Australian Young Labor

"Young Labor" redirects here. For other youth organisations, see Young Labour. Not to be confused with Child labour.

Australian Young Labor
PresidentChris Hancock
National SecretaryLouis Gordon
Founded19 October 1926 (1926-10-19)[1]
Preceded byLabor Guild of Youth
HeadquartersCanberra, Australian Capital Territory
IdeologySocial democracy
Democratic socialism
PositionCentre-left to left-wing
Mother partyAustralian Labor Party

Australian Young Labor (AYL), also known as the Young Labor Movement or simply Young Labor, is the youth wing of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) representing all party members aged between 14 and 26.[2][3] The organisation operates as a federation with independently functioning branches in all Australian states and territories which serve under the relevant state or territory branch of the federal Labor Party, often coming together during national conferences and federal elections. Young Labor is the oldest continuously operating youth wing of any political party in Australian history, being founded in 1926.

Young Labor is very closely connected and integrated with its mother party, with many members of the organisation leading successful political careers after the fact. Former presidents of Young Labor have included former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr, current federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke, former Special Minister of State, Senator John Faulkner, former member for Maribyrnong and former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten, as well as various of state and federal ministers and MPs.

Formation

The Labor Guild of Youth was established in Victoria in 1926. The first provisional meeting of the ALP's Youth Council was held in 1948. By the 1960s most states had created young labor organisations, usually called the Young Labor Association (YLA). In the early 1970s there was a move to set up a national organisation. In 1971 leaders of several state YLAs met in Adelaide to set up a national body. The first conference was held in Adelaide in early 1972 and Bob McMullin was elected as first national president. Australian Young Labor (AYL) was included in the definition of the ALP in 1973.[1]

Ideology

Australian Young Labor promotes a mix of social democracy and democratic socialism with a focus on issues relevant to younger Australians. AYL advocates for social justice, aiming to reduce inequality and improve access to essential services like healthcare and education. It supports progressive policies on LGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, Indigenous reconciliation, and multiculturalism. Environmental sustainability is a key concern, with AYL pushing for strong climate action and a transition to renewable energy. The organization also champions economic justice, advocating for fair wages, job creation, and workers’ rights, as well as the protection and expansion of public services, particularly in education and healthcare. AYL seeks to increase the political participation of young people and supports progressive foreign policy grounded in human rights and global cooperation. Although it aligns with ALP values, AYL often takes more progressive stances, reflecting the priorities of its younger membership.

Activities and roles

Young Labor is most active during state and federal elections, campaigning in marginal seats. The youth wing of the party may organise members to door knock an electorate or set up a stand in shopping centres to hand out political party notes. Members are often also asked to 'letterbox' party advertising.

Biennially Australian Young Labor holds a conference in a capital city, normally Canberra. The conference is usually held at a university campus and typically features guest speakers from the ALP.

At the conference several positions are elected by delegates chosen from state branches. Fifteen executive positions are also elected. The National Young Labor President is a non-voting representative on the Australian Labor Party National Executive

Australian Young Labor also sends two voting delegates to the national convention of the ALP.

National Presidents

Name State Term start Term end Other offices held Ref
Arch Bevis Queensland 1978 1979 Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Brisbane (1990–2010) [4]
Tony Burke New South Wales 1993 1994 Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2003–2004)
Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Watson (2004– )
Minister in the Rudd (2007–2010, 2013), Gillard (2010–2013) and Albanese (2022– ) governments. 		[5][6]
Tim Holding Victoria 1994 1995 Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Springvale (1999–2002) and Lyndhurst (2002–2013)
Minister in the Bracks and Brumby governments (2006–2010) 		[7][8]
1995 1996
Ben Hubbard Victoria 1996 1997 Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister (2011–2013) [9][10]
Milton Dick Queensland 1997 1998 Queensland Labor State Secretary (2004–2008)
Brisbane City Councillor (2008–2016)
Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Oxley (2016– )
Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives (2022– ) 		[11][12]
Daniel Cook New South Wales 1998 1999 Councillor for the City of Gosford (1999–2004) [13]
Jacki O'Mara Queensland 1999 2000 [14][15]
Amanda Rishworth South Australia 2000 2001 Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Kingston (2007– )
Minister in the Albanese government (2022– ) 		[4]
2001 2002
2002 2003
Alex Dighton South Australia 2003 2004 Member of the South Australian House of Assembly for Black (2024– ) [16][17]
2004 2005
2005 2006
2006 2007
Sam Crosby New South Wales 2007 2008 [18][19]

