Australian Young Labor (AYL), also known as the Young Labor Movement or simply Young Labor, is the youth wing of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) representing all party members aged between 14 and 26."A.5 Any person 15 years and over can join the Party". The organisation operates as a federation with independently functioning branches in all Australian states and territories which serve under the relevant state or territory branch of the federal Labor Party, often coming together during national conferences and federal elections. Young Labor is the oldest continuously operating youth wing of any political party in Australian history, being first founded in 1920.

Young Labor is very closely connected and integrated with its mother party, with many members of the organisation leading successful political careers after the fact. Former presidents of Young Labor have included former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr, current federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke, former Special Minister of State, Senator John Faulkner, former member for Maribyrnong and former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten, as well as various of state and federal ministers and MPs.

Formation The first officially sanctioned Young Labor group was formed in Western Australia in March 1920 as the Young Labor League. The Labor Guild of Youth was established in Victoria in 1926, followed by the Labor Guild of New South Wales the following year. The first provisional meeting of the ALP's National Youth Council was held in 1948 as an effort to revitalise Young Labor branches that had become dormant during World War II. By the 1960s most states had created young labor organisations, usually called the Young Labor Association (YLA). In the early 1970s there was a move to set up a permanent national organisation. In 1971 leaders of several state YLAs met in Adelaide to constitute a national body and the first conference was held in Adelaide in early 1972 with future federal parliamentarian Bob McMullan elected as the first national president. Australian Young Labor (AYL) was included in the constitution of the ALP in 1973.

Ideology Australian Young Labor promotes social democracy and democratic socialism with a focus on issues relevant to younger Australians. AYL advocates for social justice, aiming to reduce inequality and improve access to essential services like healthcare and education. It supports progressive policies on LGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, Indigenous reconciliation, and multiculturalism. Environmental sustainability is a key concern, with AYL pushing for strong climate action and a transition to renewable energy. The organization also champions economic justice, advocating for fair wages, job creation, and workers’ rights, as well as the protection and expansion of public services, particularly in education and healthcare. AYL seeks to increase the political participation of young people and supports progressive foreign policy grounded in human rights and global cooperation. Although it aligns with ALP values, AYL often takes more progressive stances, reflecting the priorities of its younger membership.

National conference Biennially Australian Young Labor holds a conference in a capital city, normally Canberra. The conference is usually held at a university campus and typically features guest speakers from the ALP. At the conference several positions are elected by delegates chosen from state branches. Fifteen executive positions are also elected. The Young Labor National President is a non-voting ex-officio representative on the Australian Labor Party National Executive.

Notable conference action The inaugural Australian Young Labor Conference, held in Adelaide in 1972, drew controversy following the alleged surveillance of conference delegates by Australian Federal Police officers. The conference had suspended on the second day to vote on an urgency motion condemning the presence of police. The motion passed, and the conference adjourned to allow members to form a vocal and public protest against two federal police officers who had been stationed outside the conference venue. The protest was ultimately peaceful and no arrests were made.

At the 1973 AYL Conference and only months after the end of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, delegates had voted for Australia to "become a sanctuary" for the world's military draft resisters. Delegates had alleged the federal government had recently denied entry into the country for infamous American draft resister and activist Steve Grossman, a claim the Whitlam government refuted.

Less than three months following the controversial dismissal of the Whitlam government by Governor-General Sir John Kerr, the Australian Young Labor conference passed a motion for Kerr to be disallowed entry back into Australia following completion of an overseas trip. The motion was submitted by the South Australian delegation, and called on Australian trade unions to use the power of their membership base to block Kerr's return, stating "if Sir John thought he had a democratic right to dismiss Mr Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister then trade unions also have the right to withdraw their labour."

Following some division between left and right factions of the AYL in 2023 about the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism,"Young Labor embraces definition of antisemitism" by Peter Kohn, 20 April 2023, The Australian Jewish News New South Wales Young Labor adopted unanimously a motion in 2025 condemning antisemitism and promoting Jewish participation"Our motion condemning antisemitism ,,," by Tanna Klevansky, 1 December 2025, LinkedIn in the ALP by establishing a working group to advise the executive on matters relating to anti-Semitism, inclusion and representation."NSW Young Labor takes action to combat creeping anti-Semitism" by Lachlan Leeming, 1 December 2025, The Australian

