NSW Labor leader Chris Minns told party members on 4 July 2026 that winning the next election will be hard — much harder than a straightforward victory. The One Nation party is gaining support in ways that could cost Labor seats in the state parliament's upper house.

At a Labor conference in Sydney, Minns's speech was interrupted when protesters supporting Palestine unfurled a flag from above. Police removed them. Outside, more protesters were kept behind barriers. Minns acknowledged the disruption directly: "They are not the first to try and disrupt our democratic conference and they probably won't be the last," he said, according to The Guardian.

Instead of celebrating his government's record, Minns focused on problems. The economy is not working well enough for ordinary families, he said. This tone is common among Labor leaders right now, facing the cost-of-living crisis.

A Major Manufacturing Plan

Minns announced the government will spend $12 billion over 15 years to bring train manufacturing back to the Hunter region, an area northwest of Sydney. The plan would create about 780 jobs during construction and 550 permanent manufacturing jobs.

The Hunter region has lost many factories over decades. This investment is meant to rebuild that. The government plans to own the facility but hire a private company to run it — a middle path that keeps public assets public while letting private businesses handle the day-to-day work.

Internal Party Disagreements

Behind the scenes, Labor members argued about which candidates should go on the ballot for the upper house. They worked out a deal late Friday night to avoid a public fight.

But disagreements remain on bigger issues. Fifty-six Labor branches want the government to cancel or review its protest laws. Many members also oppose a nuclear submarine agreement with the United States called AUKUS. These concerns were pushed to the end of the conference agenda — which means there may not be enough time to discuss them properly.

The protest laws matter especially to Labor members because police have been seen keeping protesters (some of whom are party members) away from Labor events. That image troubles many in the party.

Minns held the conference together, but it's clear Labor is dealing with real tensions. One Nation's rising support is a numbers problem the party must solve. The disagreements over protest laws and foreign policy go deeper — they are about what the party stands for, not just election strategy.