Senator Andrew Bartlett
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
 
Latham update

Mark Latham’s resignation will be a topic of conversation for many people. If you’re the sort of person whose likely to read the comments and analysis in tomorrow’s papers, have a look at some of the other commentary that will be around in the blogosphere as well. A few examples:

  • The Currency Lad draws some parallels with John Gorton and the book on him written by Alan Reid (whose book on Gough Whitlam I’ve referred to previously);
  • The House of Wheels gives an ongoing overview and some snapshots of developing commentary;
  • Troppo Armadillo has had a running commentary and debate on Latham and likely successors going for days, which will no doubt take on a new lease of life now.
  • This piece from News Ltd gives an idea of how nasty and dangerous pancreatitis can be.

Unavoidably, people’s views on Latham’s departure will lead into who they think will or should take his place. I think Kim Beasley will win it and there is a reasonable prospect of a change in the Deputy (even though at this stage I don’t believe that position is vacant). I don’t have a view on who would be best (actually I do, but I’m not going to give it), although being totally parochial, it would be good to have a Queenslander in the position.

I gather Wayne Swan has already ruled out running (and I expect Stephen Smith from WA would do the same), which leaves Kevin Rudd as the only Queenslander. The only other likely contestants being mentioned are Julia Gillard and Lindsay Tanner. I can’t see either of them winning (and therefore probably unlikely to run), even though both would bring some interesting, fresh approaches to the position.

Whoever it ends up being, all the contenders have a lot of brains and differing abilities and they are going to have an extremely difficult job. However, I’ve got an extremely difficult job of my own to focus on, so I’ll refrain from further dabbling in Labor’s decisions and get back to my own tasks.



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