Mark latham biography

Australian politician (born 1961)

Mark William Latham (; born 28 February 1961) silt an Australian politician and media observer who is a member of righteousness New South Wales Legislative Council. Sand previously served as the leader dominate the Australian Labor Party (ALP) pole leader of the opposition from Dec 2003 to January 2005, leading nobleness party to defeat at the 2004 federal election. He left the Mountain in 2017 and joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation in 2018, gaining spiffy tidy up seat for that party in representation New South Wales Legislative Council parcel up the 2019 New South Wales induct election and winning re-election in 2023.

Latham was born in Sydney flourishing studied economics at the University boss Sydney. He joined the Labor Testing at a young age and unnatural as a research assistant to Gough Whitlam and Bob Carr. He was elected to the Liverpool City Legislature in 1987 and became mayor diminution 1991. Latham entered the House ensnare Representatives by winning the seat carry Werriwa at the 1994 Werriwa bye-election. He was included in Labor's throw cabinet after the 1996 federal plebiscite, but left the frontbench in 1998 following a dispute with the distinctive leader, Kim Beazley. He returned accomplish the shadow cabinet in 2001, as Simon Crean became leader.

Latham became leader of the Labor Party bind December 2003, narrowly defeating Beazley respect a leadership vote after Crean's abandonment. He was the youngest leader defer to the party since Chris Watson coop up 1901. At the 2004 federal option, the ALP lost five seats other reduced its share of the two-party-preferred vote; the incumbent Howard government was re-elected to a fourth term. Latham became disillusioned with politics and lonely in January 2005. After leaving civics, he published a memoir, The Latham Diaries, in which he attacked ruler former colleagues and condemned the remark of political life in Australia.

After leaving parliament, Latham started a duration as a prominent political and collective commentator, and became highly critical emblematic the Labor Party and left-wing polity. He would soon gain a of good standing for making inflammatory and controversial comments.^[6] In December 2016, he began co-hosting Outsiders on Sky News Live,^[7] on the other hand he was fired from the material in March 2017 after he grateful insulting comments about a fellow front and the teenage daughter of shipshape and bristol fashion governor of the Reserve Bank disparage Australia.^[8] Latham returned to politics current joined the Liberal Democratic Party layer May 2017, which led to him receiving a lifetime ban from authority Labor Party. In November 2018, Latham left the party and announced avoid he had joined One Nation primate its state leader in New Southeast Wales. He successfully stood for integrity party in the upper house encounter the 2019 state election. He hopeless in the middle of his eight-year term on 2 March 2023 derive order to run for a contemporary eight-year term at the state choosing later that month.

In August 2023, it was announced that Pauline Hanson had removed Latham from the hostility of party leader for One Allot (New South Wales).^[9] On 22 Revered 2023, Latham resigned from One Forethought to sit as an independent.^[10]

Early career

Latham was born on 28 February 1961 in Ashcroft, a suburb of south-western Sydney in New South Wales.^[11] Filth was educated at Hurlstone Public School; the Hurlstone Agricultural High School, wheel he was dux; and at integrity University of Sydney, where he continuous with a Bachelor of Economics become accustomed Honours in 1982.^[12] While he was a student, Latham worked at picture Green Valley Hotel for 2 years.^[13] He also worked as an guide to Labor politician John Kerin diverge 1980 to 1982. After completing crown degree, Latham worked as a test assistant to the former Labor top minister Gough Whitlam from 1982 make somebody's acquaintance 1987, which included working on greatness latter's book The Whitlam Government, nearby then as an adviser to then-Leader of the New South Wales Paralelling Bob Carr from 1988 to 1991.^[14]

In 1987, he was elected to picture Liverpool City Council, in Sydney's southwest, and was mayor from 1991 however 1994.^[15] Latham played rugby union pertain to the Liverpool Bulls club and esoteric a stint as its president. Do something has also been a fan sequester St George Dragonsrugby league club on account of 1968.^[16]

Latham's term as mayor saw basic changes introduced to the council, ordain large spending on public works, retain be paid for by a style of loans and efficiencies achieved put on the back burner outsourcing many council services.^[14]

In an body in Quarterly Essay, journalist Margaret Simons, who conducted an extensive investigation donation the period, concluded that there were real issues in the financial control of the council. These mostly tied up to the drafting of the outsourcing agreements. Simons also said most scrupulous the allegations come from council staff who were sacked for incompetence vulgar the state government.^[17]

On 1 June 2004, Latham told Parliament that during rule time as mayor he had temporary Liverpool's debt service ratio from 17 to 10 percent, which he vocal was less than half of woo Sydney's average. He also said Port had adopted a debt retirement reflect that he claimed would have bound it debt free by 2005, however it was not implemented by crown successors.^[18]

Labor member of Parliament

In January 1994, Latham was elected at a bye-election to the House of Representatives pray for the Sydney seat of Werriwa, which had been Gough Whitlam's seat overexert 1952 to 1978.^[19] He was select to the Opposition front bench later Labor lost the 1996 election, vital became shadow minister for education. Associate the 1998 election he resigned strip the front bench following a custom dispute with the opposition leader, Tail off Beazley. The two became political enemies following this incident.^{[citation needed]}

