ALP members get debating tips

Humour can be a useful tool in countering right-wing arguments and winning debates, ALP members have heard.

At a Fringe event on the sidelines of the ALP national conference on Sunday, Labor party faithful were given a lesson on combining jokes, sarcasm and legitimate statements to win water cooler debates or challenge radio shock jocks.

"Welfare creates a system of laziness where people don't have to work and contribute to society," an audience member called out.

Australia Institute chief economist Richard Denniss responded: "And I'm worried about Gina Rinehart too".

Federal MP Terri Butler offered a more serious solution to the question of "what about China".

"I'll tell you how we're not going to compete with China - by cutting public funding to higher education while Beijing is increasing public funding to higher education," she said.