Anthony Albanese has pledged $15 billion to turbocharge manufacturing jobs through a pandemic recovery investment fund.
The federal opposition leader on Tuesday kicked off the ALP's special online platform conference after being introduced by his predecessor Bill Shorten.
Mr Albanese declared Labor would invest in a new era of skills with the investment fund designed to restore manufacturing in Australia.
"Victory over the pandemic followed by victory for those whose sacrifices made it possible," he told delegates.
The government bank would support building trains, cars and ships locally, while also making money available for adding value to mining, like lithium processing for batteries.
Medicines, vaccines and medical devices, defence capabilities and other projects across software, engineering and robotics would also be eligible.
Food and beverage processing would be covered in a bid to make a pitch for regional jobs and support for the agriculture sector.
It would be structured like the government's green bank, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which has an independent board.
The money would be dished out on the basis of the projects allowing a return to cover borrowing costs.
The two-day conference will endorse the Labor's policy platform ahead of the next election, which is due between August and May.
Mr Albanese said his party's values were the right approach to the pandemic and were now perfectly suited to the recovery.
"Let's win the next election and give Australians a government that's on their side, a government that believes in their capacity to build a stronger, more secure nation," the Labor leader said.
Mr Shorten attacked Scott Morrison as the wrong man to lead the nation, saying Mr Albanese was highlighting the prime minister's flaws.
"He's exposed the hollowness of a prime minister who loves making announcements but pathologically hates being held to account," Mr Shorten said.
West Australian aged care worker Jude made an emotional pitch to dump the government in a prerecorded video.
"We are definitely at our wit's end," she said.
"The government doesn't care about me, it doesn't care about the elderly and it doesn't give a shit about aged care."
Deputy leader Richard Marles and Senate leader Penny Wong also addressed the conference.
ALP National President Wayne Swan made his speech remotely after being forced to leave the Sydney hub, where the bulk of the party's senior leaders are stationed, because of Brisbane's coronavirus outbreak.
