But as the 48th Labor Party national conference has shown, whatever deficits Mr Shorten may be accused of having as the alternative prime minister, they are more than compensated by the professionalism and discipline of the Labor machine around him.

Mr Shorten’s personal ruthlessness and his proved capacity for consensus-building has been reflected in the management of the conference floor — helped, it must be said, by the sobering proximity of the federal election.

via Labor champing for government as discipline proves the perfect cleanser for Bill Shorten’s deficits – Politics – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)