Wayne Swan warns Labor not to speak to Australians in ‘highly stylised political way’

Exclusive: ALP national president urges party to urgently renew its ageing grassroots membership base in suburban and regional areas

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The Australian Labor party must renew or risk collapse like other centre-left parties including the US Democrats, the national president Wayne Swan has said, cautioning his own side against complacency after its election win and the chaos engulfing the Coalition.

In an interview with Guardian Australia, the former treasurer also said Labor shouldn't be afraid" of engaging in contentious policy debates as he suggested modern voters wouldn't embrace a tame" agenda.