Federal Government Expands Paid Student Placements, Labor Conference to Debate Key Policies

Students in 10 fields including physiotherapy, speech pathology and clinical psychology will receive financial assistance to complete mandatory placements under a major expansion of the federal government’s paid work experience program.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will make the announcement in a speech to open the Labor national conference on Thursday, which will cast “practical” policies as the key to combating the anxiety and frustration gripping the electorate.

Labor MPs, trade unionists and rank-and-file members will use the triennial conference to thrash out the party’s policy agenda for the next three years.

A high-level commitment to increase taxes on gas exports and wind back fuel tax credits are set to be enshrined in the official party platform, which sets a long-term expectation – rather than an immediate requirement – for the parliamentary party to act.

Deals between factional powerbrokers are expected to avert major flare-ups during the three-day conference, although there is tension ahead of Saturday’s debate on the party’s position on Israel and Palestine.

Jewish groups and Israel’s embassy in Canberra are publicly putting pressure on the party to water-down the draft text, which they claim is not critical enough of Hamas’ role in the Gaza war, while pro-Palestine supporters within Labor are pushing to strengthen the language.

Senior Labor figures believe the draft version strikes the right balance and are reluctant to bend to either group, meaning a contested debate on the conference floor is unlikely.

A Students for Palestine protest calling for a stop to arms trade with Israel – which the government disputes occurs – is planned for Thursday afternoon outside the Adelaide Convention Centre, which will have beefed-up security for the 3000-person conference.

In his speech, Albanese will attempt to draw a clear contrast between Labor and its political opponents, in particular One Nation, warning that “raging against a system” without a plan to fix it doesn’t “take the country forward”.

“I understand that for many Australians right now, looking to the future runs second to the immediate pressures they are under,” the prime minister will tell the conference, according to a draft version supplied to Guardian Australia.

“It is a challenge confronting governments and democracies right around the world.

“That is why our focus remains squarely on helping with the cost of living, on the practical measures that matter to people and make a positive difference to their lives.”

The prime minister will announce students in ten extra courses will receive up to $338.60 a week during their clinical or professional placements, starting 1 July 2027.

The courses are: clinical psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, paramedicine, radiography, pharmacy, rehabilitation therapies, audiology podiatry.

The program is currently limited to teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work.

The expansion comes after pressure from MPs including David Pocock and Helen Haines, who last month tabled a 43,000-person signature calling for allied health courses to be included.

“This is how Labor governs,” Albanese will tell the conference. “We deal with the here and now in a way that builds for the future too. We navigate the rough seas, while always keeping our eyes on the horizon.”

After Kate Ellis is installed as the new Labor president on Thursday morning, the 400 conference delegates will start debating the text of the 126-page draft platform, starting with economic and climate policies on Thursday.

Delegates from the left and right factions held lengthy meetings on Wednesday to discuss their positions on various topics.

The section of the draft platform that commits Labor to securing a “fairer return” for natural resources is expected to feature in the final text, effectively binding the Albanese government to eventually act on the campaign to increase taxes on gas exports.

Left faction sources were on Wednesday night optimistic a proposal to “remove disincentives for decarbonisation” would also make the final text after it was excluded from the draft version.

The grassroots Labor Environment Action Network (LEAN) is pushing the amendment as part of a campaign to cap fuel tax credits for mining companies, which has won the support of hundreds of local branches and Labor MP Jerome Laxale.

Even if the amendments succeed, the government is unlikely to move quickly on fuel tax credits or a gas tax due to the uncertainty the Middle East conflict has caused to the global oil market.

The left is discussing pushing for even stronger positions in tackling online gambling harm, including a national regulator, ahead a scheduled debate on Friday.

The draft platform already goes further than the government’s gambling advertising legislation with a commitment to address inducements offered by wagering companies.