Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Captain Wacky or 'The Latham Lessons'

By Rebecca Huntley - posted Thursday, 6 October 2005


Reading Latham's entry of July 23, 1997, I gained a better understanding of his attitude to the NPC in 2003:

I've just finished a long meeting with the ALP National Platform Committee in Melbourne to consider my draft document on education policy for next year's National Conference. It was surreal. The Committee hears all the submission from Party members, yet I do all the draft as Shadow … and then the factional hacks and union operatives on the Committee get to pick at it. So, effectively the Party consultation process was sidelined. … I was quickly jack of it and basically told them to nick off. Not exactly a productive day of ALP policy-making (p. 65.).

So Latham's "up yours" to the NPC in 2003 was a repeat performance. It was a petulant move but not without its grounds. Even taking into consideration the time constraints, the NPC was a farce in consultative policy making. Even worse, we missed the opportunity to put into place a genuine process for broad consultation that set up the next NPC with a clear structure, mandate and sense of direction.

Advertisement

I still think that Latham could have gone through the process regardless, but still provided us with a critique of the NPC's processes with suggested ideas for reform. Maybe it was just another blue in a series of endless battles he didn't really want to have.

The previous year to my appointment to the NPC, I bumped into Latham at the Holy Grail. He was drinking with a staffer and introduced me to her as a part of Albo's (Anthony Albanese's) new generation of Labor activists. He said to me, "I don't think it is my generation that will change things - it's really up to you and people younger than you". He sounded despondent.

In fact the most disappointing aspect of The Diaries is the complete and utter lack of hope that the system can be any different. Because he failed, we are all doomed to fail. This itself sets the cause for reform - which is still alive in party circles - back. It gives strength to the very people Latham hates so much, allowing them to dismiss him and his views as equally crazy.

I don't believe a system that was made by people can't be changed by people. But that's the key - and where I differ from the Latham approach. The emphasis is on people, a broad coalition of more than just the leader and a few of his confidants. He admits he was a loner in politics, not good at playing with others. The problems of Labor are too big for one man, even a big one.

A coalition determined to chip away at the insular and poisonous culture of the ALP would be very hard, but not impossible, to create. It would include people at all levels of the Party and, more importantly, people outside the Party - community activists, academics and sympathetic business leaders who don't put interest rates before social justice.

If The Diaries didn't burn so many bridges, Latham could have been a part of it.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All

Article edited by Chris Smith.
If you'd like to be a volunteer editor too, click here.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

19 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Rebecca Huntley is a writer and social researcher and the author of the forthcoming The World According to Y (Allen & Unwin).

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Rebecca Huntley

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Rebecca Huntley
Article Tools
Comment 19 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy