Mark Latham

Mark William Latham (born February 28, 1961) is a former Australian politician who served as leader of the federal parliamentary Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from December 2003 to January 2005. Latham captured national attention and high levels of public approval with his innovative policies and unconventional approach, but also attracted controversy surrounding his colourful past. In the October 2004 federal election, Latham was defeated by the incumbent Prime Minister John Howard. Ill health and deteriorating relations with his own party forced him to step down as Leader on 18 January, 2005. In September, Latham released a set of diaries in which he attacked many of his former colleagues and members of the media, as well as condemning the general state of political life in Australia.

Biography

Latham's biography Loner: Inside a Labor Tragedy, by Bernard Lagan, was launched on 29 June 2005 by Senator John Faulkner, published by Allen & Unwin.

Related Topics:
29 June - John Faulkner

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The book has caused furore within Labor ranks. Union leader Bill Shorten epitomised the anger felt towards Latham within the party when he remarked that Latham "possesse all the attributes of a dog except loyalty".

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Of Kim Beazley's return to the leadership, Latham said: "Labor got the leader it truly deserves - it is well suited to a conservative stand-for-nothing type of leader."

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Latham criticised state Labor premiers Bob Carr, Peter Beattie and Geoff Gallop, calling them "A-grade arseholes."

Related Topics:
Bob Carr - Peter Beattie - Geoff Gallop

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Jeff Kennett, a former Liberal premier of Victoria - who has no formal qualifications in the area of mental health but is a national depression awareness advocate for BeyondBlue - weighed into the debate, publicly calling Latham "mentally ill". Kennett said Latham's erratic behaviour, which contributed to his political downfall, was symptomatic of a bipolar disorder ? extreme mood swings caused by depression. Latham contacted Kennett, saying that the statement offended and hurt himself and his family, and demanded an apology, which Kennett quickly gave through The Age newspaper in Melbourne. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/kennett-apologises-to-latham-over-bipolar-claim/2005/06/30/1119724740371.html?oneclick=true

Related Topics:
Jeff Kennett - Depression - Bipolar disorder - The Age

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