Wikipedia

Australian Young Labor

(Redirected from South Australian Young Labor)
"Young Labor" redirects here. For other youth organisations, see Young Labour. Not to be confused with Child labour.

Australian Young Labor (AYL), also known as the Young Labor Movement or simply Young Labor, is the youth wing of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) representing all party members aged between 14 and 26.[1][2] The organisation operates as a federation with independently functioning branches in all Australian states and territories which serve under the relevant state or territory branch of the federal Labor Party, often coming together during national conferences and federal elections. Young Labor is the oldest continuously operating youth wing of any political party in Australian history, being first founded in 1920.

Australian Young Labor
PresidentChris Hancock
National SecretaryLouis Gordon
Founded
  • Earliest state branch:
    1920; 106 years ago (1920)
  • National branch:
    1971; 55 years ago (1971)
HeadquartersCanberra, Australian Capital Territory
IdeologySocial democracy
Democratic socialism
PositionCentre-left to left-wing
Colours  Red
Mother partyAustralian Labor Party

Young Labor is very closely connected and integrated with its mother party, with many members of the organisation leading successful political careers after the fact. Former presidents of Young Labor have included former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr, current federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke, former Special Minister of State, Senator John Faulkner, former member for Maribyrnong and former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten, as well as various of state and federal ministers and MPs.

Formation

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The first officially sanctioned Young Labor group was formed in Western Australia in March 1920 as the Young Labor League.[3] The Labor Guild of Youth was established in Victoria in 1926,[4] followed by the Labor Guild of New South Wales the following year.[5] The first provisional meeting of the ALP's National Youth Council was held in 1948 as an effort to revitalise Young Labor branches that had become dormant during World War II. By the 1960s most states had created young labor organisations, usually called the Young Labor Association (YLA). In the early 1970s there was a move to set up a permanent national organisation. In 1971 leaders of several state YLAs met in Adelaide to constitute a national body and the first conference was held in Adelaide in early 1972 with future federal parliamentarian Bob McMullan elected as the first national president.[6] Australian Young Labor (AYL) was included in the constitution of the ALP in 1973.[7]

Ideology

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Australian Young Labor promotes a mix of social democracy and democratic socialism with a focus on issues relevant to younger Australians. AYL advocates for social justice, aiming to reduce inequality and improve access to essential services like healthcare and education. It supports progressive policies on LGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, Indigenous reconciliation, and multiculturalism. Environmental sustainability is a key concern, with AYL pushing for strong climate action and a transition to renewable energy. The organization also champions economic justice, advocating for fair wages, job creation, and workers’ rights, as well as the protection and expansion of public services, particularly in education and healthcare. AYL seeks to increase the political participation of young people and supports progressive foreign policy grounded in human rights and global cooperation. Although it aligns with ALP values, AYL often takes more progressive stances, reflecting the priorities of its younger membership.[citation needed]

National conference

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Biennially Australian Young Labor holds a conference in a capital city, normally Canberra. The conference is usually held at a university campus and typically features guest speakers from the ALP. At the conference several positions are elected by delegates chosen from state branches. Fifteen executive positions are also elected. The Young Labor National President is a non-voting ex-officio representative on the Australian Labor Party National Executive.

Notable conference action

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  • The inaugural Australian Young Labor Conference, held in Adelaide in 1972, drew controversy following the alleged surveillance of conference delegates by Australian Federal Police officers. The conference had suspended on the second day to vote on an urgency motion condemning the presence of police. The motion passed, and the conference adjourned to allow members to form a vocal and public protest against two federal police officers who had been stationed outside the conference venue.[8] The protest was ultimately peaceful and no arrests were made.
  • Less than three months following the controversial dismissal of the Whitlam government by Governor-General Sir John Kerr, the Australian Young Labor conference passed a motion for Kerr to be disallowed entry back into Australia following completion of an overseas trip. The motion was submitted by the South Australian delegation, and called on Australian trade unions to use the power of their membership base to block Kerr's return, stating "if Sir John thought he had a democratic right to dismiss Mr Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister then trade unions also have the right to withdraw their labour."[10]
  • Following some division between left and right factions of the AYL in 2023 about the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism,[11] New South Wales Young Labor adopted unanimously a motion in 2025 condemning antisemitism and promoting Jewish participation[12] in the ALP by establishing a working group to advise the executive on matters relating to anti-Semitism, inclusion and representation.[13]

