A youth wing is a subsidiary, autonomous, or independently allied front of a larger organization (usually a political party but occasionally another type of organization) that is formed in order to rally support for that organization from members and potential members of a younger age , as well as to focus on subjects and issues more widely relevant among that organization's youth. Youth wings may also be discussion forums for younger members and supporters of the organization to debate policy and ideology.
21-541: Australian Young Labor ( AYL ), also known as the Young Labor Movement or simply Young Labor , is the youth wing of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) representing all party members aged between 14 and 26. The organisation operates as a federation with independently functioning branches in all Australian states and territories which serve under the relevant state or territory branch of
42-587: A capital city. The conference is usually held at a university campus and typically features guest speakers from the ALP. At the conference several positions are elected by delegates chosen from state branches. Fifteen executive positions are also elected. The National Young Labor President is a non-voting representative on the Australian Labor Party National Executive . Each state has its own branch of Young Labor, functioning as
63-544: A member of the ALP and former editor of the Sydney University student paper, Honi Soit, laments a Young Labor dominated by factional infighting, "Put simply, the party culture encourages young people to devote their energy to pursuing objectives that ultimately have no impact on the real world, and to pursue them through ritual political violence." On January 23, 2012, President of Queensland Young Labor, Chaiy Donati came under significant criticism following links to
84-682: A party unit (referred to as New South Wales Young Labor, Victorian Young Labor, etc.). Nationally, the branches are federated to the National organisation, which has its own President and executive. On 8 December 2004, the Sydney Morning Herald published allegations that factional leaders within the Labor Party in New South Wales were "petty, faction obsessed and vindictive". The article, authored by Aubrey Belford, then
105-513: A union which primarily focuses on technical workers such as scientists, engineers, architects, IT professionals, pharmacists, and others. Smith has been a member of the Australian Labor Party since 1992. He ran for the Senate in 2004, and was the second candidate on the ALP's 2016 Senate ticket. At the 2016 ACT Labor Annual Conference he was elected Senior Vice-President of the ACT Branch of
126-560: Is a key concern, with AYL pushing for strong climate action and a transition to renewable energy . The organization also champions economic justice, advocating for fair wages, job creation, and workers’ rights, as well as the protection and expansion of public services, particularly in education and healthcare. AYL seeks to increase the political participation of young people and supports progressive foreign policy grounded in human rights and global cooperation. Although it aligns with ALP values, AYL often takes more progressive stances, reflecting
147-423: Is most often used to refer to the youth wings of political parties ; in such youth wings, ranking or leading members are often seen, upon attainance of the minimum age requirement, as potential leaders or bureaucrats of the main political party. This has led to a perception of political party youth wings as being mere gateways of employment opportunity in the government bureaucracy for younger members, especially in
168-793: The Australian Senate , Smith served in various roles including as an advisor in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations , as an industrial relations manager for the Australian Federal Police Association , and as a policy advisor in the Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister's Department under Jon Stanhope . In 2007, he took up the role of Director of the ACT branch of Professionals Australia ,
189-616: The Australian Labor Party. He says that he was inspired to serve in politics by the judge and attorney general, Terry Connolly . On 23 May 2018, the High Court of Australia declared him elected as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory after Labor senator Katy Gallagher was found ineligible to have been elected . He was sworn in on 18 June 2018. On 1 September 2018, Smith
210-752: The Government benches, keeping a substantial margin, winning 62.9% in the two-party preferred count. He is the Government Whip in the lower house for the Albanese government . He also serves on the Standing Committee for Selection and co-chairs the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship with Senator Matt O'Sullivan . Having been educated in a Marist Brothers college, Smith identifies as a Catholic . He
231-609: The United States Republican Party. Online news source Crikey reported that he helped anti-war and pro drug legalisation Republican candidate Ron Paul in his fight for the primaries in New Hampshire. Ron Paul came second to Mitt Romney on The Republican Party Ballot, and second to Barack Obama on The Democratic Party Ballot in New Hampshire. On his return to Queensland, numerous factional rivalries emerged between members. Despite this Chaiy Donati remained
