To improve the lives of Australians, focus on the needs of the people

By today's standards, of course, this is nothing special. Millions of Australian families are engaged in this kind of dialogue every night.

We need plenty of give and take. Once more, it’s important not to be judgmental. Work is good and successful careers are even better. But they shouldn't be regarded as more important than the work done by parents who stay at home full-time and raise their children. They're heroes too.

Stronger families produce better communities. That's why Labor will work with voluntary organisations to expand the mentoring of our young people. And it's an agenda that recognises that helping families is not only good for society, its good for the economy.

That's why I will work with Australian businesses, unions and the community to introduce new policies for work and family. Policies that look after the interests of small businesspeople, as well as employees.

As we become more prosperous as a nation, people are demanding that our prosperity has a purpose beyond the accumulation of more possessions. Increased wealth in a society does not necessarily make us happier. People have understood this for a long time.

A Labor Government will unashamedly pursue greater economic growth and prosperity, but it will be prosperity with a purpose. And I believe as a society, we can have no higher purpose than getting the balance right between work, family and community. We can have no higher purpose in the service of the Australian people.