="Knowles-2019">{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-27/australian-gun-lobby-as-well-organised-as-nra-report-finds/10940384|title=Gun lobby's 'concerted and secretive' bid to undermine Australian laws|last=Knowles|first=Lorna|date=27 March 2019|work=ABC News|access-date=15 July 2019|archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162805/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-27/australian-gun-lobby-as-well-organised-as-nra-report-finds/10940384|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Australian labour movement]]
* [[Labor Against War]]
* [[Socialism in Australia]]
* [[Third Way]]
* Tasmanian [[Labor–Green Accord]] (1989–1990)
* Australian Capital Territory [[Labor–Greens coalition]]  (2012–2024)

==Further reading==
* [[Paul Ormonde|Ormonde, Paul]] (1982). ''A Foolish Passionate Man: a biography of Jim Cairns''. Ringwood, Vic, Australia: Penguin Books. {{ISBN|014005975X}}.
* [[Paul Ormonde|Ormonde, Paul]] (1972). ''The Movement''. Sydney: Thomas Nelson. {{ISBN|0170019683}}
* [[Max Charlesworth|Charlesworth, M. J.]] (2000) [[Paul Ormonde|Ormonde, Paul (Ed)]]. ''Santamaria : the politics of fear : critical reflections''. Richmond, Vic.: Spectrum Publications. {{ISBN|0867862947}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin}}
* Bramble, Tom, and Rick Kuhn. ''Labor's Conflict: Big Business, Workers, and the Politics of Class'' (Cambridge University Press; 2011) 240 pages.
* Calwell, A. A. (1963). ''Labor's Role in Modern Society''. Melbourne, Lansdowne Press.
* {{cite book |first1=John |last1=Faulkner |first2=Stuart |last2=Macintyre |title=True Believers – The story of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=Sydney |year=2001 |isbn=1-86508-609-6}}
* {{cite book |first=Brian |last=McKinlay |title=The ALP: A Short History of the Australian Labor Party |publisher=Drummond/Heinemann |location=Melbourne |year=1981 |isbn=0-85859-254-1}}
* {{cite book |first=Ross |last=McMullin |title=The Light on the Hill: The Australian Labor Party 1891–1991 |publisher=Oxford University Press Australia |location=South Melbourne |year=1991 |isbn=0-19-553451-4 }}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Australian Labor Party}}
* [https://www.viclabor.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Final-Rules-April-2013.pdf Australian Labor Party Victorian Branch Rules, April 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411203137/https://www.viclabor.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Final-Rules-April-2013.pdf |date=11 April 2019 }}
* [https://www.amw.org.au/register/listings/manifesto-queensland-labour-party-1892 Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party, 1892] – UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Register
* [https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/125th-anniversary-manifesto-queensland-labour-party 125th anniversary of the Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party] – John Oxley Library Blog, State Library of Queensland.
* [http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/f/1upgmng/slq_alma21148463600002061 OM69-18 Charles Seymour Papers 1880–1924] – Collection record, State Library of Queensland
* [https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/charles-seymour-papers-1880-1924-treasure-collection-john-oxley-library Charles Seymour Papers 1880–1924: Treasure collection of the John Oxley Library] – John Oxley Library Blog, State Library of Queensland.

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