



Don't blame Latham for highlighting home truths

In a dull campaign, Mark Latham's report on 60 Minutes was one of the more interesting. I know the media canned it. Before it aired, Laurie Oakes told us Latham had "crossed a line". Nothing upsets journalists more than the idea that outsiders can do their job.

Who knows where that could end? The public might realise there is nothing special about the insights of political journalists - a group of people who consider themselves expert on something they have never done. Every so often a journalist chances their arm in real politics.


Latham had no new insight on the two party leaders and it was stretching things to think Pauline Hanson was relevant.

But Latham was revealing about himself. We could write him off as a madman but let us remember that Labor convinced 5½ million Australians to vote for him to be prime minister two elections ago.

Julia Gillard declared "Mark Latham has made a real connection with Australians" and "Mark's the one who is putting forward a vision for Australia". She said "he's got the capacity to govern". I never agreed with Gillard about this. I never thought much of his judgment nor hers. If you want an example of Gillard's judgment remember she believed Latham would make a good prime minister.

Latham is no John Hewson, who joined his party shortly before nominating for preselection. He was practically born to Labor. When his family needed help, the local Labor branch took up a collection. After university he went to work for Gough Whitlam.

Later he took over his seat. Until he resigned, one way or another he had been employed by the Labor Party for all his adult life. And how is he voting on Saturday? Informal.

There must be a lot of Labor stalwarts doing the same, or voting Green, because Labor's primary vote is at 38 per cent. Last election it was 43.3 per cent. About 700,000 voters have left in three years. If Labor is re-elected, it will be on Green preferences. In fact the election is being fought between two coalitions - the Liberal-National one and the Labor-Green one. The Greens will deliver more votes to their coalition partners than the Nationals will to theirs.

The Labor base is drifting away because it does not see this as a successful government. Labor voters feel let down by hyped-up promises that have not been delivered. All those ACTU advertisements claiming Abbott's election will lead to the return of WorkChoices (which has no chance of happening) are to scare the faithful back into the fold.

Latham is a high profile example of a wider disillusion with Labor. He puts it down to stage-managed campaigns and "spin". Another word is insincerity. Gillard has a robotic ability to repeat a phrase, but there is no evidence she cares whether it is accurate. She never deviates from the line - especially not for the facts. Few journalists take her up on detail. They care more about reporting tactics than policy. It is easier for them to go after people who say interesting or unexpected things.

In an interview with Oakes on Sunday, Gillard stated "voting for me is voting for . . . a budget in surplus". She claimed over and again that Abbott would cut the surplus. Never once did Oakes ask her which particular surplus she was imagining.

This Labor government has never delivered a surplus. Abbott's task will not be to cut a surplus, but to cut the deficit - forecast by Treasury to be $40 billion this year. But if Gillard can get away with saying this over and over she will. Some people might even think it is true. If no one pulls her up on it maybe even Gillard will start to think it true. It is a long time since we have had someone leading a government as weak on economic policy as Gillard.

Latham knows Gillard well. He knows she is being manufactured for the campaign. A lot of Labor's heartland thinks the same. Climate change got one mention in the closing seconds of Labor's election launch. That's because Labor no longer thinks the issue is politically useful.

Gillard the warrior of the Victorian Socialist Left has now been recast as the stern ma'am of balanced budgets and cuts to company tax. You'd have to be madder than Latham to believe that is genuine.

Peter Costello is a former Liberal federal treasurer.



  • No truer words have been said, Peter. When are you going to rejoin the political afray? You would be my choice.

    Date and time
    August 18, 2010, 7:12AM
    • If anything Latham has shone a spotlight on the utter stupidity of the political media in this country. The same media who have almost completely ignored policy (or lack thereof in Abbott's case) in their desperate zeal to create a close contest between a government who are actually doing somethng for the country and an unelectable opposition looking for easy redneck votes by whipping up fear and xenophobia.

      The fact is, Peter, that your government was the ultimate bunch of do nothings who had no vision for the future and allowed infrastructure to crumble in-spite of global economic boom times. Had you not wasted $144 billion dollars on cynical, vote-buying, middle-class welfare then the country would be in far better shape today.