National Executive

National Presidents

Name State Term start Term end Other offices held Ref Bob McMullan Western Australia 1972 1973 ALP National Secretary (1981–1988)Senator for the Australian Capital Territory (1988–1996)Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Canberra (1996–1998) and Fraser (1998–2010)Minister in the Keating government (1993–1996) Pam Allan New South Wales 1975 1976 Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Wentworthville (1988–1991, 1999–2007) and Blacktown (1991–1999)Minister in the Carr government (1995–1999) Arch Bevis Queensland 1978 1979 Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Brisbane (1990–2010) Terry Connolly South Australia 1979 1980 Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly (1990–1996)Minister in the Follett government (1991–1995)Judge of the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court (2003–2007) Glenn Bachelor New South Wales 1980 1981 Paul Pearce New South Wales 1981 1982 Australian Young Labor Secretary (1980–1981)Mayor of Waverley (1997–2004)Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Coogee (2003–2011) Steve Bartos Australian Capital Territory 1983 1984 ACT Young Labor President (1981–1982) Joanne Scard New South Wales 1986 1987 Ian Rogers New South Wales 1987 1988 Janelle Howe Queensland 1988 1989 Sue Thompson Australian Capital Territory 1990 1991 Tony Burke New South Wales 1993 1994 Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2003–2004)Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Watson (2004– )Minister in the Rudd (2007–2010, 2013), Gillard (2010–2013) and Albanese (2022– ) governments. Tim Holding Victoria 1994 1995 Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Springvale (1999–2002) and Lyndhurst (2002–2013)Minister in the Bracks and Brumby governments (2006–2010) Cherie Burton New South Wales 1995 1996 Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Kogarah (1999–2015)Minister in the Iemma government (2005–2007) Ben Hubbard Victoria 1996 1997 Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister (2011–2013) Milton Dick Queensland 1997 1998 Queensland Labor State Secretary (2004–2008)Brisbane City Councillor (2008–2016)Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Oxley (2016– )Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives (2022– ) Daniel Cook New South Wales 1998 1999 Councillor for the City of Gosford (1999–2004) Jacki O'Mara Queensland 1999 2000 Amanda Rishworth South Australia 2000 2001 Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Kingston (2007– )Minister in the Albanese government (2022– ) 2001 2002 2002 2003 Alex Dighton South Australia 2003 2004 Member of the South Australian House of Assembly for Black (2024– ) 2004 2005 2005 2006 2006 2007 Sam Crosby New South Wales 2007 2008 Ben RilloSouth Australia20152017Jack Boyd20172019Jason ByrneSouth Australia20192021Ali AminSouth Australia20212023Manu RisoldiNew South Wales2023Mid-2025Eloise AttertonSouth AustraliaMid-20252025Chris HancockQueensland2025Incumbent

National Secretaries

Name State Term start Term end Other offices held Ref Gillian Currie Australian Capital Territory 1979 1980 Paul Pearce New South Wales 1980 1981 Australian Young Labor President (1981–1982)Mayor of Waverley (1997–2004)Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Coogee (2003–2011) Shane Maddick Victoria 1981 1982 Mark Cuomo Western Australia 1983 1984 Mark Kenny South Australia 1985 1986 Grant Fitsner South Australia 1986 1987 Sue Thompson Australian Capital Territory 1992 1993 Liam McKay Queensland 1993 1994 Eddie Husic New South Wales 1994 1995 Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Chifley (2010–present)Minister in the Albanese government (2022–2025) 1995 1996 Justin Jarvis South Australia 1996 1997 Aaron Gadiel New South Wales 1997 1998 Paul Bini Tasmania 1998 1999 Jamie Driscoll Australian Capital Territory 1999 2000 2000 2001 2001 2002 2002 2003 Lambros Tapinos Victoria 2003 2004 Councillor for the City of Merri-bek (2008–2024) 2004 2005 2005 2006 20152017Gemma PaechSouth Australia2017201920192021Ella GvildysVictoria20212023Isabella ScattiniQueensland20232025 Louis Gordon Australian Capital Territory 2025 Incumbent

Other notable former officeholders Sam Dastyari | New South Wales Young Labor President (2005–2006) Prue Car | New South Wales Young Labor Secretary (2004–2005) Chris Minns | New South Wales Young Labor President (2002) David Bradbury | New South Wales Young Labor President (1998) Matt Thistlethwaite | New South Wales Young Labor President (1997) Michelle Rowland | New South Wales Young Labor Secretary (1996), Australian Young Labor Senior Vice-President (1996–1997) Linus Power | Australian Young Labor Senior Vice-President (1998–1999) Duncan Pegg | Australian Young Labor Executive Committee (2003–2004) Jo Haylen | Australian Young Labor Executive Committee (2003–2004) Amanda Rishworth | Australian Young Labor Vice-President (1999–2000) Andrew Barr | Australian Young Labor Executive Committee (1998–1999), ACT Young Labor President (1998–2000) Nick Champion | Australian Young Labor Executive Committee (1994–1995) Luke Foley | Australian Young Labor Executive Committee (1993–1994) Mark Arbib | New South Wales Young Labor President (1995) Carmel Tebbutt | New South Wales Young Labor President (1990) Anthony Albanese | New South Wales Young Labor President (1985–1986) John Faulkner | New South Wales Young Labor President (1978) Bob Carr | New South Wales Young Labor President (1970–1971) Paul Keating | New South Wales Young Labor President (1967–1968) Ryan Batchelor | Australian Young Labor National Conference Delegate (2004) Reba Meagher | New South Wales Young Labor President (1992–1993) Pam Allan | New South Wales Young Labor President (1975), New South Wales Young Labor Secretary (1974) Laurie Brereton | New South Wales Young Labor President (1967–1968) Christian Zahra | Victorian Young Labor Secretary (1996) Julie Collins | Tasmanian Young Labor President (1996)