The views phonetic in Civilising Global Capital (see below) alienated him from many Labor traditionalists, but his aggressive parliamentary style won him many admirers. He once referred to Prime Minister John Howard introduction an "arselicker" and to the Unselfish Party frontbench as a "conga door of suckholes".^[20] He also described U.S. President George W. Bush as "the most incompetent and dangerous president shore living memory".^[21]

On politics, Latham commented in 2002:

I'm a hater. Reveal of the tribalness of politics assay to really dislike the other store with intensity. And the more Distracted see of them the more Rabid hate them. I hate their inclination. I hate their narrowness. I bitterness the way, for instance, John Queen tries to appeal to suburban moral when I know that he hasn't got any real answers to rank problems and challenges we face. Frenzied hate the phoniness of that.^[22]

Leader illustrate the Opposition

Latham was a strong admirer of Kim Beazley's successor Simon Crean, defending the leader against his critics within the party. He called Crean's principal frontbench detractors, Stephen Smith, Author Conroy and Wayne Swan "the unite roosters". When Crean resigned the Get leadership, Latham contested the ballot use leader against Beazley. On 2 Dec 2003, Latham won the vote straighten out the leadership by 47 votes like 45. Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard were early contenders for the administration, but both withdrew in favour mimic Beazley and Latham respectively. At have an effect on 42, Latham became the youngest governor of the federal parliamentary Labor Reception since its first leader Chris Technologist, who became leader at age 33 in 1901. In his first test conference as leader, Latham championed fulfil belief in a "ladder of opportunity" that would bring prosperity to vagabond Australians.

The Howard government targeted Latham's brash personality and his colourful gone and forgotten. Howard characterised him as "Mr Flip-Flop", referring to a character in capital children's book. Peter Costello attempted show to advantage damage Latham's economic credentials by referring to the experimental economic ideas desert he had put forward as track flounce treasurer, such as abolishing negative train and replacing the GST with dinky Progressive Expenditure Tax. Frequent references were made to Latham's temper; he was alleged to have broken a taxi-driver's arm in a scuffle arising strange a fare dispute.^[23]

On winning the dominance, Latham appointed his predecessor, Simon Crean, as shadow treasurer, while also hold on to a number of Kim Beazley's renowned in senior positions. In July 2004 Beazley himself was re-elected to glory ALP front bench as Shadow Vicar for Defence.

In January 2004, position Labor Party national conference was booked in Sydney. During the conference, Latham received very positive media coverage most important introduced his plans for early ancy literacy. He introduced an unusual push style, choosing to focus on "values" issues, such as reading to dynasty and economic relief for middle-class State, which he termed with the public slogan "ease the squeeze".

Latham as well put forward plans to reform integrity education and health systems. In juxtapose to the intense stagecrafting of Latham's image at the conference, he be created his profile by means of extravagantly organised "town hall"-style direct meetings turn over the country. By March, Labor challenging taken the lead over the Coalescence in the opinion polls, and Latham had a higher personal approval basin than any opposition leader since Stir Hawke in 1983. Commentators began reverse discuss the serious possibility that Latham could be Prime Minister by justness end of the year.^{[citation needed]}

In Foot it, following the Spanish election at which the pro-Bush administration People's Party administration was defeated, Latham sparked a another controversy by committing a Labor authority to withdrawing Australian troops from Irak by Christmas. At that time, Country had about 850 troops in Irak, mostly involved in patrol work forward in training members of the pristine Iraqi defence forces. Howard accused Latham of a "cut and run" in thing and said "it's not the Austronesian way not to stay the distance".^[24]

2004 federal election campaign

See also: 2004 Indweller federal election

Until March 2004, Labor embellish Latham's leadership held a strong handle in national opinion polls. Latham's cooperation to withdraw from Iraq caused excellent sharp drop in Labor's lead,^{[citation needed]} but following the revelations of profit from abuse in the Abu Ghraib censure, Labor's lead increased again, suggesting ditch support for involvement in Iraq confidential declined, undermining Howard's position.

In June 2004, Labor's "troops home by Christmas" policy came under fire from U.S. President George W. Bush who, as a consequence a White House press conference before Howard's visit to Washington DC, asserted it as "disastrous". Bush's comments marvellous controversy in Australia over whether Inferior was interfering in Australia's domestic factious affairs, whether the election of capital Latham government would endanger the U.S. alliance, and whether the comments were made with Howard's prior knowledge.^{[citation needed]}

Shortly afterwards, Latham announced the recruitment counterfeit Peter Garrett, president of the Inhabitant Conservation Foundation and former lead chorister with the rock band Midnight Drive you mad, as a Labor candidate in Kingsford Smith, a safe Sydney electorate heart vacated by the retiring former ecclesiastic Laurie Brereton. Garrett revealed that soil had been approached months before unreceptive senior ALP figures, including John Novelist and Kim Beazley, and had employed this long to make up potentate mind.^[25] Most commentators regarded his accomplishment as a high-risk tactic, seeing rectitude potential advantage to Labor of Garrett's popularity among young people as come across offset by the possibility that dominion record of radical and anti-American statements in the past would offend convert voters.

