Oz Politics Blog

Latham may want to cite that other Mark – Twain, that is – “The rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” The rumours may be exaggerated, but they are unceasing and they appear to have the tinge of prophecy about them.

I love this end of the political life cycle. The journalists excel themselves with hyperbole high in bitch factor. What follows are some of the more charming quotes from the last few days in the media.

According to Michael Costello, Latham is a dead parrot.

The thing about political dead parrots is that their supporters stoutly maintain that they are not dead at all. In the words of the immortal Monty Python television sketch, their parrot is not dead — just “resting”, or “pining” or “stunned”. The rest of the world, however, knows that in the words of the purchaser of the parrot in that sketch: “He’s not pining! He’s passed on! This parrot is no more! This is an ex-parrot!!”

For Costello, Latham’s fundamental post election problem is that he “cannot bring himself to say without qualification that he accepts responsibility.” Costello asserts that Latham blames others for the electoral defeat - the Labor premiers, a Liberal scare campaign, trade union leaders in Tasmania - because “he doesn’t believe that he is responsible. He believes he did extremely well.” Now that sounds like a textbook definition of hubris.

Gregory Hywood’s analysis of Latham’s failings is much the same, even if Hywood is among the few who argue the rumours of Latham’s death are exaggerated.

Latham’s name is now barely mentioned at senior party gatherings and then only in scathing terms. His perceived arrogance, lack of consultative skills, and tactical mismanagement of the election campaign have, after a net loss of seats, left him swinging in the vicious winds of ALP politics.

Michelle Grattan is in the same territory. “Mark Latham is a dead leader walking, burning in a fire of his own making.”

Latham is not stupid. He must know a few basic facts as well as anyone. One: a large section of caucus sees him as the man warming the seat until the next leader emerges. Two: his chances of welding this Opposition into a united team are minimal. Three: even if he could, the prospects of winning the next election are very limited. Four: caucus, which is already jack of him, would not tolerate him around for six years.

Dennis Shanahan said “Mark Latham is damaged goods, and most of the damage is self-inflicted. Ever since the election loss, Latham’s behaviour has antagonised those who didn’t support him for the leadership, and disappointed those who did.”

David Broadbent had this gem,

One senior member of the Bracks Government declared the Latham-Beazley contest had been an IQ test for the federal party. It remains a matter of wonderment that 51 per cent of our federal MPs failed… Never mind all that stuff about the so-called roosters; when they chose Latham, the turkeys voted for Christmas.

In what can only be described as understatement, Bob Carr said Latham will still be in the job come Christmas.