SUBJECT: RUDD RULES AT LABOR NATIONAL CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000709 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2019 TAGS: AS PGOV PREL SUBJECT: SUBJECT: RUDD RULES AT LABOR NATIONAL CONFERENCE REF: CANBERRA 673 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR JAMES F. COLE. REASON: 1.4 (C) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY The ruling Australian Labor Party's (ALP) National Conference displayed unprecedented cohesion and provided further evidence of Prime Minister Rudd's authority over the party. Although journalists derided it as boring, party officials believe the conference gave the public what it wanted: the image of a united party focused on steering Australia through economic challenges. Gay marriage and industrial relations caused some tensions, but these were worked out behind the scenes. Significantly, not one issue required a formal vote. The conference affirmed the ALP's strong support for the Australia/US Alliance. The Defense Minister successfully moved a resolution pledging the party to continue support for the fight in Afghanistan. On the debit side, the ALP platform projected a very negative position on national missile defense (MD). A setback for the ALP was Employment Participation Minister Mark Arbib's embarrassing inability to explain the details of Rudd's "Green Jobs" announcement. End summary. MEDIA FRUSTRATED BY SERENE GATHERING ¶2. (SBU) The 45th ALP National Conference was held in Sydney July 30 - August 1. Prior to the conference, a draft 2009 platform was circulated (reftel). Amendments were proposed and "debated" but these were agreed behind the scenes by the factions. No formal vote was required on any issue. Increasingly, ALP National Conferences are stage-managed showpieces for party unity and the party leader. Journalists were frustrated that there was little controversy; some even questioned the point of the conference. However, ALP insiders maintained to us the public wants a united party that is focused on solving the nation's problems. Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said: "I know it wasn't all that much fun for the media but we're not entertainers, we're a political party in government." FACTIONS WORKING WELL TOGETHER ¶3. (SBU) One senior figure told us the factions have "never worked as well together". He opined that the end of the Cold War had played a big part in blurring the ideological divide between the Left and Right, pointing out that the Defense and Finance Ministers are notionally from the Left. It was generally accepted that Rudd government Ministers and power brokers Mark Arbib (Right) and Anthony Albanese (Left) were Rudd's key conduits to the factions. RUDD TRIES TO INSPIRE RANK AND FILE ¶4. (SBU) Rudd's speech to the conference appeared designed to appeal to ALP "true believers" and the Left - possibly because he is an "outsider" in the ALP (e.g. he is not close to the unions). Rudd praised the achievements of past ALP governments and derided the "free market fundamentalism" of the Right. The Rudd government had apologized to indigenous Australians; ratified Kyoto; abolished WorkChoices; softened immigration policy; and withdrawn combat forces from Iraq. Rudd declared Labor was a "nation building" party which believes "unapologetically in the role of government". He urged delegates to commit to a "long term reformist government," reminding them that the ALP had only been in power one third of the time since federation. ARBIB FUMBLES ¶5. (SBU) In a major announcement, Rudd unveiled an initiative for "50,000 new green jobs" - traineeships and apprenticeships targeted at young Australians. However, in a television interview, Employment participation Minister Mark Qtelevision interview, Employment participation Minister Mark Arbib stumbled, admitting he didn't have the details of the proposal. The media and Opposition jumped on this. The next day, Rudd conceded that Arbib "didn't have the best of days". Arbib's career has flourished under Rudd so it was not surprising that some of his detractors in the party took pleasure in his embarrassing performance. SOME TENSIONS OVER INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS & GAY MARRIAGE ¶6. (SBU As predicted, there were tensions over the Rudd government's retention of the building industry watchdog; Left-leaning unions marched in protest outside the conference. Union powerbrokers and the government reached a compromise which essentially means the government will seek to reduce specialist oversight of the industry, but in CANBERRA 00000709 002 OF 002 keeping with Labor's 2007 election commitment. The issue which caused most tension at the conference was the push from the Left, including Albanese, for legalized gay marriage (the Marriage Act only applies to heterosexual couples). At one point, a Right Ministerial adviser - in contact with the Christian Lobby - told us he feared Rudd would be "rolled" over on this issue (Rudd undertook not to support gay marriage before he was elected). However, Rudd and the Right won. One MP told us the lack of debate on trade - usually a big issue for the unions - was an example of how well managed the conference was. STRONG SUPPORT FOR US AND WAR IN AFGHANISTAN ¶7. (SBU) The Foreign and Defense chapter of the platform was approved without controversy. There were no amendments moved in relation to the draft platform's strong support for the US Alliance (reftel). Defense Minister Faulkner moved a resolution, seconded by Foreign Minister Smith, pledging the party's support for the war in Afghanistan. In a passionate speech, Faulkner said it was in Australia's interests to ensure Afghanistan is no longer a terrorist training ground. He said 100 Australians had died in terrorist attacks which made it incumbent on the government to ensure success in Afghanistan. Furthermore, he said abandoning the Afghan people would go against Labor tradition. Australia "can't ignore the strategic reality". Some ALP figures told us there was a push from a small group in the Left for a withdrawal of troops, but that this was quelled. BUT NEGATIVE WORDS ON NATIONAL BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE ¶8. (C/NF) In contrast to the strong support for the Australia - U.S Alliance voiced by the ALP leaders and set down in the platform, on national ballistic missile defense (MD) the platform adopted by the Conference was not positive. It declared that MD "is disproportionate, technically questionable, costly and likely to be counterproductive. It also has the potential to undermine non-proliferation and derail world progress towards nuclear disarmament." The MD issue has long been a focus of ALP left-wing ire, stretching from an anti - "Star Wars" movement in the 1980s to present. (Note: The U.S. and Australia signed a 2004 MOU on MD cooperation, mainly in exercises and information sharing. The GOA is still considering its long-term position. When the Charge expressed to Defense Minister Faulkner on the eve of the Conference our disappointment with the strong draft language and contrasted it with assurances given earlier that the issue would be worked out within the party, Faulkner responded that the MD draft language had "dropped through the cracks" during the transition following former Defense Minister Fitzgibbon's resignation several months ago.) WIN FOR RUDD ¶9. (SBU) Comment: Though he received polite applause, there was not an overwhelming display of affection for Kevin Rudd displayed by the delegates - in contrast to traditional outpourings from the party faithful at these conventions. To many observers Mr. Rudd's speech was regarded as boring, and his reaching out to the party faithful appeared contrived. There was far greater warmth for former Prime Minister Bob Hawke - a charismatic former union official - who delivered a strong and entertaining speech with little reference to notes. Yet Rudd, to the bewilderment of many observers, remains highly popular with voters across the political spectrum. This is the bedrock of Rudd's unchallenged Qspectrum. This is the bedrock of Rudd's unchallenged authority over the party. Rudd went to the conference wanting a united party and backing for his agenda - he got that. It invites a contrast between the cohesion of Rudd's team and the division in Malcolm Turnbull's Opposition. END COMMENT.