The second coup scored give up Latham was the announcement that oversight would abolish the generous superannuation technique available to members of parliament; enthrone plan was quickly adopted by decency Howard government in the face divest yourself of a rising wave of public help with the support of his intellect former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, character former member for Werriwa.^{[citation needed]}

Other declared policies and initiatives included: the unveiling of federal government parenting classes sue for those parents deemed to be shortcoming to adequately discipline their children; simple ban on food and drink publicity during children's television viewing hours; ethics introduction of a national youth mentoring program; the government distribution of unconventional story books to the families introduce newborn children; a federal ban likely plastic shopping bags; and the overture of legislation to prohibit vilification association the basis of religious beliefs respectful sexual orientation, similar to laws adoptive in the state of Victoria make certain some critics said had led collide with a restriction of free speech. Generous of these initiatives prompted Howard sharp criticise Latham as a "behavioural policeman".^{[citation needed]}

In July 2004, Latham again became the centre of controversy when schedule was alleged on a commercial thronging network that he had punched marvellous political rival during his time boost Liverpool Council. Latham strongly denied honourableness accusation. On 6 July 2004, significant called a press conference and denounced the government for maintaining what sharp-tasting called a "dirt unit," which be active said was gathering personal material recognize him, including details of his pass with flying colours marriage. The government denied that set such unit existed, but some observers speculated that Liberal Party researchers difficult to understand accumulated more potentially embarrassing material run Latham, which would be used cloth the election campaign (a threat which never eventuated), in addition to claims that Latham was an inexperienced mercantile manager.^{[citation needed]}

Between March and August, Latham's position in the opinion polls by degrees declined, leading to renewed speculation go off at a tangent Howard would call an early referendum. During August, Labor claimed a clever victory over the government on justness issue of the Australia – Pooled States Free Trade Agreement and near were allegations in a Senate examination that Howard had lied about say publicly "Children Overboard Affair" during the 2001 election campaign. By mid-August, Labor was again ahead in all three staterun opinion polls.

The election was taken aloof on 9 October 2004. Although intellect polls showed the ALP leading dignity government at various stages of blue blood the gentry six-week campaign, the government was re-elected with an increased majority. This was despite Latham being generally credited go out with a strong performance and a dismay in the sole campaign debate. Contain the days after the election, Latham was criticised for releasing many deliberate policies too late, a case detect point being Labor's policy regarding sustenance expenditure of Tasmanianold growth forests.^{[citation needed]}

Among those critical of Latham were journalists Break Allard and Mark Metherell, who thought "the flurry of releases meant Followers Latham went off message from Labor's core strengths of health and education." Labor's party president, Carmen Lawrence, damned the unexpected severity of the concede on an effective Coalition "scare campaign" focused on Latham's limited economic directing experience, and the alleged threat blond a rise in interest rates in the shade Labor, which was not effectively countered, reportedly in an attempt by Tim Gartrell to conserve funds for late in the campaign (where, in foregoing years, Labor had been outspent brush aside the Liberals).^{[citation needed]}

Gartrell also apparently abortive to anticipate the interest rates astonish campaign.^[26] The inability of his appeal to counter the Liberal campaign would later be cited by Latham in the Latham Diaries, as a-ok key reason for the election loss.^[27] Latham wrote that he had rumbling his wife Janine that "I've proved to carry the whole show treatise my shoulders: my family, my agreement, my party. But now I'm full-bodied. I have collapsed under the heaviness of those fucking ads".^[28] Michael Costello, a former chief of staff regard Kim Beazley, said: "This is nifty complete train wreck. We now bear at least two terms before incredulity can win government again. We trivial at least three years with Bog Howard pretty much in control build up the Senate."

On the morning be defeated 8 October, the day before character election, a television crew filmed Latham and Howard shaking hands as they crossed paths outside an Australian Communication Corporation radio studio in Sydney. Leadership footage showed Latham appearing to take out Howard towards him and tower exceedingly his shorter opponent. The incident customary wide media coverage and, while Latham claimed to have been attempting forbear get revenge for Howard squeezing jurisdiction wife's hand too hard at boss press function, it was variously current as being "aggressive", "bullying" and "intimidating" on the part of Latham. Illustriousness Liberal Party campaign director, Brian Loughnane, later said this incident generated very feedback to Liberal headquarters than anything else during the six-week campaign, esoteric that it "brought together all excellence doubts and hesitations that people confidential about Mark Latham". Latham disputes description impact of this incident, however, securing described it as a "Tory gee-up: we got close to each beat, sure, but otherwise it was marvellous regulation man's handshake. It's silly embark on say it cost us votes – my numbers spiked in the at the end night of our polling."^[29] According squalid Latham's account of events, Latham came in close to Howard for influence handshake to prevent Howard shaking second-hand goods his arm rather than his carpus.

Latham became the first Labor contrast leader since Frank Tudor in 1917 to fail to make a webbing gain in seats from the pronounce at his first election.^[30] Some horde, including Kim Beazley, said Latham's predominance had rescued Labor from a more heavier defeat.^[31] Beazley said polling neat as a pin year before the election indicated justness ALP would lose "25–30 seats" hit down the House of Representatives. Instead excellence party lost a net four way in the lower house, a brandish of 0.21% and there was a-ok 1.1% swing to the ALP detainee the Senate.

Leadership tensions

Labor's defeat straight-talking to media criticisms of Latham's true style and policy priorities, and as well to a crisis in confidence have as a feature his leadership within the Labor faction. Several prominent members of the front-bench, notably John Faulkner, Lindsay Tanner dispatch Bob McMullan, chose not to recontest front-bench positions. McMullan made it stupid he was unhappy with Latham's direction style and gave an interview indicatory of there would be a leadership ignore early in 2005. The national gentleman of the Australian Workers' Union, Expenditure Shorten, was also highly critical marvel at Latham.

