Bill Shorten gay marriage, asylum seeker policies national

LABOR has set forth a new future where its members are no longer unionists and its policy is inspired by an American billionaire. While there was much debate and controversy over a number of policies at Labor’s national conference on the weekend, the party seems to have emerged with its platform to contest the next election.
And as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s factional ally Sam Dastyari put it: “There is no doubt about it ... Bill Shorten has stamped his authority on the Labor party”.
So what else can voters expect if Labor, under Mr Shorten, is voted in to government?
SUPER RICH MAY BE FORCED TO PAY MORE TAX
Labor agreed to consider an Australian version of the “Warren Buffet rule” — named after US billionaire Warren Buffet.
The rule imposed a 30 per cent tax rate on Americans earning more than $US1 million. It emerged after Mr Buffett wrote in 2011 that it was unfair he paid a lower federal tax rate than his secretary.
Federal Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said 75 Australian millionaires earned a combined $195 million in 2011/12 but paid effectively no tax — their contribution was about $82 — after bringing in lawyers and accountants to reduce their bills.
“If you earn a certain amount of income, then you should pay some minimum of tax and shouldn’t be able to reduce your tax to zero,” he told ABC television on Sunday.
HE’S WILLING TO SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE ... IN TIME
Mr Shorten has said he would move to legalise same-sex marriage in his first 100 days if he becomes prime minister but does not want to make all Labor MPs vote in favour of it.
He managed to reach a compromise deal with the ALP’s left faction, which wanted to force all MPs to vote in favour gay marriage if a bill came before parliament, as it is already part of the party’s platform.
Instead Mr Shorten managed to delay a binding vote until 2019, leaving MPs to vote how they want if it comes before parliament before then.
This also keeps pressure on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to allow his ministers a free vote on the issue.

Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong, Bill Shorten, Tanya Plibersek and Louise Pratt celebrate passing their marriage equality amendment at the conference. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia

WILL SUPPORT TURNING BACK THE BOATS
This was a tough one with some commentators suggesting the move opened up divisions within Labor.
Three ministers refused to support Mr Shorten’s decision to support Tony Abbott’s policy of turning back asylum seeker boats, including Tanya Plibersek and Penny Wong who voted by proxy against it, while Mr Albanese openly voted against the policy.

Penny Wong (right) and Anthony Albanese did not support boat turnbacks. Picture: AAP/Tracey Nearmy Source: AAP

A Labor government will ensure no one who arrives by boat settles in Australia.
But it would also double the humanitarian intake to 27,000 refugees by 2025; give $450 million over three years to United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, and have independent oversight of immigration detention centres.
The motion was passed amid emotional discussion with some delegates yelling out “shame” and protesters calling Shorten a “traitor”.
The issue was also controversial after Labor senator Kim Carr said Ms Plibersek had supported the position “articulated on behalf of the whole shadow cabinet” by Mr Shorten during Saturday’s debate on the issue.
“Tanya spoke very strongly in support of the shadow cabinet’s position at the various meetings I attended,” Senator Carr told Sky News on Sunday.
Ms Plibersek has since said she is proud of the boat policy.
LABOR WANTS AN AMBITIOUS RENEWABLES TARGET
The ALP national conference endorsed Mr Shorten’s plan to take forward an ETS to the next Federal Election along with an ambitious target for Australia to produce 50 per cent of its energy from renewables by 2030.
The party’s agriculture spokesman Joel said the target was an “aspiration” and no-one yet knew how much it would cost.
“Technology is changing so rapidly ... we don’t know how cheaply you might get to 50 per cent,” he said.

Joel Fitzgibbon (centre) with Anthony Albanese (right) and Chris Bowen (left) at the conference. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia

