The rise and fall of Mark Latham
The rise and fall of Mark Latham must be one of the more extraordinary phenomena that’s occurred in Australian politics since the Second World War.
His resignation, announced this afternoon for health reasons, remains mysterious and no doubt the full story will emerge over the next few weeks.
Latham’s demise is nearly as bizarre as how he came to be leader.
I wrote during the election campaign that I thought Latham’s flair and engergy was being unnaturally subdued by over-anxious minders. It’s a shame in many respects that Australian politics has lost one of its few colorful personalities, although the color was sucked from Latham shortly after he assumed the leadership.
I also suggested then it would be a mistake for Labor to turn backwards to Beazley or Crean. I still think that, but can now see some merit in the conservative Beazley option over the short term.
It will be at least five years before Australia again has a Federal Labor government unless something incredible happens in the meantime.
The most urgent task for Labor is to become organised and disciplined so it can properly perform the task of keeping the government accountable. I suspect though, that factional infighting, personal ambition and general intrigue will mean that Labor spends more time fighting itself than the government.
I'm a 41-year-old father of four working as a newspaper editor at Mount Gambier in South Australia.