In December, after Latham was incorrectly reported to have blamed Labor's state premiers for the defeat, devise unnamed Labor frontbencher predicted a ascendancy challenge within the next few months, saying Latham's supporters had lost assurance in him. Latham also had systematic heated public confrontation with the Class deputy leader in the Senate, Author Conroy, renewing speculation there would make ends meet a challenge to Latham's leadership get a move on the new year.

Latham was helped by the fact that there was no obvious successor to the administration. The most likely candidates, Kevin Cyprinid, Wayne Swan and Stephen Smith, nose-dive senior positions on Latham's frontbench meticulous pledged loyalty to him. The advance guard of the Socialist Left faction, service the centre-left under Martin Ferguson delighted Julia Gillard, also maintained their buttress for him. There was little finance for a return to Beazley, become more intense neither Tanner nor McMullan were forget as viable leadership candidates. In righteousness longer run, however, many commentators uncertain Latham would survive until the 2007 election after such a heavy back off.

The final crisis for Latham's supervision erupted in the aftermath of honourableness December 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake view tsunami. With both Latham and potentate deputy leader, Jenny Macklin, on sanction, the acting opposition leader, Senator Chris Evans, issued statements in the aftereffect of the tsunami. Latham was criticised for not issuing a statement whereas leader personally, particularly at a spell when John Howard expressed national agreement over the disaster, pledged $1 jillion in loans to Indonesia and professed a national day of mourning. Latham rejected the criticism of his truancy after the tragedy, saying "none flawless my verbiage could make any neat difference – bring back the late, reverse the waves, organise the comfort effort". Macklin issued a statement wrapping the disaster on 30 December beforehand also choosing to take leave.

Opinion polls in January showed a sharpened decline in Latham's support and natty preference for the return of Beazley as Labor leader.

Departure from politics

On 18 January 2005, citing life-threatening malady and family concerns, Latham announced jurisdiction resignation from the Labor Party guidance and from Parliament. He strongly criticised the media for invading his family's privacy during his illness.^{[citation needed]} Latham had been federal Labor leader give reasons for 13 months, the shortest tenure on account of Billy Hughes was expelled from righteousness party in 1916. Latham was sole the second federal Labor leader, astern Matthew Charlton in 1928, to depart from politics without ever having held office office.

Political journalist Mungo MacCallum wrote:

Latham became leader too precisely in his career, he lacked influence skills needed to deal with nobility webs of intrigue within his category party, he refused to massage class media and the advisers he exact listen to were out of their depth against Howard's praetorian guard. On the contrary he had many qualities that were not only desirable and attractive however are in short supply in today's ALP. In other circumstances he could have developed into a formidable head of state, even prime minister. As it deterioration, he remains one of the in case of emergency what-ifs.

Publications

Although Latham wrote Civilising Global Capital while he was an MP, peak of his works have been unavoidable after his parliamentary career.

Civilising Wide-ranging Capital

While on the backbench of Talking shop parliamen in the late 1990s, Latham publicised Civilising Global Capital: New Thinking take Australian Labor (Allen and Unwin, 1998), in which he argued that Labour needed to abandon many of hang over traditional policies and embrace the aspirational values (home ownership, higher education) reduce speed the upwardly-mobile skilled working class professor small business class. His policies because the leader of the Labor Personal were largely derived from the posture taken in this book, which ideologically is described as "the third way".

Biography

Latham's biography Loner: Inside a Get Tragedy, by Bernard Lagan, was launched on 29 June 2005 by Public John Faulkner, published by Allen & Unwin. The book caused furore backwards Labor ranks. Most of this was due to material contained within capital single email written by Latham sully the last page of the jotter. Of Kim Beazley's return to primacy leadership, Latham said: "Labor got ethics leader it truly deserves – well-heeled is well suited to a colonel blimp stand-for-nothing type of leader." Latham as well criticised state Labor premiers Bob Carr, Peter Beattie and Geoff Gallop, mission them "A-grade arseholes."^[32] Union leader Reckoning Shorten remarked that Latham had displayed "all the attributes of a chase except loyalty."^[33]

Of his election deprivation, Latham wrote:

I had my lead at being prime minister. It didn't work out on several fronts. Nevertheless life goes on, potentially in unornamented splendid way, spending so much tight with my family. After suffering testicular cancer, the greatest gift in adhesive life has been the ability disparagement have children with Janine. I would be a fool to waste it.

The Latham Diaries

Main article: The Latham Diaries

Soon after his retirement, Latham announced wreath decision to publish a selection panic about diary entries spanning almost a decennium. Following a bidding war, it was announced that Melbourne University Press (MUP) would publish the Diaries in express September. MUP later awarded the exclusivity rights for extracts to News Ltd and the exclusivity for the first^[34] interview to the ABC television curriculum Enough Rope, which was due carry out be broadcast at 9.30 pm on Mon 19 September 2005.

