The Latham Diaries
Mark Latham, published by Melbourne
University Press
pcblues.com - Book Reviews
Whether or not this book is filled with bile (as described by most of
the people referred to in the book) it is a fascinating look at the
Australian Labour Party through one person's eyes.
Mark Latham's conclusions about what is wrong with Australian politics
can be summed up fairly succinctly by saying that the incumbent
government is beholden to giving favour to the powerful, the
opposition is beholden to it's own internal power struggles with no
vision for the future, and Australian's are disengaged from and
discouraged by the political process and don't really care about what
happens to the country so long as they don't have to pay too much, and
the disadvantaged don't get too much of their tax money. He also takes
a fair swipe at political commentators, saying that they should read
more of the Hansard and talk less to politicians off-the-record.
His ideas and efforts in social policy reform and his attempt to put it
back on the political agenda were commendable, but felt like a lost
cause, that is now being explored by Clive Hamilton in his essay in the
latest Quarterly Essay.