Full Story Will Albanese’s caution become his weakness?
Nov 22, 2025
In this discussion, Sean Kelly, an author and former Labor adviser, explores the pragmatic shift of the Labor party under Anthony Albanese. He highlights the potential dangers of Albanese's cautious approach, which, while politically successful, may hinder bold reforms needed to tackle inequality. Kelly delves into the quieter dynamics within the backbench and the impact of conflict aversion on meaningful political debate. He raises the question of whether the government can pivot away from caution to embrace necessary changes.
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Belief Gives Policy Direction
- Sean Kelly questions whether the Albanese government has a coherent sense of belief beyond pragmatic management.
- He argues belief matters because it gives a yardstick to judge policy choices and direction.
Conversation That Sparked The Essay
- Kelly recounts calling his grandfather's wife and being asked what he believed, which sparked his reflection on belief.
- That simple personal moment led him to probe what governments and people claim to stand for.
Three Forces Pushed Labor Toward Pragmatism
- Kelly traces Labor's shift from idealism to pragmatism to three forces: loss of socialism as an ideal, the Greens drawing idealism away, and the left's recent dominance.
- He warns this tilt leaves the party with fewer internal accountability mechanisms to measure policy against ideals.