Hundreds of delegates have converged on Adelaide for the triennial summit, which begins on Thursday and will determine Labor's official agenda and party position.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the conference would be an opportunity to show voters the party represented a changing and modern Australia.
"Whilst other political parties have come and gone, we've continued to evolve, develop," he told a ministerial meeting on Wednesday.
"We change with the times and the party conference will reflect that over the coming few days.
"It's also an opportunity for us to reflect on the work that we've done to keep the economy and employment growing."
But party members have called on Labor to go further on gambling reform, such as setting up a national regulator, arguing the government's reforms don't go far enough.
Senior minister Murray Watt said an overhaul of the sector was being discussed in parliament, but he also expected there to be debate on the conference floor.
"There'll be people who'll say a range of things around these issues, but the government has taken serious action already," he told ABC TV.
"We've got our legislation before the parliament outlining where we want to take gambling reform ... that's the biggest focus and we think it will make a big difference."
The party's draft platform said Labor would continue to work closely with stakeholders to protect people from gambling harms.
"We recognise the impact that inducements can have on vulnerable people and we will strengthen measures to minimise that harm," it said.
Of the 400 conference delegates who will vote on Labor's 126-page draft platform, 150 will be rank-and-file members chosen by local branches.
While the platform determines the priorities for the party and its stance on issues, it is up to Labor's parliamentary members to determine how, or when, the measures are implemented.
Mr Albanese said a range of issues would be examined at the conference.
"We deal with immediate challenges, but always with our eye on the horizon ... no matter how turbulent the times are that we're dealing with globally," he said.
"We do deal with uncertain times, but I think all the delegates gathering here in Adelaide will know that they can be certain that our focus is on the national interest as we go forward."
The draft platform has reignited the prospect of Labor implementing a tax on gas exports after a draft item called for wealth from resources to be redistributed to the public.
The government was under pressure before May's federal budget to implement a 25 per cent gas tax before the measure was put on hold due to the Iran war.
But Senator Watt said the focus for the government remained on fuel security not extra taxes.
"The best way to do that is a domestic gas reservation," he said.
"It's important that Australians do have more ownership of our gas resources and we think a reservation would also assist with gas prices as well."
Ahead of the conference, the manufacturing union also unveiled its own manifesto, calling for increased taxes for the well-off.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union document called for a new tax rate for people earning more than $500,000, as well as a wealth tax on assets.
The blueprint also called for the Union Jack to be removed from the Australian flag, an issue Housing Minister Clare O'Neil said was not likely to be high on the agenda.
"As housing minister, I don't spend my time thinking about the national flag," she told Seven's Sunrise.
"That's just not what the conference is about. This is really about the things that Australians care about."
15°C