A new retrospective recounts colourful, unusual moments from past Australian Labor Party (ALP) national conferences, describing them as unlike the gatherings of today. Across accounts, the piece highlights celebrity and eccentric public images from former prime ministers who were associated with conference culture, including Bob Hawke appearing in speedos and Gough Whitlam delivering a keynote while wearing a Hawaiian shirt. The article also references conference life and the atmosphere around official venues, including mention of a well-stocked bar in “suite 1002.” While the sources focus on anecdotes and cultural snapshots rather than policy or specific outcomes, they collectively portray national conference events as having featured more visible spectacle and informal moments in earlier decades. The shared framing suggests a sense of contrast between the “high drama” of prior conferences and the perception that the ALP’s national meetings no longer look or feel the same. The accounts do not provide detailed dates or comprehensive documentation in the excerpts provided, but they agree on the key illustrative characters, outfits, and venue references.