Australian PM Albanese Announces Fair Work Court and Cost‑of‑Living Aid at Labor Conference

At the Australian Labor Party’s 50th national conference in Adelaide, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged new cost‑of‑living measures and unveiled a plan to re‑establish a specialist federal Fair Work Court. The court, the first of its kind since 1997, will operate alongside the Fair Work Commission with specialist judges to resolve employment disputes more quickly and at lower cost. Albanese said, “It will resolve disputes faster and at lower costs for both workers and employers.”

The government also announced a stipend program for health‑related students, extending financial support while they undertake training in fields such as physiotherapy, pharmacy and paramedicine. The Prime Minister framed the initiatives as a practical response to voter frustration over rising living costs and as a contrast to opposition parties and the growing One Nation vote. Union leaders welcomed the court, citing the need for faster recovery of unpaid wages. The announcements set the policy agenda for the next three years of the Labor government.