Jul 22, 2026 – 12.00pmFor most of his political career, Anthony Albanese has been a minority voice within the Labor Party. A leading light of the NSW Left faction, the prime minister was an outspoken activist for progressive ideals butting up against the brutal machine pragmatism of the dominant Right faction.But when he takes to the stage to deliver his opening speech at Labor’s 50th Annual Conference in Adelaide on Thursday morning, he will speak to a room firmly under his command and control.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Ronald MizenPolitical correspondentRonald Mizen is the Financial Review’s political correspondent, reporting from the press gallery at Parliament House, Canberra.Fetching latest articles