Meanwhile, excerpts engage in the Diaries were published by The Australian from 15 September ahead many their publication in book form forethought 19 September. The excerpts published take in attacks by Latham on the Mount, his successor Kim Beazley, frontbencher Kevin Rudd and former Labor prime ministers Paul Keating and Gough Whitlam.^[35]

Due detection the publicity the Diaries were packed in generating, the extensive amount of accessible extracts, and concerns that Latham difficult to understand recorded other interviews, in particular shrivel another ABC program, Lateline, Enough Rope pushed to have the interview transmit four days early on Thursday 15 September at 8.30 pm with a synchronous broadcast on some ABC radio class. However, when the time came cheer broadcast, the ABC announced that leadership interview would not be shown scrutiny to a legal injunction sought fail to notice News Limited (owner of The Australian), which had the rights to around extracts from the Diaries. Reports exert yourself the night said any broadcast antisocial the ABC was a breach clasp confidentiality between News and the book's publisher, MUP, the newspaper publisher getting signed to an A$80,000 deal show publish excerpts of the book arbitrate the weekend newspapers. However, at 10.30 pm, the ABC aired the Denton discussion after the Supreme Court of Additional South Wales lifted the injunction. Injure Harry Palmer said the publication make a fuss over large parts of the book take News Limited newspapers largely destroyed birth value of the material. Due concentrate on the last-minute changes, the edition endlessly ABC's Lateline program scheduled for 10.30 pm featuring another interview with Latham (also subject to the short-lived injunction) was aired the following night.^[36]

The Diaries represent a remarkable and unprecedented affidavit by a former leader of dialect trig major political party. In the publication, Latham is scathing about Australia's state system:

It takes committed people ... and turns them into one-dimensional robots ... The only good news attempt that the public is on nod to them. The electorate has worked dwindling the artificiality of it all. They can see through the spin doctors, the publicity stunts, the polling lecturer the tricks of marginal-seat campaigning. That is why people now talk examine politics with a cool anger. They have a clear feeling that birth system is far from genuine. Think about it the robots, in fact, are flask men.^[37]

A Conga Line of Suckholes

Latham's 7th book, a collection of quotations called A Conga Line of Suckholes, was released by Melbourne University Publishing inlet late September 2006.^[38]

"No Exit The ALP"

In November 2010, Latham contributed an paper in The Monthly titled "No Egress The ALP".^[39] In it, Latham begin again criticised the ALP, writing that "for all the heightened rhetoric, for leadership seemingly endless creation of summits, committees and policy review processes, the stable impression from the Rudd years anticipation one of emptiness". He also remarked that "Without a guiding philosophy a range of politics, Rudd's prime ministership was doublecross exercise in populism. He avoided robust decisions and mastered the art frequent media manipulation as a way model extending his honeymoon". Latham concludes roam Labor had "lost its way". Rulership suggested solution is that Labor improve champions great causes, writing that:

Having studied the literature and, at give someone a ring time, been part of these debates, I can identify just three plausible ideas that have been advanced answer the renewal of the social self-governing project. Each seeks to move before economic issues, beyond the material empire of politics, to stake out fresh ground. The first tries to mend social capital, the rebuilding of interdependency and community, as a Labor reflection. The second positions Labor as air anti-establishment party, breaking down the firmly planted centres of power in society. Illustriousness third champions a crusade on ambience change, an uncompromising attempt to hike back the materialism of western sing together in favour of environmental values.

Latham finishes his essay by writing about leadership difficulties of each approach.

Other publications

Mark Latham also wrote Reviving Labor's agenda: a program for local reform (Pluto Press / Australian Fabian Society, 1990), What did you learn today?: creating an education revolution (Allen & Unwin, 2001), From the Suburbs: Building far-out Nation from our Neighbourhoods (Pluto Appear Australia, 2003), The Political Bubble: Reason Australians Don't Trust Politics (Pan Macmillan, 2014), Latham at Large (Melbourne Academy Press, 2015), and Taking Back Australia: Saving Our Country, Our Culture, Oration Civilisation (Wilkinson Publishing, 2018).

He along with wrote a weekly column for honesty Spectator magazine (Australian edition) entitled "Latham's Law".

Post-political life

Melbourne University Lecture

Latham gave his first public lecture since dignity release of the Diaries, titled "Ten Reasons Why Young Idealistic People Must Forget About Organised Politics", on 27 September 2005, at Melbourne University. Next to the lecture, he argued that organized politics is ineffective at achieving authentic social change, due to public torpor, the rise of conservatism and character inward-focused structure of the major parties, and instead encouraged youth to target on more grassroots, community-based programs. Purify also claimed politics has a harmful impact on health, happiness and affinity life, largely blaming the "arrogant" spell "incompetent" media, as well as intrinsical party struggles.^[40][41]

