I want to build a Big Labor party. A party of big ideas. A party which is deeply connected to the community. A party which reflects our diverse nation.

I've spent my whole working life standing up for workers. Didn't matter if it was the two trapped miners at Beaconsfield or professional netballers or indeed factory workers or construction workers.

Once upon a time, I thought denial was a river in Egypt. It's actually the attitude of the Abbott government.

I'm a Christian and a supporter of marriage equality under the law.

What I believe to be every Australian's right - a good, safe job with proper pay and conditions.

My preference is that employees pay their union dues, but what I also get is that I'd rather someone be in the union than not in the union.

Labor is at its best when we are the party of ideas and action - ideas that empower the powerless and actions that build a better Australia for the long term.

I'm proud of my record of negotiating agreements, representing people and making sure that both employers and employees could get the best out of going to work every day.

Productivity is driven at the enterprise level. Better wages, better performing workplaces, are driven at the workplace level.

When I entered federal parliament at the end of 2007, I was appointed parliamentary secretary for disabilities.

Trusting people to pursue their own futures invariably provides better outcomes. Money goes where it is needed, rather than being absorbed by administration costs.

Without God all things are permitted.

Never forget to remind yourself each and every day, that your presence on earth is very important, and will forever matter.

The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.

Half of the modern drugs could well be thrown out of the window, except that the birds might eat them.

Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence he is just using his memory.

It’s what you do that counts, not what you consider doing.

Put the walls up. Get the better walls. There's no reason the army website should be hacked.

Whether drugs lead to illumination or degradation depends on the spirit in which one takes them

We city dwellers, we residents of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, are for the most part urbanized to some extent. We know deadlines, start times and traffic.

How weird was it that so many bits and pieces, all diverse, could make something whole. Something with potential. 'Perfect.