The Victorian Labor Party’s 2025 State Conference, held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, marked a significant gathering of 500 plus, split between party members, factions and unions. Day one of the conference focused on policy development, debates, and resolutions aimed at shaping the party’s platform for the 2026–2030 period. This year PM Anthony Albanese missed the conference, and instead the Deputy PM addressed those present.
The day’s highlight was Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan’s rousing address, where she announced the intention for the proposed two days ‘work from home’ through legislation, setting the tone for the conference and the state elections next year. Later in the evening non-binding ‘urgency resolutions’ on Palestine pushing for recognition of Palestine and for sanctions to all members of the Netanyahu’s cabinet. were passed.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Premier Jacinta Allan’s Work-from-Home Proposal:
- Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan delivered the keynote speech announcing a groundbreaking proposal to legislate a right for Victorian workers to work from home for at least two days a week, provided the job can “reasonably” be done remotely. This would make Victoria the first Australian state to enshrine such a right.
- The Premier framed the policy as a response to modern work trends, citing benefits like cost savings for families, reduced congestion, and increased workforce participation, particularly for women, carers, and people with disabilities.
- She acknowledged potential opposition from business groups, such as the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which raised concerns about productivity and inequity, but vowed to fight for the policy, emphasizing it as a matter of worker empowerment over outdated employer control.
- The proposal is set to undergo consultation to refine details, with Allan anticipating a political battle ahead of the 2026 state election, especially with the Coalition’s preference for full-time office returns for public servants.
Key resolutions:
- Policy Platform Development: Delegates adopted several policy recommendations from the 14 policy committees, though specific details on individual resolutions were not publicly detailed. These are expected to cover core Labor priorities like education, health, housing, and infrastructure, consistent with the party’s 2022–2026 platform and ongoing commitments.
So, on Day-1 of the conference underscored the party’s commitment to progressive workplace reforms, with the work-from-home proposal as a flagship policy, and a strong push for international policy shifts on Palestine. These resolutions reflect the priorities of Victorian Labor’s base, balancing grassroots activism with strategic electoral positioning ahead of the 2026 state election.
Palestinian Statehood Resolutions:
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- Labor Friends of Palestine, an internal campaign group, moved three “urgency resolutions” calling for the federal government to immediately recognize a Palestinian state and impose sanctions on Israel. These resolutions were described as the strongest ever brought to a Victorian Labor conference, reflecting significant grassroots support.
- The resolutions, developed in consultation with supportive unions, were expected to pass, given the delegate composition. While non-binding on state or federal MPs, they signal strong rank-and-file pressure on party policy, especially after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated no immediate plans for Palestinian state recognition, emphasizing a two-state solution.
