Labor on right side of history, MPs told TANYA Plibersek has invoked the memory of Nelson Mandela to tell her Labor colleagues the party is on the right side of history on critical issues. With the latest Newspoll showing Labor in its best electoral position in almost three years, the acting opposition leader said it would have been unimaginable a few weeks ago to think coalition MPs would be wishing for Christmas to come quickly. A "chaotic and childish" government was proving otherwise, Ms Plibersek told a meeting of the Labor caucus in Canberra on Tuesday. She reminded colleagues of Mr Mandela's visit to Australia in 1990 when he thanked the trade union movement for being one of the first around the world to recognise him as a freedom fighter, not a terrorist. We were on the right side of history then and we're on the right side of history now on a range of issues. Ms Plibersek cited Labor's stance on climate change, schools funding, the royal commission on institutional child abuse, and international development as examples. That was in very sharp contrast with the Abbott government which had lost its "ideological and moral compass." But Ms Plibersek also warned her colleagues the opposition was still on probation with voters, despite the final Newspoll of the year showing Labor leading the coalition 52-48 per cent. In parliament Labor will seek to amend legislation that overturns Gillard government anti-gambling measures to ensure voluntary pre-commitment is available across venues. It will oppose government moves to charge interest on welfare payment debts, a planned freeze on rebates for child-care workers and delaying the introduction date for the Charities Act. Labor also intends to oppose planned changes to Infrastructure Australia, a move described as a return to the politically-biased decision making of previous coalition governments. The Labor caucus meets again on Thursday when it will hear from former prime minister Paul Keating on the 30th anniversary of his decision to float the Australian dollar.