National Executive

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National Presidents

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Name State Term start Term end Other offices held Ref
Bob McMullan Western Australia 1972 1973 ALP National Secretary (1981–1988)
Senator for the Australian Capital Territory (1988–1996)
Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Canberra (1996–1998) and Fraser (1998–2010)
Minister in the Keating government (1993–1996)		 [14]
Pam Allan New South Wales 1975 1976 Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Wentworthville (1988–1991, 1999–2007) and Blacktown (1991–1999)
Minister in the Carr government (1995–1999)		 [15]
Arch Bevis Queensland 1978 1979 Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Brisbane (1990–2010) [16]
Terry Connolly South Australia 1979 1980 Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly (1990–1996)
Minister in the Follett government (1991–1995)
Judge of the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court (2003–2007)		 [17]
Glenn Bachelor New South Wales 1980 1981 [18]
Paul Pearce New South Wales 1981 1982 Australian Young Labor Secretary (1980–1981)
Mayor of Waverley (1997–2004)
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Coogee (2003–2011)		 [19]
Steve Bartos Australian Capital Territory 1983 1984 ACT Young Labor President (1981–1982) [20]
Joanne Scard New South Wales 1986 1987 [21]
Ian Rogers New South Wales 1987 1988 [22][23]
Janelle Howe Queensland 1988 1989 [24]
Sue Thompson Australian Capital Territory 1990 1991 [25][26]
Tony Burke New South Wales 1993 1994 Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2003–2004)
Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Watson (2004– )
Minister in the Rudd (2007–2010, 2013), Gillard (2010–2013) and Albanese (2022– ) governments.		 [27][28]
Tim Holding Victoria 1994 1995 Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Springvale (1999–2002) and Lyndhurst (2002–2013)
Minister in the Bracks and Brumby governments (2006–2010)		 [29][30]
Cherie Burton New South Wales 1995 1996 Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Kogarah (1999–2015)
Minister in the Iemma government (2005–2007)		 [31]
Ben Hubbard Victoria 1996 1997 Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister (2011–2013) [32][33]
Milton Dick Queensland 1997 1998 Queensland Labor State Secretary (2004–2008)
Brisbane City Councillor (2008–2016)
Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Oxley (2016– )
Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives (2022– )		 [34][35]
Daniel Cook New South Wales 1998 1999 Councillor for the City of Gosford (1999–2004) [36]
Jacki O'Mara Queensland 1999 2000 [37][38]
Amanda Rishworth South Australia 2000 2001 Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Kingston (2007– )
Minister in the Albanese government (2022– )		 [16]
2001 2002
2002 2003
Alex Dighton South Australia 2003 2004 Member of the South Australian House of Assembly for Black (2024– ) [39][40]
2004 2005
2005 2006
2006 2007
Sam Crosby New South Wales 2007 2008 [41][42]
Ben Rillo South Australia 2015 2017
Jack Boyd 2017 2019
Jason Byrne South Australia 2019 2021
Ali Amin South Australia 2021 2023
Manu Risoldi New South Wales 2023 Mid-2025
Eloise Atterton South Australia Mid-2025 2025
Chris Hancock Queensland 2025 Incumbent

National Secretaries

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Name State Term start Term end Other offices held Ref
Gillian Currie Australian Capital Territory 1979 1980 [43]
Paul Pearce New South Wales 1980 1981 Australian Young Labor President (1981–1982)
Mayor of Waverley (1997–2004)
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Coogee (2003–2011)		 [19]
Shane Maddick Victoria 1981 1982 [19]
Mark Cuomo Western Australia 1983 1984 [44]
Mark Kenny South Australia 1985 1986 [45][46]
Grant Fitsner South Australia 1986 1987 [21]
Sue Thompson Australian Capital Territory 1992 1993 [47]
Liam McKay Queensland 1993 1994 [27]
Eddie Husic New South Wales 1994 1995 Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Chifley (2010–present)
Minister in the Albanese government (2022–2025)		 [48][29]
1995 1996
Justin Jarvis South Australia 1996 1997 [33][49]
Aaron Gadiel New South Wales 1997 1998 [34]
Paul Bini Tasmania 1998 1999 [36]
Jamie Driscoll Australian Capital Territory 1999 2000 [37]
2000 2001
2001 2002
2002 2003
Lambros Tapinos Victoria 2003 2004 Councillor for the City of Merri-bek (2008–2024) [50][39]
2004 2005
2005 2006
2015 2017
Gemma Paech South Australia 2017 2019
2019 2021
Ella Gvildys Victoria 2021 2023
Isabella Scattini Queensland 2023 2025
Louis Gordon Australian Capital Territory 2025 Incumbent [51]