LABOR IS NOT AFRAID TO PROPOSE AN ETS ... JUST DON’T CALL IT A TAX
Mr Shorten got backing for an emissions trading scheme but does not want it to be called a tax. He told the conference he was happy to take on the coalition on climate change policy but made sure to point out: “an ETS is not a tax”.
Mr Fitzgibbon said he didn’t care if people described it as tax.
“It’s a price. I don’t care if people call it a tax. If they want to run a scare campaign, fine,” he told The Bolt Report on Sunday.
Labor will adopt an emissions reduction target before the next federal election based on the United Nations commitment and advice from the Climate Change Authority and other bodies.
PUSH FOR NON-UNION MEMBERS TO JOIN LABOR
Labor will broaden its membership to include people who are not union members.
Mr Shorten said while he was proud to be a union member, ALP membership should be open to “Australians from all walks of life”.
“We should be aiming to be a party of 100,000 members — a Labor party that people want to join because membership guarantees a meaningful say, not just as elected delegates to our conference, but in shaping our platform and policies,” Mr Shorten said.
The new rule says: “Members of the party are encouraged to be members of a union or to employ union labour. However, state branch rules must not require members of the party to be members of a union or to employ union labour.”
Mr Shorten also called for members to have a greater say in House of Representatives candidate selection and Senate preselections, but this was rejected.

Stepping away from tradition: Bill Shorten wants ALP membership to be available to people without union membership. Picture: AAP/David Crosling Source: AAP

LABOR COULD RECOGNISE A PALESTINIAN STATE
Labor reached a compromise that could see Australia recognise a Palestinian state, if peace talks fail.
The party’s left and right factions reached a deal on the wording of a resolution that says Labor would consider recognising Palestine:
“If ... there is no progress in the next round of the peace process a future Labor government will discuss joining like-minded nations who have already recognised Palestine and announcing the conditions and timelines for the Australian recognition of a Palestinian state, with the objective of contributing to peace and security in the Middle East,” it said.
But it ditched plans to alter the party’s policy platform at the its national conference on Sunday.
LABOR WANTS MORE WOMEN AT THE TOP
Labor has backed a push for women to hold 50 per cent of positions at all levels of the party organisation and get a greater shot at running for parliament.
A deal was struck between the NSW right and Victorian left factions to take the 40 per cent target to 45 per cent in 2022 and 50 per cent in 2025.
State party branches would be required to report on how the target was being met and the national executive would be able to intervene in preselections to ensure compliance with the rule.

Bill Shorten has stamped his authority on the Labor Party. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia

ASKS: IS LABOR ‘SOCIALIST’ ANYMORE?
NSW opposition leader Luke Foley was heckled when he moved a resolution — which was later passed — to review the party’s “socialist objective”.
Federal Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen said the party’s objective should be for “a better, fairer country”.
“We won’t rest until we have a modern, sophisticated, multicultural, fair and egalitarian nation,” he said.

NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley with Tanya Plibersek. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy Source: AAP

CONCERNED ABOUT TRADE AGREEMENT
Labor will push for amendments to the free trade agreement with China.
The Labor conference resolution on the China deal committed the party to “exploring every possible option” and pursuit of “all possible parliamentary processes” to ensure local workers were not disadvantaged under its terms.
Mr Shorten hasn’t pledged to block the deal but wants to rewrite provisions on labour standards, conditions and skills testing.
But Trade Minister Andrew Robb has reportedly ruled out any changes to the deal, and warned that any delay could cost Australian industries at least $300 million in the next year alone, The Australian reported.
LABOR DOESN’T LIKE SUPER TRAWLERS
Labor will prevent the operation of all super trawlers in Australian waters, unless a thorough scientific assessment can verify such operations will not undermine small and recreational fishing operations.
“We need proper science, we need to understand the impact of super trawlers before they’re allowed operate in Australian waters, not after,” Tasmanian MP Julie Collins said.
SUPPORTS FAMILY VIOLENCE LEAVE
Labor passed a motion stating Labor was committed to domestic violence leave as a universal workplace right with “appropriate” paid leave and employer support.

Australian of the Year Rosie Batty led a panel discussion on how to engage Australians in a conversation about ending family violence during the 2015 ALP National Conference. Picture: AAP/Tracey Nearmy Source: AAP

LABOR WOULD LIKE MORE ACCESS TO PRESCHOOL
Labor has pledged to improve access to preschools and make sure all children get the opportunity to attend.
Under the existing guarantee, the Federal Government gives money to the states in exchange for them increasing the amount of preschool places to make sure all four-year-olds get a spot for at least 15 hours a week.
The Labor party has pledged to improve the universal access guarantee by considering options, including increasing hours, to make sure all children get the opportunity to attend preschool.
LABOR WANTS DEATH PENALTY HALTED
Labor has formally condemned Indonesia’s execution of Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
The party’s national conference on Sunday passed a resolution that “condemns these executions in the strongest possible terms” and commits a future Labor government to push for a global moratorium on the death penalty.