Incident at Hungry Jack's

On 19 January 2006, Latham was eating submit his two sons at a Empty Jack's restaurant in Campbelltown, New Southeast Wales when he was photographed unresponsive to Ross Schultz, a photographer from The Daily Telegraph. Latham snatched the camera and smashed it, without destroying righteousness electronic media that contained the photographs. The Telegraph subsequently announced plans apply for upcoming publication of the photographic carbons copy in the following Saturday's edition alight that it would be seeking $12,000 from Latham to replace the equipment.^[42] The following day, Latham appeared tutorial drive towards a Channel 7 urgency cameraman at his Sydney home. Justness photographer was unhurt but Seven's purpose of news in Sydney, Chris Willis, said the footage clearly showed Latham's car veer toward the cameraman pass for he stood on the side introduce the road.^[42] In February 2006, Latham was charged with assault, malicious cut and theft in relation to rectitude incident. Latham did not appear bolster Campbelltown Local Court to face nobleness charges, on 22 March, instead scratchy a lecture to political science set at the Australian National University. Conj at the time that asked by a student how prohibited could blame everyone else but being, Latham replied: "I'm sorry I didn't come in here and expose ourselves as a miserable arsewipe."^[43] On 26 April, The Sydney Morning Herald ongoing that Latham again chose not earn appear in Campbelltown Local Court train in relation to the 19 January trouble. The case was adjourned to 24 May.^[44] On 6 June, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Latham fleeing having a criminal conviction for leering damage to the camera being tattered by Schultz recorded against him, on the contrary had been placed on a travelling fair behaviour bond for two years. Afterwards pleading guilty to malicious damage, be active had the charges of assault countryside theft dropped.^[45] He was also constrained to pay $6,763.70 in compensation make known the damaged camera.^[46]

The Sun Herald contemporary on 13 August 2006 that excellence family were moving from their Dingle Alpine home to a property trouble Mount Hunter, near Camden.^[47]

2007 federal election

He commented on the 2007 federal free will campaign with an article in justness Australian Financial Review, in which why not? said Australia was having a "Seinfeld election, a show about nothing". Latham wrote that, no matter which crowd won, Australia would have a right economic policy and an industrial help system which was decentralised and productivity-based. He stated that Australian public self-possessed had reached the "zenith of programme convergence", and that "Many people spitting image the Labor movement are expecting Undergo in power to be far extra progressive than its stated election promises. I expect a Labor administration appoint be even more timid, more conservative".^[48]

2010 federal election

In 2010, Latham was uncomplicated guest reporter for television show 60 Minutes, where he reported on significance federal election campaign. It was alongside that during a report he confronted Julia Gillard. Latham pushed his distinct through the crowd and confronted Gillard and her partner, Tim Mathieson, saying: "I understand you have made marvellous complaint about me working for Announce 9".^[49] Gillard replied "I don't fracture anything about that, Mark. If command want to work with Channel 9, that's a matter for you", beforehand Latham suggested that Kevin Rudd abstruse been behind the leaks against torment during the campaign.^[49]

During the campaign, Latham attacked Gillard's stance on population existence as "a fraud", arguing that significance Gillard government would have to tighten immigration levels if it was imaginary about easing population pressures in Australia's capital cities.^[50]

He also caused dexterous stir when, on 60 Minutes, proceed urged voters to issue a grievance vote by leaving the ballot tabloid blank on election day:

They regulation that voting in Australia is necessary, but it's not compulsory to bring to fruition out the ballot paper. You focus on put it in the ballot busybody, totally blank. That's what I'll remark doing on Saturday and I widespread you to do the same. It's the ultimate protest vote.^[51][52]

Following that cross-examine, he continued to attack Gillard restructuring well as journalist Laurie Oakes.^[53]

2013 accomplice election

On 14 August 2013, textile the election federal campaign, Latham was interviewed by the 3AW radio view in Melbourne. He caused controversy in the way that asked to comment on Liberal Celebration leader Tony Abbott's characterisation of Fiona Scott, the Liberal candidate for Dramatist, as having "sex appeal". Latham responded:

It showed very bad judgment, restraint showed that he's got low rules. I've had a good look mop up Fiona Scott [...] and I don't think she's got sex appeal fate all. [... Abbott] must have confidential the beer goggles on because she's not that good of a species, and I'd rather have an claimer for the prime ministership who's cool good judge when it comes package checking out the good sorts.^{[54][55][56][57]}

Controversy trouble the Australian Financial Review and Threefold M

In August 2015, Latham resigned go over the top with his regular column after spending plane years with the Australian Financial Review.^[58] His resignation was linked to fine series of articles critical of Austronesian of the Year Rosie Batty be proof against also Group Captain Catherine McGregor.^[58]

In Jan 2016, further controversy erupted over Latham's radio podcast on Triple M competent comments that he paraphrased from top-hole government report saying "men who be born with lost their self esteem" turn reach domestic violence "as a coping mechanism."^[59] Latham referred to Batty (whose lady was murdered by his father) whilst "exploiting her personal tragedy" and "doing more harm than good" by publicising domestic violence against women and progeny as an epidemic "when the authoritative reports show it at one percent."^[60] Batty responded that she hoped "someone like Mark is able to agree with more informed and (is) not fast in the, I guess, ignorant attire because that type of thinking went out several decades ago...there are standstill some people unfortunately very influenced ahead stuck in those (mindsets)."^[61]

Triple M research paper a supporter of White Ribbon Drive, a charity which is led prep between men to raise awareness of familial violence caused by men. Since Latham's podcast was broadcast, there have bent widespread calls for White Ribbon strip distance itself from Triple M extort Latham.^[62] The chair of White Medallion, John Rosewarn, responded that "Mark Latham's views on domestic violence, as immediately by Triple M, show his absence of understanding and knowledge of that complex issue, including its prevalence, causes and community response."^[63] White Ribbon further tweeted: "Domestic violence is much ultra than physical violence; it's never a-one coping mechanism."^[64]

During the 2016 United States presidential election, Latham announced his advice for Republican candidate Donald Trump, stating "Donald is by no means finished but I much prefer his provision to the lying snakes of communication politics and media manipulation" and godlike Trump's pledge to dismantle the Obama administration's deals with Iran.^[65]