Other notable former officeholders

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Criticism and controversy

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On 8 December 2004, The Sydney Morning Herald published allegations that factional leaders within the Labor Party in New South Wales were "petty, faction obsessed and vindictive". The article, authored by Aubrey Belford, then a member of the ALP and former editor of the Sydney University student paper, Honi Soit, laments a Young Labor dominated by factional infighting, "Put simply, the party culture encourages young people to devote their energy to pursuing objectives that ultimately have no impact on the real world, and to pursue them through ritual political violence."[71]

On 23 January 2012, president of Queensland Young Labor, Chaiy Donati came under significant criticism following links to the United States Republican Party. Online news source Crikey reported that he helped anti-war and pro drug legalisation Republican candidate Ron Paul in his fight for the primaries in New Hampshire. Ron Paul came second to Mitt Romney on the Republican Party ballot, and, as a write-in candidate, second to Barack Obama on the Democratic Party ballot in New Hampshire.[72] On his return to Queensland, numerous factional rivalries emerged between members. Despite this, Chaiy Donati remained the right's factional leader and in 2013 secured Queensland's Kerrie Kahlon the Australian Young Labor presidency. Chaiy Donati returned to the United States in April 2016, this time working on the Democratic primaries for Bernie Sanders in a close run against Hillary Clinton.[72]

In August 2018, Federal Labor staffer and ACT Young Labor member Nick Douros was suspended from his role in the party and quit as a staffer to Senator David Smith.[73][74][75] The party's internal disputes tribunal upheld an allegation he and ACT Young Labor conduct contact officer Francis Claessens, and Niall Cummins — had contravened the party's code of conduct for bullying a fellow member, calling her a "rat" and saying they would make her life hell. All three men were ordered to attend mediation and undergo respectful behaviour training. The victim alleged she was targeted as a result of an internal party stoush during the pre-selection process for seats.[76] In 2019, Nick Douros was elected national secretary of AYL.[77]

