Pip Hinman, Sydney
The Leichhardt Town Hall was filling up fast on November 22 when federal Labor leader Mark Latham arrived. Five minutes later people were still pouring in, curious about Labor's plans for the next three years.
Latham's larrikinism is still evident in such formats (as distinct from his sanitised TV persona), and he used it to good effect. He also skilfully pitched at many in the audience who wanted to be jived out of their post-election gloom. While the meeting was billed as an open community forum on "Future Directions for Australia", Latham's 10-minute speech was a rehash of his pre-election policy speeches and a call for Labor to change.
Latham said that Labor had been criticised for both being too right, and too left. He said the party would remain "centre-left" in its social policies, but added that he was determined to "broaden Labor's base and appeal". He was critical of Labor's ability to sell its economic vision, and added that "The challenge for Labor is to develop an economic agenda that works for all parts of society; policies that reward the effort and enterprise of the new middle class."
An article by Latham in the November 23 Daily Telegraph spelt out his economic vision a little more. "The modern Labor Party must establish fair market rules to empower workers, contractors and entrepreneurs to do more for themselves, while pushing ahead with a new stage in productivity growth, and sustaining surplus budgets, a lean public sector and downward pressure on interest rates."
The majority of questions and comments from the floor urged Latham to keep the party's policies to the left of centre.
On the big environmental questions, Medicare Gold and Labor's schools funding promises, Latham defended his pre-election commitments (even though the ALP has formally watered down Medicare Gold since the election). On abortion, he said that Labor wouldn't interfere with what should be a decision between a woman and her doctor. But he fudged on industrial relations, the unions and Indigenous policy.
In answer to a question from a Stop the War Coalition representative, Latham said that if Labor had won government "then the troops would be coming home at Christmas". However he then talked about working with the UN and Iyad Allawi's interim Iraqi government, which is slaughtering its own citizens in Fallujah with the US-led coalition forces.
Latham defined terrorism as any form of violence that wasn't state sanctioned, and made it clear that Labor was in favour of a strong US alliance.
A passionate but considered plea from a once-ALP stalwart who said she had voted Green for the first time in her life because of Labor's refusal to include marriage as part of the same-sex rights package, was airily brushed off.
Concern about Labor's preference deals with Family First, and the Labor leadership's hostile attitude to the Greens, was raised by a few people. But Latham refused to concede any mistake, claiming that the preferences were "made available" and that "the Greens are not holier than thou".
Among the 700-strong crowd, there were many who had come to gauge whether Latham had a fight-back plan. They left disappointed.
From Green Left Weekly, December 1, 2004.
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