National Secretaries

Name State Term start Term end Other offices held Ref
Liam McKay Queensland 1993 1994 [5]
Eddie Husic New South Wales 1994 1995 Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Chifley (2010– )
Minister in the Albanese government (2022–2025) 		[20][7]
1995 1996
Justin Jarvis South Australia 1996 1997 [10][21]
Aaron Gadiel New South Wales 1997 1998 [11]
Paul Bini Tasmania 1998 1999 [13]
Jamie Driscoll Australian Capital Territory 1999 2000 [14]
2000 2001
2001 2002
2002 2003
Lambros Tapinos Victoria 2003 2004 Councillor for the City of Merri-bek (2008–2024) [22][16]
2004 2005
2005 2006

Other notable former officeholders

Organisation

Each state has its own branch of Young Labor, functioning as a party unit (referred to as New South Wales Young Labor, Victorian Young Labor, etc.). Nationally, the branches are federated to the National organisation, which has its own president and executive.

State Organisation

The South Australian Branch of Young Labor at the 2025 federal election had its branch president; Charlotte Walker preselected third on the South Australian Labor Senate Ticket and saw her subsequently elected [33]

Criticism and controversy

On 8 December 2004, The Sydney Morning Herald published allegations that factional leaders within the Labor Party in New South Wales were "petty, faction obsessed and vindictive". The article, authored by Aubrey Belford, then a member of the ALP and former editor of the Sydney University student paper, Honi Soit, laments a Young Labor dominated by factional infighting, "Put simply, the party culture encourages young people to devote their energy to pursuing objectives that ultimately have no impact on the real world, and to pursue them through ritual political violence."[34]

On 23 January 2012, president of Queensland Young Labor, Chaiy Donati came under significant criticism following links to the United States Republican Party. Online news source Crikey reported that he helped anti-war and pro drug legalisation Republican candidate Ron Paul in his fight for the primaries in New Hampshire. Ron Paul came second to Mitt Romney on the Republican Party ballot, and, as a write-in candidate, second to Barack Obama on the Democratic Party ballot in New Hampshire.[35] On his return to Queensland, numerous factional rivalries emerged between members. Despite this, Chaiy Donati remained the right's factional leader and in 2013 secured Queensland's Kerrie Kahlon the Australian Young Labor presidency. Chaiy Donati returned to the United States in April 2016, this time working on the Democratic primaries for Bernie Sanders in a close run against Hillary Clinton.[35]

In August 2018, Federal Labor staffer and ACT Young Labor member Nick Douros was suspended from his role in the party and quit as a staffer to Senator David Smith.[36][37][38] The party's internal disputes tribunal upheld an allegation he and ACT Young Labor conduct contact officer Francis Claessens, and Niall Cummins — had contravened the party's code of conduct for bullying a fellow member, calling her a "rat" and saying they would make her life hell. All three men were ordered to attend mediation and undergo respectful behaviour training. The victim alleged she was targeted as a result of an internal party stoush during the pre-selection process for seats.[39] In 2019, Nick Douros was elected national secretary of AYL.[40]

Following some division between left and right factions of the AYL in 2023 about the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism,[41] New South Wales Young Labor adopted unanimously a motion in 2025 condemning antisemitism and promoting Jewish participation[42] in the ALP by establishing a working group to advise the executive on matters relating to anti-Semitism, inclusion and representation.[43]

