I read Latham's account with some trepidation imagining the usual vitriole against his usual combatants (even if much of it was true). However, from the beginning Latham assured the reader he was putting behind the past and looking to mend fences and build the ALP into the future. And that he did.

I agree with the author on many points. I found some contradictions in Latham's conclusions. As I am a former Labor voter I found some of Latham's conclusions incongruous including:

1. He writes the Greens off as being too radical but does not say which policies he deems radical or unworkable.
2. Then he goes onto to talk about 'aspirational' voters and the need for the ALP to match those needs with talk of going back to the good old Keating years of deregulation and privatisation. These are unpopular with traditional Labor voters and the ALP is unlikely to get any Conservative defections. The ideology and behaviour of the Labor Right is what is killing off the ALP and causing people to turn away.
3. Hindsight and reflection reveal many times there are no benefits to 'public service' or value for money in privatisation. As for deregulation, in many cases the lack of regulation in some sectors has meant the vultures have taken over and there are little protections for ordinary people.
4. Latham talks of having to battle with the aspirational generations vs the need to turn away from a consumerist society if we are to tackle climate change and other issues of sustainability. You cannot feed an aspirational culture on one hand and talk down consumerism on the other. Seems an impossibility. A better approach would be not to buy into the 'me me' mentality and sell a different idea.

The way I see it, is Labor has to offer something different to the Conservative or neo-liberal mindset. That does not mean throwing the baby out with the bath water in every aspect but re-evaluating what it means to be Labor and who it is you want to represent fairly and equitably.