Australian Labor Party

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is one of the two major political parties in Australia. The party was made in 1891; it is the oldest political party in Australia. It is currently in power in Australia, meaning that it runs the Government. Its current leader and Australia's Prime Minister is Julia Gillard. They are a social democratic party with strong links to the Trade Union movement. Since 1944, their main opponents have been the Liberal Party of Australia.

Group photograph of Federal Labour Party MPs elected to the Australian House of Representatives and Australian Senate at the first 1901 election, including Chris Watson, Andrew Fisher, Billy Hughes, Frank Tudor, King O'Malley and Lee Batchelor.

Kevin Rudd (right) and Julia Gillard (left) at their first press conference as Leader and Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party, 4 December 2006

History

In the 1860's the trade unions in Australia began to try to get better wages and working conditions for their members. They were defeated by employers, the legal system, and the governments of the Australian colonies. Workers soon decided that they needed to become active in politics, and make changes through parliament. The first meeting of the ALP is said to have taken place in Barcaldine, Queensland in 1891. A group of shearers, who were involved in a big strike action, held a meeting in the shade of a large ghost gum (eucalyptus) tree, Corymbia aparrerinja. This tree became known as the "Tree of Knowledge".

Prime Ministers of Australia

• Chris Watson, 1904.
• Andrew Fisher, 1908-1909 and 1910-1913 and 1914-1915.
• Billy Hughes, 1915
• James Scullin, 1929-1932.
• John Curtin, 1941-1945.
• Frank Forde, 1945.
• Ben Chifley, 1945-1949
• Gough Whitlam, 1972-1975.
• Bob Hawke, 1983-1991.
• Paul Keating, 1991-1996.
• Kevin Rudd, 2007-2010.
• Julia Gillard, 2010-current.

Current leaders of States and Territories of Australia

• Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales) – John Robertson, since 2011.
• Leader of the Opposition (Victoria) - Daniel Andrews, since 2010.
• Premier of Queensland – Anna Bligh, since 2007.
• Premier of South Australia – Jay Weatherill, since 2011.
• Premier of Tasmania – Lara Giddings, since 2011.
• Leader of the Opposition (Western Australia) - Eric Ripper, since 2008.
• Chief Minister of the Northern Territory - Paul Henderson, since 2007.
• Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory - Katy Gallagher, since 2011.