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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Gerard Cockburn

Labor calls for cheaper, fairer Australia in election pledge

Federal Election 2022

A cheaper and fairer Australia is Labor's pledge to voters if it wins government on May 21.

In a packed room at Perth's Optus stadium on Sunday, the rank and file of the Labor party heard leader Anthony Albanese outline his A Better Future pitch to the nation.

"No one held back. No one left behind," were the words echoed by Mr Albanese to the more than 500 party faithful.

Cheaper medicine, childcare, energy and housing were central themes in the first West Australian campaign launch since John Curtin in the Second World War.

Labor's choice for a launch out west is off the back of Premier Mark McGowan's meteoric popularity, with the federal branch hoping a swing to the red will help them pick up the three crucial seats of Swan, Pearce and Hasluck.

The McGowan factor was on full display with the man himself and former Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Paul Keating walking out to Kylie Minogue's 2001 hit, Can't Get You Out Of My Head.

Russell Crowe also made an appearance, voicing Labor's A Better Future campaign video as a rally warm up before the main show.

Australian Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese speaks at the Labor Party campaign launch at Optus Stadium in Perth on May 1. Picture: AAP

Albanese also opted for an iconic tune, entering to Gang Gajang's Sounds of Then (This is Australia) before a room full of Labor diehards roared him on to the stage.

But the references to Australian bangers was not over, with Mr Albanese quoting another classic Minogue hit when sledging Scott Morrison's government and competency as a leader.

"Scott Morrison says you don't have to like him, but it's better the devil you know," he said. "They know it's harder to see a doctor. It's harder to buy a home and the cost of everything is going up but their wages aren't.

"That's the devil you know."

Swipes were also made at Mr Morrison's character with Mr Albanese adopting the famous quotes from French president Emmanuel Macron following the submarines blunder after the AUKUS deal was struck.

"They don't think, they know," Mr Albanese said as a play on words from Mr Macron's exchange with Australian media.

The opposition announced a more ambitious cheaper medicines proposal than the Coalition, pledging under its government, medicine costs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme would be slashed by $12.50.

Mr Albanese also pledged Labor would address closing the gender pay gap and become a key objective of the Fair Work Commission.

"Under the Liberals, Australia has fallen to 70th in the world for women's economic participation and opportunity," he said. "We will set up expert panels on pay equity and the care and community sector to help improve pay conditions for women in those sector."

Labor's Help to Buy was also core to its pledge for election, outlining further details to address the supply constraints with a new National Housing Supply and Affordability Council.

The council would become a new intergovernmental body to assist in procuring land for housing and to reduce shortages in property stock across major cities and the region.

Speeches were also delivered by Penny Wong, Jason Clare and Mark McGowan, spruiking Labor's call for a change in government.

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