Labor needs to get angry on behalf of working people and not retreat from its ambitious approach as it confronts a "pandemic of populism" turning away voters, according to frontbencher Chris Bowen
The former treasury spokesperson will deliver a speech on Thursday night taking aim at the party’s direction following its election loss in May.
It comes as Labor hands down its much-anticipated post-mortem review into what caused the shock election defeat.
Mr Bowen will declare Labor must do more to reconnect with the concerns of working people - at the inaugural Keating lecture in Western Sydney.
A copy of his speech circulated ahead of the address outlines his call for Labor to “be angry on behalf of the people” it represents.
Labor's Chris Bowen says his party must "fight back". Source: AAP
“My main message tonight is that while a period of introspection is justified, Labor must fight back,” he will say.
The party’s election review has been tightly held by senior Labor figures but is expected to examine the party’s leadership, extensive policy catalogue and failure to connect with its traditional voting base.
The examination will be led by party elders Jay Weatherill and Craig Emerson reviewing the failures that led to the party’s election loss against Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
In his speech, Mr Bowen is lobbying for the party to be inspired by the policy platforms of the Hawke-Keating eras in an effort to win back support from working people.
The Labor frontbencher warning “well-intentioned hashtag campaigns” on social media can risk making some “hardworking Australians" feel alienated and exposed.
“People of lower socioeconomic status have lost faith with progressive politics to deliver for them, to deal with their real and burning grievances about growing inequality,” he will say. 
He says the party needs to recognise the “hurt of people” who in the past voted Labor but are turning to populist parties like One Nation or Palmer United in a “cry for action”.
Labor is releasing a review into the failures of its last election campaign. Source: AAP
“The lack of support from traditional Labor voters isn’t a new thing. But it is a worsening thing."
But in bridging this divide, Mr Bowen will urge Labor not to simply fall in line with their opponent’s policy approach as they review their platform for the next election.
“The Liberals want us to shrink into a ball and be more like them – as unimaginative and unambitious as they are,” he will say.
“If we give the people a choice between proper Liberal and Liberal-light at the next election, the people are likely to go for the real thing as opposed to the imitation.”
He believes Labor must counter “identity politics”, arguing the Liberals and Mr Morrison: “have made an art-form of framing proposals and attacks through a cultural prism".
Labor leader Anthony Albanese took over from Bill Shorten following the election. Source: AAP
“Sometimes Labor is accused of playing identity politics too much,” he will say.
“The reality is – the Liberals play identity politics much more than us – and much more effectively.”
Mr Bowen took over the health portfolio after the last election – but the franking credits policy he oversaw as treasury spokesperson was one of those targeted by the party’s opponents.
The policy would have placed a ban on cash refunds for franking credits, which was perceived as having its greatest impact on middle-aged and senior Australians.
In his speech, Mr Bowen says the party needs to accept the “Liberal scare campaign” on its tax policies did “worry voters” who depend on a strong economy for their jobs.
“To me, the key message of the 2019 election for Labor is not that we need to go to the people with a smaller, less ambitious message,” he will say.
“It is that we need to go to the people with a message that better connects with their concerns and their hopes for themselves and our country.”
Mr Bowen wants the Labor party to be inspired by the policy platforms of the Hawke-Keating eras. Source: AAP
He will compare his perception of past Labor governments during their time in power to the current reign of the Coalition arguing it has achieved nothing in comparison.
The Labor frontbencher is expected to cite how the Hawke-Keating government floated the dollar, deregulated the banks, reduced tariffs, reaching the Accord with unions, passed the Sex Discrimination Act and introduced the fringe benefits and capital gains taxes.
“In six years have the Liberals achieved anything approaching any one – let alone all of these reforms?” he will ask.
“The questions is: what is the point of the Morrison Government?”
He is pitching for an “Australian new deal” using the principles of Hawke/Keating reforms to open up the economy and ensure the dividends of this growth are evenly shared.
Mr Bowen hinted the party could explore aspects of the “Green New Deal” approach being adopted by some Democrats in the United States – attempting to address climate change and economic inequality.
Labor needs to get angry on behalf of working people, according to Mr Bowen. Source: AAP
As he explains: “we will use the power of government to invest in every Australian to help them navigate this changing world".