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#1732779716504252-452: The case of dominant- or one-party systems where a party is ensured of victory at the polls. Political party youth wings mostly consist of young adults . The age requirement for most political party youth wings ranges between a minimum age of 15 years old to an upper age limit of 30 years old (although there are youth wings of political parties that have an upper age limit as high as 35). Youth wings are distinct from student wings , as
273-860: The federal Labor Party, often coming together during national conferences and federal elections . Young Labor is the oldest continuously operating youth wing of any political party in Australian history, being founded in 1926. Young Labor is very closely connected and integrated with its mother party, with many members of the organisation leading successful political careers after the fact. Former presidents of Young Labor have included former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr , current federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke , former Special Minister of State , Senator John Faulkner , current member for Maribyrnong and former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten , as well as various of state and federal ministers and MPs. The Labor Guild of Youth
294-414: The former is not necessarily established on, nor solely focused upon, a student-exclusive basis. Youth wings are not normally considered as factions of a political party, as youth wings are usually intended as youth focused extensions of party policy and ideology rather than being differently ideologised from the leadership of the party proper. However, sometimes they may advocate for different issues within
315-410: The priorities of its younger membership. Young Labor is most active during state and federal elections, campaigning in marginal seats . The youth wing of the party may organise members to door knock an electorate or set up a stand in shopping centres to hand out political party notes. Members are often also asked to 'letterbox' party advertising. Each year Australian Young Labor holds a conference in
336-831: The rights factional leader and in 2013 secured Queenslands Kerrie Kahlon the Australian Young Labor Presidency. Chaiy Donati later returned to the United States in April 2016, this time working on The Democratic Primaries for Bernie Sanders in a close Primary against Hillary Clinton. In 2019, Nick Douros was elected National Secretary of AYL. Douros was formerly a staffer for David Smith (Australian Capital Territory politician) and ACT Young Labor President but resigned from both roles amidst allegations of bullying which were upheld by an internal disputes tribunal. Youth wing The term "youth wing"
357-437: The scope of the party ideology than the party as a whole. David Smith (Australian Capital Territory politician) David Philip Benedict Smith (born 25 March 1970) is an Australian politician. On 23 May 2018, the High Court of Australia declared him elected as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory after Labor senator Katy Gallagher was found ineligible to have been elected . Before his election, Smith
378-556: Was elected as first national president. Australian Young Labor (AYL) was included in the definition of the ALP in 1973. Australian Young Labor promotes a mix of social democracy and democratic socialism with a focus on issues relevant to younger Australians. AYL advocates for social justice, aiming to reduce inequality and improve access to essential services like healthcare and education. It supports progressive policies on LGBTQIA+ rights , gender equality , Indigenous reconciliation, and multiculturalism . Environmental sustainability
399-638: Was established in Victoria in 1926. The first provisional meeting of the ALP's Youth Council was held in 1948. By the 1960s most states had created young labor organisations, usually called the Young Labor Association (YLA). In the early 1970s there was a move to set up a national organisation. In 1971 leaders of several state YLAs met in Adelaide to set up a national body. The first conference was held in Adelaide in early 1972 and Bob McMullin
420-515: Was preselected to run for the Australian Labor Party in the House of Representatives seat of Bean . He resigned from the Senate on 11 April 2019, the day the election was called and the Senate prorogued. At the 2019 Australian federal election , Smith was elected as the Member for Bean with a margin of 13,971 votes. He was returned to Parliament in the 2022 Australian federal election , now to
441-654: Was the ACT director of the Professionals Australia union. He was sworn in to the Australian Senate on 18 June 2018. He was elected to the lower-house seat of Bean at the 2019 federal election. Smith was born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory . He completed his schooling at Marist College Canberra , and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the Australian National University in 1993. Before joining
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