Unions have watered down a Labor conference push for a super profits tax to fund social housing, as the federal government talked up support for struggling families.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his address to party faithful in Brisbane to unveil the start date for Labor’s national scheme to help up to 40,000 families buy a home.

The government will provide an equity contribution to eligible participants of up to 40 per cent for new homes and 30 per cent for existing homes.

The policy will start in the first half of 2024 after all states agreed at the national cabinet meeting on Wednesday to progress legislation so the scheme will run nationally.

The 40,000 places will be spread over four years.

The powerful mining and manufacturing union wanted the government to go further and introduce a super profits tax to pay for social housing.

CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith joined about 1000 protesters outside the conference, telling the crowd the union’s demand was clear – to leverage $290 billion over a decade from Australia’s largest companies.

“Make the big end of town pay for social and affordable housing,” he said.

But the motion that came to the floor only called for Labor to “increase government investment in social and affordable housing with funding from a progressive and sustainable tax system, including corporate tax reform”.

Mr Smith told the conference while the amendment wasn’t everything the union demanded, it was an important first step as it recognised the need to reform corporate tax laws.

“The money exists to fix this problem,” he said.

The union is also pushing for an Australian ban on engineered stone, which is linked to the deadly silicosis.

Engineered stone is commonly found in kitchen and bathroom benchtops.

Mr Albanese used his keynote speech to outline his government’s approach to tackling cost of living pressures and chart a path forward to the next federal election.

“The cost of living is the number one pressure on Australian families, which is why it’s the number one priority for our government.”

He told the conference – his first as prime minister – it was important Labor “plan and build for what’s ahead” over its next 18 months in government.

“That’s why it’s vital we leave this conference with a plan for progress over the next decade and a platform for victory in 2025,” he said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the first budget surplus in 15 years was achieved at the same time the party was delivering on its core value of helping struggling Australians.

“We are condemning to history the false choices which drove the economic failures of the Liberals and Nationals who pretend that somehow Australia has to choose between making our economy stronger or our economy fairer,” he said.

ALP national president Wayne Swan ran the true believers through Labor’s policy highlights since World War I before turning his focus to the new generation.

“We all understand that in the long run, winning over the next generation will determine our political future,” he said.

Mr Swan also pledged to hold a republic referendum and install an Australian head of state “in due course”.

The three-day conference brings together 402 delegates – 399 of whom can vote – as well as unionists, businesses and rank-and-file members.

During the conference, the parliamentary team will face an internal push to hasten its commitment to sign and ratify an international treaty banning nuclear weapons, and to recognise Palestine as a state.

Both are already Labor policies, but neither has a time frame attached.

– AAP