Kate Ellis is back – and the heat of political debate is higher than ever, incoming Labor president says

Kate Ellis is returning to a major leadership role in Labor at a time she says political debate has become more heated and more harmful.

According to a monitored public feed from The Guardian World, Ellis — the former minister from the Rudd and Gillard years — is set to succeed Wayne Swan as president of Labor’s organisational base at this week’s national conference. In that role, she will take on a position that helps steer the party’s internal structure and wider political direction.

Ellis warned that the tone of politics is no longer confined to parliament or party rooms. She said the toxicity is spilling into the broader community and public discussion, and that threats directed at MPs are restricting how elected representatives can do their jobs safely and effectively.

Her comments come as Labor continues to navigate a sharper political environment, with Ellis saying the best answer to populist figures such as Pauline Hanson is not simply confrontation. Instead, she argued, parties should focus on showing voters that their policies can improve everyday life.

The incoming president’s message appears aimed at both the party faithful and the wider electorate: politics, she suggested, should be judged by practical outcomes rather than the noise of escalating attacks.

The report is based on a monitored public feed and is attributed to The Guardian World. Source: The Guardian World - https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/22/kate-ellis-is-back-and-this-time-the-heat-of-political-debate-is-higher-than-ever-the-incoming-labor-president-says