Labor's command and control culture may come with a cost
For Labor, the more lasting issue is what sacrifice comes with its command and control culture.Much has been said about Labor's rigid discipline under Anthony Albanese. For those nostalgic about conferences past, Bob Hawke delivered a cracker of a show in 1990.Hawke sprung a surprise conference on the party to effectively rubber stamp a cabinet decision to privatise Australian Airlines and part of Qantas.There is a key difference. Hawke brought on the conference, but he also opened the floor to give opponents to privatisation an opportunity to make their case.
- ▪For Labor, the more lasting issue is what sacrifice comes with its command and control culture.Much has been said about Labor's rigid discipline under Anthony Albanese.
- ▪For those nostalgic about conferences past, Bob Hawke delivered a cracker of a show in 1990.Hawke sprung a surprise conference on the party to effectively rubber stamp a cabinet decision to privatise Australian Airlines and part of Qantas.T
- ▪Hawke brought on the conference, but he also opened the floor to give opponents to privatisation an opportunity to make their case.
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analysisLabor's national conference triumph had an unseen trade-offBy Patricia KarvelasTopic:ALPPosted Mon 27 Jul 2026 at 4:50amMon 27 Jul 2026 at 4:50amMon 27 Jul 2026 at 4:50amLabor's rigid discipline under Anthony Albanese was on display at the 50th Australian Labor Party national convention. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)abc.net.au/news/labor-conference-albanese-debate-dissent-unity-cost/106959946Link copiedShareShare articleJournalists spent a lot of last week's Labor Party conference lamenting the absence of heated debates on the conference floor.
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