I am proud to announce that, this morning, the Labour Party unanimously elected me as the new leader of the party, following our series of recent misfortunes.

While what happened to Model-Jordology and ChairmanMordecai was a shock to many, the Labour Party is by no means defeated. We are standing tall and ready, anticipating an election that will give Australia a chance to elect a sensible, centre-left government.

Because that's what this party is all about. We stand in united opposition to the right-wing that has taken over our country. This ANCAP Government, which was addicted to austerity and ripping up the state, is finally on the way out.

Over the past three months, Labour has made the case for centre-left government to the nation. People understand that we are not radical leftists, intent on tearing up the norms of this nation. No, we are sensible. We don't believe in hand outs, but in hands up. That's what we believe in.

The most important thing you can give somebody in this world is the chance to make a difference. That's what you can give them. And to do that, we need a robust welfare state that can step in when people have been knocked down. In ANCAP's ideal world, if you get knocked down, well, there's nobody there to help you back up again.

But the Labour Party, we believe in different values. We believe people deserve kindness, respect, and the chance to get themselves established making an honest living. That's what people deserve.

And that is much the message we will take to the Australian people. We will tell them that it's been far too long without a government willing to give a damn ,willing to take the great wealth of our society and use it for the betterment of our whole society, not to enrich the pockets of a few.

Our previous leader left some big shoes to fill, but that's okay. The Labour team is ready to step into them and deliver Australia the government it deserves.