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Federal Election 2019: Bill Shorten’s final speech looks back to the future

Phoebe WearneThe West Australian
Labor Leader Bill Shorten speaks to supporters at Bowman Hall in Blacktown.
Camera IconLabor Leader Bill Shorten speaks to supporters at Bowman Hall in Blacktown. Credit: Getty Images

Bill Shorten has used his final speech of the campaign to frame the election contest as a “choice between the past and the future”.

Invoking former prime minister Gough Whitlam’s famous “It’s time” speech in Sydney’s inner west, the prime ministerial hopeful urged Australians to vote for change.

“Forty-seven years ago, when an earlier Labor generation filled this hall with their hope and their passion, the door was ajar for our nation, and Australians had to choose,” Mr Shorten told the Labor Party faithful gathered.

“My fellow Australians, the door to a better, bolder and more equal future stands ajar.

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“The choice for Australia to be a leader in the world is ours to make.

“And the power is in your hands.”

The 25min address was delivered at Blacktown’s Bowman Hall in Sydney’s inner west – the site of Whitlam’s speech in the early days of his successful 1972 election campaign.

Asked who had witnessed the famous speech 47 years ago, about a dozen audience members stood up to indicate they were in the room.

Mr Shorten urged action on climate change – a central pillar of Labor’s election pitch – because it threatened the environment, the economy and children’s futures.

“The problems facing our nation are real, and they are growing,” he said.

“But we are not despondent, we do not preach despair.

“We know Australia can solve these problems.

“And friends, we can start on May the 18th.”

The issue of whether Australia should become a republic was also mentioned by Mr Shorten as a reason to vote Labor.

“Because after 250 years of borrowing a monarch from the other side of the world, it’s time for an Australian head of state,” he said.

In line with his other campaign appearances, Mr Shorten was flanked by his wife Chloe and high-profile members of his team.

The front row featured Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Pliersek and Labor frontbenchers Chris Bowen, Penny Wong, Linda Burney, Michelle Rowland, Ed Husic and Tony Burke.

Bowman Hall is located in the safe seat of Greenway, which is held by Ms Rowland by a margin of 6.4 per cent.

But it is understood Mr Shorten chose the venue because it spoke not only to the Labor Party, but meant something to the nation.

Addressing the crowd, Ms Plibersek told party volunteers were “nearly there”.

“We are so close,” Ms Plibersek said.

“And now we are gathering here in this special place for Labor, the scene of so much hope and inspiration for one final sprint to the finish line.”

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