Labour is only left with the dregs after all the rich and powerful join the Liberals.

And even then the dregs will be dumb enough to associate themselves with Liberals because of their blind loyalty to their masters.

Labours fast fall from grace was to kick Latham down not only because he fractionally lost his first election but also in his defenceless situation with his health made him easy prey.

Simon Creane has experienced some of the behaviour in recent news, the knives, ready to draw blood. Although after Kim and Simon met the other day, they were not willing to comment on what had been discussed but were happy with the outcomes of their talks.

The only thing that really saved Simon was his intentions on letting out his first bit of mud out, regarding branch stacking and the Fundamentalist Unionism positioning itself into top position, such as the potential of his seat of Hotham.

Industrial Awards are in Labours favour with the majority of Australian citizens about to be effected.

The influx of imported Labour from international sources are taking away advertised positions for Australian workers.

Lets hope that Labour doesn't stuff the High Court challenges they are to partake in as the Opposition of our Government, on behalf of the majority of Australian workers.

I have my doubts about the Labour opposition ability. Just as they have proven in the last 30 years, even in Government.

Labor's biggest mistake was it's attempt to hold the centre ground and this pushed the Libs even further to the Right.
Now it's just trying to "out-Howard" Howard and left itself nowhere to go.
It needs to move back to the Left where it belongs.
If it stuck to it's principles starting with the Tampa incident it would have probably thrown that election away but likely to be back in power now.
The last few elections were won on the basis of fear, personal greed and playing the race card.
The Liberals will inherit a bitter legacy in years to come that will screw them like the Democrats were after the GST, IR and Telstra legislations.
When interest rates invariably rise and the basic wage falls as a result of IR changes, those affected will be looking for an alternative and Labor needs to be ready.

Corin - thanks for the support.

Maybe some of Labor's Shadow Ministry do know what they would like to do. But from what I see the problem is that the electorate don’t want them to do any of it. We just don’t get Howards Australia. Keating said when you change government’s you change the nation. He was spot on. The thing is, once the nation has changed you have to change with it. You don't get to choose the point at which you step off.

Do I reckon the current Shadow Ministry could have done what Hawke/Keating did? Not a chance. Consider this scenario. Howard doing what Hawke/Keating did. What do you think we would be saying now? Of course, we would be opposing bank entry and deregulation of rates (we would say they would hurt the little people); we would oppose tariff reductions (job losses, the regions etc would be affected); and you can bet we would be opposing HECS (I can see it now).

The reality is we talk Hawke/Keating but we don’t believe it. It’s a blip in our history. And you know what? The punters know it too.

PK - a perfectly reasonable question to ask what I did for Latham. My answer? You read the book, do you reckon Latham had advisers per se?

A R,

And for primaries?

You know it's the only way home! They all know they must find something that resonates beyond factions, struggle, etc and that is community participation.

Run for National President? Heck if I were living in Oz I would see the opportunity and the press would love it - the debate over primaries has the Oz and SMH editorial team written all over it. Would you support it in 12 months.

Cheers,
Corin

Does anyone find it strange that so much attention is being given to the ALP's internal problems while the AWB scandal has slipped from the headlines?

If we all step back and think about it, what is the bigger news story? Preselections in Victoria for the ALP, or the payment of kickbacks to a regime that we were about to go to war to get rid of, that the government either condoned or turned a blind eye to?

Maybe the AWB scandal is not sexy enough to be a front page story

I don't know that I agree with all of your post today, Alex/ A R. Howard doing the Hawke/Keating agenda - didn't the Libs have that chance pre '83 and muffed it? Who was Treasurer during the latter years? Yep. OK, so John Winston may have wanted a reform agenda & was over-ruled by Frazer and the Nats. Just like Keating was over-ruled on the GST. And, there was plenty of opposition to much of the H/K reforms. I remember the HECS protests were especially bitter. I still think education should be taxpayer funded. I guess the point is that it may only take a change of leader and getting a few can-do people in for Labor to have a true reform team. Must admit that it looks unpromising now. This current lot of ALP Feds would be like the NSW Carr Government and waste their opportunity if elected. At least it could stop the degradation of Australian institutions over the past 10 years under JWH.

OK, so Latham may not have taken advice. So, it did end badly as some had forecast. But, you worked for him, Alex.