ALP National Conference Begins In Hobart

The Australian Labor Party's National Conference begins today in Hobart. The conference is the supreme governing body of the party and consists of nearly 200 delegates from all States and Territories. It includes all the parliamentary leaders of the party around the country.

Full details of the Conference are available from the ALP's web site. Full information about the conference, including a list of delegates, is available by clicking here.

The conference will write the party's platform for the election due next year. Click here to download a copy of the draft platform to be considered by the delegates.

The conference comes amid criticism of Opposition Leader Kim Beazley's leadership in the wake of the debacle that followed John Della Bosca's public comments questioning the party's "rollback" strategy on the GST.

The conference will also elect a new party president to replace Barry Jones. Della Bosca was originally the annointed candidate, but he withdrew following his comments on the GST. It seems likely that right-wing Victorian union leader Greg Sword will win the position.

Attention will also focus on the factional composition of the new National Executive which will also be elected during the week.

The Conference concludes on Thursday.

• Beazley's Party Poopers - another scathing article from Alan Ramsey

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