ALP HISTORY Visit www.laborhistory.org.au

Striking Shearer's library, Barcaldine 1891

We start out with the assertion that every man, or woman either, is entitled to the whole produce of his or her labour; and from our literary point of view we are prepared to sweep the floor with anyone who denies it."

So spoke Arthur Rae, one of the first members of parliament in NSW for the newly formed Australian Labor Party in 1891.

Like so many of the founders of Australian Labor, the diminutive Arthur Rae was a dyed in the wool unionist, in his case literally. Rae was one of the founders of the Amalgamated Shearer's Union of Australasia, which would go on to become the modern AWU.

His words show the determination of early Labor to deliver for working people and their communities across the nation. Nothing was going to get in the way of a new party, with such a noble cause.

Celebrating 120 Years of the Australian Labor Party

2011 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Australia's oldest, largest and progressive political party. So in this Labor History update, we're focusing on Labor's earliest years. Union striker's library 1891

To celebrate our anniversary we've just released new material on www.laborhistory.org.au