Labor’s draft policy platform waters down rather than scraps its longheld opposition to mandatory jail sentences

Anthony Albanese at the 2026 NSW Labor state conference. The party’s draft policy platform document has been circulated to Labor members before the national conference later this month. Photograph: Steven Markham/AAP View image in fullscreen Anthony Albanese at the 2026 NSW Labor state conference. The party’s draft policy platform document has been circulated to Labor members before the national conference later this month. Photograph: Steven Markham/AAP Labor’s draft policy platform waters down rather than scraps its longheld opposition to mandatory jail sentences Updated document also commits party to cracking down on inducements for online gambling, putting pressure on Albanese government to toughen reforms Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Labor will water down its opposition to mandatory jail sentences but has abandoned an earlier draft of its policy platform that would have seen the party scrap its longheld stance entirely. The draft platform obtained by Guardian Australia also commits Labor to cracking down on inducements for online wagering, putting pressure on the Albanese government to toughen up its proposed reforms to gambling advertising. The updated document has been circulated to Labor members before the party’s national conference later this month, where MPs, unions and rank-and-file members will convene in Adelaide to debate the party’s agenda. The national platform – which is debated every three years – sets out Labor’s beliefs, priorities and aspirations although the parliamentary party is not strictly bound to implement it. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Guardian Australia earlier this year revealed that the first version of the draft platform did not include reference to the party’s long-held opposition to mandatory minimum sentencing. Almost no one is happy with Labor’s gambling crackdown. Albanese may as well do the right thing and get tough Read more The omission came after the Albanese government flouted the platform on several occasions to support minimum sentences, including on laws cracking down on antisemitism and the displaying of hate symbols. The repeated breaches caused internal angst and prompted criticism from Labor elder Kim Carr. After weeks of consultation with Labor members, a watered-down version of the old position has been re-inserted into the latest draft. While the document does not explicitly state that Labor opposes mandatory sentencing, as past platforms did, it says the party recognises that the legal requirement “does not reduce crime and undermines the independence of the judiciary”. It also states that Labor “will always respect the independence of the judiciary, which is fundamental to the rule of law and our democratic society”. If adopted at the 23-25 July conference, the draft platform would put immediate pressure on the Albanese government to strengthen its gambling advertising legislation before