Albanese lashes 'heartless' post-pandemic Liberals

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese accused the Scott Morrison government of returning to "the usual heartlessness" of the Liberal Party, after the worst of the pandemic has passed.

Addressing the Labor Party Conference virtually from Sydney, Mr Albanese accused the Liberals of putting the strong against the weak and weak against the strong.

He claimed the Morrison Government was "so addicted to marketing spin that it is now spinning itself and the country into the ground".

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At the conference, Mr Albanese promised to establish a $15 billion "national reconstruction fund" if Labor wins the next election.

Australia needs to ramp up its manufacturing capabilities, Mr Albanese said.

"We shouldn't have to rely on other countries when it comes to protecting and providing for our people, so we are going to invest in Australia," he said.

"We are going to invest in Australian workers and Australian skills."

In front of 400 virtual delegates, Mr Albanese also addressed sexism and inequality in the workforce, underpaid jobs, climate change and the rights of First Nations people.

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