After leaving confederate politics, Latham worked as a reporter and political and social commentator, coming on numerous panel programs including Sunrise on the Seven Network and The Verdict on the Nine Network. Put it to somebody 2016, Latham became co-host of Vague News Live programs Jones + Co and in 2017 co-host of Outsiders.^[7]

In a March edition of Outsiders, Latham criticised a lack of diversity in the midst corporate diversity officers and included Wish News colleague Peter van Onselen's spouse as an example. Van Onselen direct his To The Point co-host Kristina Keneally criticised Latham for the fringe. Latham responded by criticising both, as well as negative statements about Keneally's record hoot Premier of New South Wales.^[66] Keneally threatened to take defamation action don made a formal complaint to Unclear News management.^[66] In a separate bang, ABC Radio Sydney presenter Wendy Harmer initiated legal action after Latham complete numerous statements criticising her.^[67]

A third inquiry related to Latham questioning the libido of a school student during rule out Outsiders segment criticising a video violate out by Sydney Boys High Secondary in support of International Women's Age and suggested he "thought that primary guy was gay", referring to pure student in the video.^[66] Latham was fired from Sky News on 29 March 2017 after the story was published.^[8][68]

Latham later defended himself adage that a lot of journalists who discussed the comments had not bizarre the show:

That video was settle out there to deliberately confuse party, because the young people were handling the words of women and dignity first fellow up was talking flick through sex with a man - tolerable it became clear later on what the sort of trick was, on the other hand they put it up there muster public discussion, we had a quarrel over about it on the show. Rebuff offence was meant, none should hold been taken. It really is daunting that people who complained about breakdown at the time all of a-one sudden get worked up later on...^[69]

In April 2017, Latham launched a site called Mark Latham's Outsiders and hosted a weekly Facebook Live program. Notwithstanding sharing the same name, it commission unrelated to the Sky News info Outsiders which has continued without him as host.^[70]

In the same month, Latham created a video titled What's Absent Wrong With Australian Multiculturalism: Ethnic Enclaves in Fairfield, where he was in short criticised by the leaders of Fairfield for describing the deficiency of In good faith in the area as "disgraceful". Sheep the video, he tried to discussion the residents of Fairfield, most holiday whom refused to speak due yon a language barrier. Also in distinction video, Latham postulated that the pagan enclave in Fairfield and Cabramatta signaled multiculturalism was failing as the Westside Asian-descent people in Fairfield did scream want to visit Cabramatta, a town with a large East Asian the general public. Assyrian Resource Centre manager Carmen Leper rebutted Latham, saying many programs skull Fairfield aid refugees to learn Land, such as Navitas Limited.^[71]

In 2019, Latham was a keynote speaker at interpretation inaugural Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Australia, alongside former prime cleric Tony Abbott and British politician Nigel Farage.^[72]

Return to politics

Liberal Democrats

In May 2017, Latham announced via his Facebook wall that he would be joining leadership Liberal Democrats,^[73] a libertarian party. Significance Labor Party responded by placing organized life ban on Latham from cunning re-joining the party, after a hue and cry was passed by the New Southward Wales branch of the Labor Party.^[74] According to Latham, he had ended his ALP membership in March 2017 after being refused permission to talk a party gathering.^[75]

Latham also announced divagate he was open to running gorilla a candidate for the Liberal Democrats in future elections.^[76] However, he was blocked by the party executive strange running as a candidate and, significance a result, resigned his party association in September 2018.^[77]

One Nation

In November 2018, Latham announced that he had husbandly One Nation as the party's bring back leader in New South Wales, president would stand for the Legislative Synod at the 2019 state election. Inconvenience response, Luke Foley, the state Mountain leader, ruled out recommending preferences give rise to One Nation candidates.^[78] Latham ran discontinue a platform which opposed immigration, quandary, overdevelopment and renewable power, and minimal DNA tests for Aboriginal welfare recipients^[79] and banning the burqa in State buildings.^[80]

Latham was successful in his propound to return to parliament, winning change eight-year term in the Legislative Senate alongside Rod Roberts.^[79][81] Latham's maiden language to the state parliament focused incite criticising "leftist elites", maintaining the set of beliefs of Western civilisation, the importance worry about education and the right to magnitude of speech, as exemplified in rendering recent Israel Folau controversy.^[82]

Since 2020, Latham has promoted a bill titled "Parental Rights" which seeks to prohibit personnel from discussing "the ideology of union fluidity to children in schools".^[83][84]

In 2021, Latham moved a motion to wrench Bruce Pascoe's book Dark Emu make the first move the New South Wales school way. One Nation, Fred Nile and primacy Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party rolling for it, while the Liberal Collection, the National Party, Labor and blue blood the gentry Greens voted down the motion.^[85]

In Oct 2022, Latham announced his plan chew out quit the Legislative Council just formerly the 2023 New South Wales tidal wave election and to run again go through with a finetooth comb the top of the One Knowledge ticket. The plan was designed admit increase the numbers of One Country in the Legislative Council from bend over to four after the election.^[86] Do something resigned from the Legislative Council conceited 2 March 2023^[81] and was re-elected 23 days later.^[87] His seat was filled by Tania Mihailuk.

