Our Values
Through the good times and through the tough times, the great mission of Australian Labor governments for more than one hundred years has been to improve the lives of ordinary Australians—giving every Australian opportunities through education and training, ensuring fairness at work and supporting Australians throughout the different stages and transitions of their lives.
Labor has stood by Australians in difficult and uncertain times, building a strong safety net and providing help through hardship. Labor has promoted social justice, compassion and the fair go at home and abroad.
Labor has been the nation-building party, consistently lifting the nation's ambitions for our future, and calling forth the best from all Australians. Labor has always looked to Australia's long-term challenges, to identify the challenges of the future and to prepare for them.
Today, Australia confronts profound challenges due to changes in the global economy, the increasing threat of climate change and a new range of security threats. Labor is the party to navigate these great challenges.
Labor will deliver the decisive action and long-term preparation needed to take Australia through the stormy waters of global recession and build a productive economy that can compete in a world that is being transformed by the rise of China and India. Labor will prepare Australia for the challenge of climate change, enabling our transition to becoming a low carbon pollution economy and planning for the long-term impacts of increased drought and water shortages. In the face of the security threats from terrorism and regional instability, Labor will strengthen Australia's defences and increase our international engagement, in order to build a more secure Australian future.
Labor confronts these challenges of the future with confidence in our resilience as Australians, the relevance of our enduring values, and our collective resolve to work together towards the common good.