References

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  1. ↑ "A.5 Any person 15 years and over can join the Party".
  2. ↑ "home". NSW Young Labor. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  3. ↑ "Young Labor League of Western Australia". Westralian Worker. 5 March 1920. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  4. ↑ "Labor Guild of Youth". The Northern Champion. 9 October 1926. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "For Young Labor". The Labor Daily. 22 June 1927. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "Young Labor in street protest". The Canberra Times. 4 April 1972. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "ALP Platform, Constitution and Rules as approved by the 30th Federal Conference, 1973" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Young Labor in street protest". The Canberra Times. 4 April 1972. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Allow draft resisters in: Young Labor". The Canberra Times. 24 April 1973. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "Young Labor Movement: Stop Kerr from entering Australia". PNG Post-Courier. 26 January 1976. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "Young Labor embraces definition of antisemitism" by Peter Kohn, 20 April 2023, The Australian Jewish News
  12. ↑ "Our motion condemning antisemitism ,,," by Tanna Klevansky, 1 December 2025, LinkedIn
  13. ↑ "NSW Young Labor takes action to combat creeping anti-Semitism" by Lachlan Leeming, 1 December 2025, The Australian
  14. ↑ "New chums in class: rash of fresh faces in ministry". The Canberra Times. 24 March 1993. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Woman to head body". The Canberra Times. 28 January 1975. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Handbook 46th Parliament" (PDF). aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  17. ↑ Lombard, George (22 April 1990). "Newest politician is a man to watch". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "ALP accuses socialists". The Canberra Times. 28 January 1980. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 "Juniors ask ALP to back marihuana". The Canberra Times. 27 January 1981. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "Young Labor conference: support for blockade at Roxby Downs". The Canberra Times. 6 February 1984. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  21. 1 2 Fraser, Andrew (29 April 1986). "Flying visit to ensure Labor's left-wing win". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "Meeting with PM". The Canberra Times. 23 April 1988. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  23. ↑ "'No Way' says Young Labor". The Canberra Times. 11 November 1987. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Young Labor Movement to fight tax". The Canberra Times. 8 May 1988. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  25. ↑ Seidel, Helen (29 August 1990). "Young Labor row prompts report". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  26. ↑ Seidel, Helen (27 August 1990). "Canberra student is the new head of Young Labor". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  27. 1 2 3 "ALP Communications Directory 1993-1994" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  28. ↑ "Hon Tony Burke MP". aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  29. 1 2 3 "ALP Communications directory 1994-1995" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  30. ↑ "Timothy James Holding". www.parliament.vic.gov.au. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  31. ↑ "Taking on the house work". Nine Entertainment Co. Sydney Morning Herald. 25 February 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  32. ↑ Robin, Myriam (6 May 2019). "As Labor prepares for office, Ben Hubbard's a free agent". Nine Entertainment Co. Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  33. 1 2 3 "ALP Communications Directory 1996-1997" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  34. 1 2 "ALP Communications Directory 1997-1998" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  35. ↑ "Hon Milton Dick MP". www.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  36. 1 2 3 4 "ALP Communications Directory 1998-1999" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  37. 1 2 3 "ALP Communications Directory 1999-2000" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  38. ↑ "New female National Young Labor president - 'Women must make it on their own merits'" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 "ALP Communications Directory 2003-2004 (9th)" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  40. ↑ Hough, Andrew (17 November 2024). "Alex Dighton pays tribute to son, Clancy, who died last year aged nine weeks". News Corporation. The Advertiser. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  41. ↑ Wilson, Ashleigh (7 June 2008). "Young Labor votes to reject charter of rights". News Corporation. The Australian. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  42. ↑ Massola, James (17 June 2019). "Labor rising star Sam Crosby ready to run in Reid against Craig Laundy". Australian Community Media. Canberra Times. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  43. ↑ Smith, Paul (28 January 1979). "Young Labor Movement in disarray". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  44. 1 2 "Young Labor was change to policies". The Canberra Times. 31 January 1983. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  45. ↑ Conkey, Howard (31 January 1986). "Young Labor meeting on ice". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  46. ↑ "Mark Kenny joins cousin Chris, both from Adelaide, in high-profile media politics careers from different stances". AdelaideAZ. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  47. ↑ Lamberton, Hugh (12 June 1992). "Labor platform 'ignored'". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  48. ↑ "The Who's Who of National Conference". Private Media Pty Ltd. Crikey. 29 January 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  49. ↑ "Academic predicts ALP may win Stuart". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. 17 March 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  50. ↑ Phillips, Mark (30 November 2024). "Labor's Tapinos defeated in bid for fifth council term". Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  51. ↑ "National Executive". alp.org.au. Australian Labor Party. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  52. ↑ "Compulsory community service plan gets mixed reaction". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. 7 January 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  53. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Past Leaders". www.nswyounglabor.com. NSW Young Labor. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  54. ↑ "Mr Christian Zahra AM". www.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  55. 1 2 "Parliamentary Handbook 1978" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  56. ↑ "Parliamentary Handbook 2008" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  57. ↑ "Parliamentary Handbook 1996" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  58. ↑ "Parliamentary Handbook 1988" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  59. ↑ "Senator Fatima Payman". parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  60. ↑ Saunders, Kay. "Denis Joseph Murphy (1936–1984)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  61. ↑ Lawrence, Carmen. "Dame Dorothy Margaret Tangney (1907–1985)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  62. ↑ "NSW Young Labor expels secretary". The Canberra Times. 20 September 1993. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  63. ↑ Fraser, Andrew (3 December 1986). "Factions fighting in Young Labor". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  64. ↑ "PM rejects Haslem dole proposal". The Canberra Times. 24 May 1979. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  65. ↑ "Right selects its candidates". The Canberra Times. 7 July 1995. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  66. ↑ Baden, Samantha (18 February 2000). "Downgrade relations, rally urges". The Australian Jewish News. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  67. ↑ "Left to Boycott Young Labor Conference" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Library. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  68. ↑ "Frank Crean (1916–2008)". People Australia. Australian National University. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  69. ↑ "Meet Charlotte Walker, the youngest senator in Australia's history". SBS News. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  70. ↑ "Senator Richard Dowling". aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  71. ↑ "Labor's bloody rituals lead to a dead end". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 December 2004. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  72. 1 2 Andrew Crook (23 January 2012). "While Labor fights in Qld, its young leader joins GOP campaign". Crikey. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  73. ↑ Whyte, Sally (21 February 2019). "David Smith staffer resigned after bullying investigation". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  74. ↑ Emily Baker; Michael Inman (26 August 2018). "'I'm going to make her life hell': ACT Young Labor bullying complaint". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  75. ↑ "'Bully the f*** out of her': ACT Young Labor president resigns after workplace allegations". ABC News (Australia). 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  76. ↑ Michael Inman (24 February 2019). "Young ACT Labor staffer resigns after bullying former member, calls her a rat". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  77. ↑ White, Daniella (16 September 2019). "Former ACT Young Labor president accused of bullying made national secretary". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
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