References

  1. ^ a b History: Australian Young Labor
  2. ^ "A.5 Any person 15 years and over can join the Party".
  3. ^ "home". NSW Young Labor. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Handbook 46th Parliament" (PDF). aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  5. ^ a b c "ALP Communications Directory 1993-1994" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Hon Tony Burke MP". aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  7. ^ a b c "ALP Communications directory 1994-1995" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Timothy James Holding". www.parliament.vic.gov.au. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  9. ^ Robin, Myriam (6 May 2019). "As Labor prepares for office, Ben Hubbard's a free agent". Nine Entertainment Co. Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  10. ^ a b c "ALP Communications Directory 1996-1997" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  11. ^ a b "ALP Communications Directory 1997-1998" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Hon Milton Dick MP". www.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  13. ^ a b c d "ALP Communications Directory 1998-1999" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  14. ^ a b c "ALP Communications Directory 1999-2000" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  15. ^ "New female National Young Labor president - 'Women must make it on their own merits'" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  16. ^ a b c d e "ALP Communications Directory 2003-2004 (9th)" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  17. ^ Hough, Andrew (17 November 2024). "Alex Dighton pays tribute to son, Clancy, who died last year aged nine weeks". News Corporation. The Advertiser. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  18. ^ Wilson, Ashleigh (7 June 2008). "Young Labor votes to reject charter of rights". News Corporation. The Australian. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  19. ^ Massola, James (17 June 2019). "Labor rising star Sam Crosby ready to run in Reid against Craig Laundy". Australian Community Media. Canberra Times. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  20. ^ "The Who's Who of National Conference". Private Media Pty Ltd. Crikey. 29 January 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  21. ^ "Academic predicts ALP may win Stuart". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. 17 March 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  22. ^ Phillips, Mark (30 November 2024). "Labor's Tapinos defeated in bid for fifth council term". Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  23. ^ "Compulsory community service plan gets mixed reaction". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. 7 January 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Past Leaders". www.nswyounglabor.com. NSW Young Labor. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  25. ^ "Mr Christian Zahra AM". www.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  26. ^ a b "Parliamentary Handbook 1978" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  27. ^ "Parliamentary Handbook 2008" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  28. ^ "Parliamentary Handbook 1996" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Parliamentary Handbook 1988" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  30. ^ "Senator Fatima Payman". parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  31. ^ Saunders, Kay. "Denis Joseph Murphy (1936–1984)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  32. ^ Lawrence, Carmen. "Dame Dorothy Margaret Tangney (1907–1985)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  33. ^ "Meet Charlotte Walker, the youngest senator in Australia's history". SBS News. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  34. ^ "Labor's bloody rituals lead to a dead end". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 December 2004. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  35. ^ a b Andrew Crook (23 January 2012). "While Labor fights in Qld, its young leader joins GOP campaign". Crikey. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  36. ^ Whyte, Sally (21 February 2019). "David Smith staffer resigned after bullying investigation". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  37. ^ Emily Baker; Michael Inman (26 August 2018). "'I'm going to make her life hell': ACT Young Labor bullying complaint". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  38. ^ "'Bully the f*** out of her': ACT Young Labor president resigns after workplace allegations". ABC News (Australia). 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  39. ^ Michael Inman (24 February 2019). "Young ACT Labor staffer resigns after bullying former member, calls her a rat". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  40. ^ White, Daniella (16 September 2019). "Former ACT Young Labor president accused of bullying made national secretary". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  41. ^ "Young Labor embraces definition of antisemitism" by Peter Kohn, 20 April 2023, The Australian Jewish News
  42. ^ "Our motion condemning antisemitism ,,," by Tanna Klevansky, 1 December 2025, LinkedIn
  43. ^ "NSW Young Labor takes action to combat creeping anti-Semitism" by Lachlan Leeming, 1 December 2025, The Australian
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