Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has urged the party faithful to be prepared to fight for the future of Medicare and other Labor achievements.
In an address to the New South Wales state Labor conference, Mr Shorten launched a stinging attack on the Federal Government’s recent budget, saying it ambushed Australians.
He told the 800-strong crowd that measures put in place by Labor, including in health and education, were being destroyed by the Federal Government.
“Let us make the promise to the Australian people that Labor will fight to the death to preserve bulk billing in this country,” Mr Shorten said.
“We will fight right down to the line for the principle of universal healthcare.”
Mr Shorten described Treasurer Joe Hockey as an “arrogant cigar-chomper” who had taken cuts too far.
Yesterday the 880 conference delegates backed a proposal to give rank and file members a 50 per cent say in the election of the parliamentary leader of the party.
That is the same model that saw Mr Shorten elected federal leader last year.
Delegates rejected a bid to wrest control of Upper House and Senate pre-selections from factional and union powerbrokers.
Lifetime membership bans were also slapped on seven controversial former members, including Eddie Obeid, Ian Macdonald and Joe Tripodi.