      I'd rather have a goverment backed up by hard-working union members than by the tobacco (cancer) industry like the Liberals are.

      Think Big
      Date and time
      August 18, 2010, 7:20AM
      • I'm a Liberal voter Peter but when I read an article in the paper, I want to see two sides of a story. Even if the article is heavily biased and an opinion piece. Seeing two sides of a argument gives it some credibility and nothing is black and white. Even in a biased article, I want to see the counter argument and then why the proposition defeats the counter argument.

        This article doesn't provide any of that. The closest it comes is when you mention John Hewson but you don't elaborate. What about Malcolm Fraser? What about the Liberal's credibility having a former PM turn against it?

        Gerard Henderson's arguments, whilst overwhelmingly considered biased in favor the Liberal party at least put forth two sides of the story before shooting one down. They are credible, compelling and effective.

        Your articles are not. You just put forth one side of the story. Labor supporters must love it when you write something because for intelligent readers you do more harm than good. Luckily for you the thick people outnumber the intelligent.

        As far as journalism goes, Mark Latham is kicking your butt and he is a very sorry individual. I liked you better when you were a smug receptionist for John Howard.

        jacorb effect
        Date and time
        August 18, 2010, 7:32AM


          Are you familiar with "Great big new tax, stop the boats, great big new tax, stop the boats, great big new tax, stop the boats, great big new tax, stop the boats..."?

          Date and time
          August 18, 2010, 7:36AM
          • I wouldn't get too excited about rusted on labor supporters derusting and moving to the Greens if I were you. There's a growing clan of us from the liberal (as in true liberal not your kind) side who are going the same way..
            Sec Code LEAKED. Oh dear- was it a secret?

            Date and time
            August 18, 2010, 7:38AM
            • Donkey votes are for donkeys! We'd kick and scream if our vote was taken off us, but we'd willingly throw it away? Talk about spoilt brats! Whoever chooses to lose their election voice should have a public muzzle put on them--why give them a public voice to foster dissent?

              Utopia doesn't exist and never will. We're all mad to believe political hype, from politicians or journalists. We can only weigh it all up and make what we think is the best decision. It's better than no decision.

              Date and time
              August 18, 2010, 7:38AM
              • Peter, I had hoped this article might hold something new or interesting such as an opinion about the campaign on both sides. Instead, it is another piece of partisan hackery. It seems journalism is as difficult for ex-politicians as politics is for ex-journalists.

                Date and time
                August 18, 2010, 7:43AM
                • there is an underlying tone of deceit and jealousy from Costello in this article. The deceit is that the headline does not reflect the body of the article - which is little more than an attack on Julia Gillard. The jealousy stems from the fact that Gillard had the guts to do what Costello didn't have the 'balls' to do - back himself and challenge for the leadership.

                  Date and time
                  August 18, 2010, 7:47AM
                  • Sounds like poor Costello is bitter about his not being able to cut it as a journalist himself because fellow journos don't like it very much...
                    Certainly Costello can talk about economics - his record was good. But a government that hordes cash is also a problem. Infrastructure spending is important as it creates jobs. Problem is Labor spends money it doesn't have - eg broadband.
                    Lastly, the reason Labor isn't touching climate change is because Abbott's shock jock army is too strong - they would kill it in an instant. Without them Abbott would be derided as the joke that he is.
                    Sadly, we are damned if we do and damned if we don't at this election.
                    If only there was a party that would make its aim the restoration of Australia's education system (better wages for teachers), improve manufacturing (not through tariffs), and getting rid of the state governments, then we wouldn't be depending on the temporary resources boom.

                    Date and time
                    August 18, 2010, 7:51AM
                    • "a group of people who consider themselves expert on something they have never done" Aren't you talking about politicians here, Peter?
                      Your analysis is flawed as usual; the mention of two coalitions shows how little you understand the current political spectrum. The Greens have blocked key ALP legislation and will continue to do so. Talking about two 'coalitions' is simplistic, naive and misrepresents the reality. Either that or, as I suspect, Mr Costello lives in la-la land.
                      Now, I wonder what sort of silly comment will SteveH have made today...Can't wait to read it!

