The prime minister's address to the NSW Labor State Conference on Saturday outlined a list of his government's achievements since being elected in 2022Â
But the winding speech did not address the government's position on Israel's months-long attack on Palestine, reportedly a source of tension among the party's delegates.
Among their concerns, Labor's 2023 national platform specifically calls on Australia to recognise Palestine as a state and they expected the issue to be a priority for the government.
The PM was met by pro-Palestine protests outside the Sydney Town Hall, while one delegate unfurled a Palestinian flag over the balcony railings during his speech.
Two delegates silently stood throughout the address holding up keffiyeh headdresses while staring down Mr Albanese.
He also didn't mention the embattled CFMEU, whose members were banned from the conference after a string of recent scandals including allegations organised criminals and bikies had infiltrated the union.
Tensions threatened to flare earlier in the conference when one speaker labelled the party's decision to suspend the CFMEU's construction arm as "the right one".
NSW Premier Chris Minns wrote to the state's Labor branch to demand the division be suspended on July 17 after allegations a senior official was caught on film accepting a bundle of cash in 2020.
A number of delegates yelled "shame" while another called out "how about some solidarity".
The PM's headline announcement was the addition of the Jabiluka site - which was once earmarked for uranium mining - to Kakadu National Park to ensure its cultural heritage is protected.
The decision ends years of uncertainty for traditional owners who have fought for decades to protect the land.
Mirarr traditional owners have been campaigning for decades to protect their country. (HANDOUT/Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation)
The Jabiluka area, which is in the surrounds of Kakadu National Park, is home to some of the oldest rock art in the world.
"This means there will never be mining at Jabiluka," Mr Albanese told delegates.
"Our government will be working with the traditional owners to make Jabiluka part of Kakadu National Park, once and for all."
The area's historical significance is a reminder of the "extraordinary privilege all of us have, to share this continent with the world's oldest continuous culture" Mr Albanese said.
The PM touted a list of his government's achievements since its election, including tax cuts, a lift in bulk billing and a pay rise for aged care workers.
He attacked Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's record on healthcare, declaring his only policy when previously health minister was "making sick people pay more".
"Peter Dutton was so bad at his job Tony Abbott sacked him," Mr Albanese said.
"The Liberals' history on Medicare is appalling - but the risk they pose to Medicare's future is even worse."
NSW Labor president Michelle Rowland opened the conference, noting it was the first one since the 1930s where the party had first-term governments both federally and in NSW.
She declared Labor was in the "best possible position" to win the next federal and state elections.
Retiring ministers Linda Burney and Brendan O'Connor both received standing ovations from delegates, days after they each announced they would not contest the next election.
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