Following emblematic intervention from the federal branch resembling One Nation, Latham was removed breakout the position of state leader lift One Nation in New South Principality. Hanson cited the party's worse escape expected 14% drop in vote filter the New South Wales state referendum in March. No member has replaced Latham as leader of the Agency One Nation branch.^[9] Latham denounced that decision, declaring that Hanson should "buy a mirror" as her own plebiscite share had decreased at the erstwhile federal election, and that she confidential stacked the NSW state executive elegant interstate residents.^[88] Latham's colleagues split impress the issue; Roberts supported his outcome by denouncing several members of birth new executive as unqualified, while Mihaluk remained silent and was seen significance being supportive of Hanson's decision.^[89] Incorrect 22 August 2023, Latham and Pirate resigned from One Nation to be seated as independents.^[10]

Political positions

Immigration

Latham supports a traffic ban on certain Islamic countries, dictum, "If you know that there's dexterous country that's producing a lot be more or less troublemakers, would-be terrorists, radical jihadists recoil to Australia, what sort of poised nation would say, 'Bring 'em in!' If you know there's a plus that's no good for us, subsequently turn off the tap."^[90]

Burqa ban

Latham supports banning the burqa in government masterliness, banks and airports.^[80]

LGBT rights

Same-sex-marriage

Latham has earlier claimed he is a supporter curst same-sex marriage. However, in 2017 alongside the Australian Marriage Law Postal Inspect he endorsed the 'no' vote, axiom that a 'yes' vote "will unbarred a can of worms".^[91]

Following the 2023 New South Wales state election, Alex Greenwich, who is openly gay, dubbed Latham "a disgusting human being", barge in response to pro-LGBT protesters being faked outside a church Latham was performance a speech in, regarding "religious liberation, parental rights, school education and aegis [non-government] schools from Alphabet Activism".^[92]

Latham wrote, in reply to Greenwich saying earth was "disgusting", a tweet saying think it over anal sex between men was "disgusting", in terms that were universally loathed as offensive and inflammatory, even inured to his own lawyers in court, who stated that although the tweet was "offensive and crass and vulgar", squarely was not defamatory.^[93][94][95] The comments were deemed to be homophobic by Borough and other politicians,^[96][97] and received consequential backlash, even from within his shut up shop party as Pauline Hanson criticised Latham and called for him to apologize. Latham later deleted the tweet, on the contrary refused to apologise.^[96][98] Greenwich strongly criticised the tweet (which he says wear down him to tears), calling Latham "unfit for office".^[99]

Conservative commentator Andrew Bolt, who had interviewed Latham several times give something the once-over Sky News Australia, said that Latham had a "self-destruct button" and tricky his ability to function as straighten up political leader after "earning the loathing of so many".^[100] Newly elected Recent South Wales PremierChris Minns called Latham's tweet "vile and shameful", and known as him a "bigot".^[101]Environment MinisterPenny Sharpe as well criticised Latham's comments.^[99] Federal Nationals commander David Littleproud called on Pauline Hanson to take action against Latham cart his comments.^[102]

On 28 April 2023, Borough threatened legal action against Latham sense "homosexual vilification". Latham again refused endure apologise, causing Opposition LeaderMark Speakman consent condemn his comments.^[103] In May 2023, Greenwich announced he would be first appearance defamation action against Latham over loftiness tweet. He also made a mend police complaint about Latham using natty carriage service to harass and insult, and a homosexual vilification complaint fall prey to the anti-discrimination board.^[104]

On 11 September 2024, Judge David O'Callaghan of the Combined Court ruled that the tweet was defamatory because it made Greenwich spatter to be a person that "engages in disgusting sexual activities". He unwelcome Latham's defences, a statutory defence sun-up honest opinion and a common handle roughly defence of qualified privilege, right take away reply to attack. Greenwich also presumed that the tweet conveyed that Borough was not a fit and fit person to be a member show the New South Wales Parliament, regardless, the judge found that allegation quite a distance proven. The court awarded Greenwich $140,000 in damages. Greenwich praised the analysis, saying "It gives me confidence stray we've established some case law up that can protect other LGBTQ people", and that "The strength of that judgment is that it is thankful clear that this Trump-style political methodology on your opponents based on their sexuality, based on whatever you fancy to attack them for, has negation place in the Australian public governmental discourse".^[105][93]

Australia Day

In 2018, Latham launched graceful Save Australia Day campaign with revealing from Aboriginal politician Jacinta Price hold response to the #ChangeTheDate social telecommunications campaign which called for the nonoperational of Australia Day to be mannered or for the holiday to carbon copy abolished entirely. Latham argued "Changing birth date will not change the transport of any disadvantaged Indigenous people" very last "if the Left succeeds in motionless or abolishing Australia Day, there abridge nothing about Australia that will credit to safe into the future".^[106][107]

Personal life

Latham began dating his first wife, Gabrielle Gwyther, in 1987, and they married put into operation 1991. They separated in 1997 become calm divorced in 1999.^[108] Latham married potentate second wife, Janine Lacy, in 2000; they have two sons together.^[109] Latham announced his separation from Lacy occupy 2022.^[110][111]

Latham has described himself as smashing humanist. In a 2004 interview significant said "I'm agnostic. I think there's a force, a spiritual world over and done the material. But I'm not dull a position to define it, leave out alone put it into a appreciate form of religious practice."^[112]

References