                      Ngunnawal land
                      Date and time
                      August 18, 2010, 7:57AM

                      More comments

                      Comments are now closed

                      Related Coverage

                      Shock of the new, or why voters want life to be simpler

                      A key to understanding much of the current election campaign is in a book published 40 years ago. Alvin Toffler's Future Shock sold more than 6 million copies but, more importantly, the concept became part of popular culture. For Toffler, future shock is the shattering stress and disorientation that individuals suffer when they experience too much change in too short a time.

                      Labor deserves some credit, not death at the ballot box

                      We may live in a globalised world but it hasn't made our election campaigns any less parochial and inward-looking. Perhaps in an effort to raise Australians' economic literacy, the Economic Society recently sponsored a national tour by Professor Joe Stiglitz, a Nobel prize winner and one of the world's most illustrious economists.

                      Blood on the hustings as candidates get physical

                      A bit of biffo has heated up what has otherwise been a passionless campaign, writes David Humphries.

                      Missing link had mayors steamed up 73 years ago

                      A number of Sydney mayors, armed with a petition of 20,000 signatures, go to Macquarie Street with their begging bowl out. They want a railway line running from Epping to St Leonards, and they want it now.

                      Stimulus made us stronger for longer

                      The Reserve Bank has unintentionally stepped into the election campaign, providing backing to a group of 50 of Australia's leading economists in an argument with the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, over whether stimulus measures boosted growth.

                      Tracking app to keep MP honest

                      The independent MP Rob Oakeshott - who would be crucial in determining the next government in a hung parliament - has launched a phone app that allows people to track his exact location.

                      How the west will stay won for the Coalition

                      A sudden swing to the Labor Party is a very long shot in WA, which already has a state Liberal government, writes Peter Ker.

                      Give women of the world a boost, says UK Labour

                      If any further signs are needed that Saturday's poll will go down to the wire, a visit to the Australian High Commission in London should prove it.

                      Money management skills to be added to maths curriculum

                      Children in kindergarten through to those in year 10 will be taught how to manage money in the latest component of the national curriculum to be released today by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.

                      Labor 'intimidated' major accounting firms

                      On the eve of releasing its privately costed list of election promises the Coalition has accused Labor of ''intimidation'', saying it has tried to heavy three big accountancy firms, threatening them with loss of government contracts if they worked for the Coalition.

                      Rigour in funding promises doesn't count for much

                      As credible as ''the cheque's in the mail'', as convincing as ''I never got that message'', politicians in election campaigns promise independently assessed, non-political investment in national infrastructure.

                      Coalition to sell bonds for key projects

                      The Coalition will encourage both small and institutional investors to fund infrastructure projects by offering tax concessions on $20 billion worth of infrastructure bonds if it wins government.

                      Abbott spruiks return to Howard regime

                      Tony Abbott has indicated he would restore the Howard government's harsh penalty regime for the unemployed who break Centrelink rules, prompting concern from welfare groups.

                      Coalition should not waver from its original parental leave scheme

                      Tony Abbott wants it both ways on paid parental leave. He wants it seen as a workplace benefit - like sickness or holiday pay - not a welfare benefit. But he also thinks the government should pay for it - eventually - like a welfare payment.

                      Fishing for votes in marine zones

                      More than 100 leading marine scientists have urged the major political parties to keep rolling out marine conservation areas, as Tony Abbott again promised to halt the process during a visit to the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro where fishing votes could be crucial.

                      Gillard angles for final showdown

                      The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, moved last night to end the farcical standoff between herself and Tony Abbott over their final pre-election match-up by agreeing to travel to Brisbane tonight to debate the Opposition Leader on the economy.

                      Poll puts Gillard ahead - but only by four seats

                      Labor is clinging to a four-seat majority just three days from the federal election, according to 28,000 voters sampled in the most comprehensive public opinion poll undertaken in Australian politics.

                      Free sauce? It's the pie de resistance

                      Let history record that Julia Gillard did not read her speech at Labor's campaign launch. And let it record that the Prime Minister thinks pies are better adorned with free sauce.

                      Related Coverage

                      Featured advertisers

                      Special offers

                      Credit card, savings and loan rates by Mozo