[Bricktop]

Latham outlines vision for a Labor government

Federal Labor leader Mark Latham has listed a number of plans to give Australians the opportunity to achieve their goals during his address to the ALP's National Conference earlier today.

Mr Latham urged the party to get behind his leadership as he launches his bid to win the next election.

To rousing applause and a standing ovation, Mr Latham outlined the differences between his vision and the Howard Government.

"I'm absolutely convinced that most Australians want to move beyond the old politics, the fear mongering, the negativity, the needless division and deceit - Howard, Abbott and Costello style," Mr Latham said.

The Labor leader says in this election year he will campaign on issues that matter to the Australian people.

"You ask me the big difference in Australian politics? The Howard Government campaigns on fear, we campaign on opportunity," he said.

"I want to talk to you about the future not the past; about hope not fear - that's the difference."

He has promised a shake-up of industrial relations abolishing workplace agreements and restoring the role of the Industrial Relations Commission.

"I don't believe in a dog-eat-dog industrial relations system - I want cooperation and productivity in Australian workplaces," Mr Latham said.

Mr Latham also attacked the Coalition over its relationship with the United States, declaring Australia is nobody's deputy.

But Prime Minister John Howard says Mr Latham's speech did not deal with how Labor would maintain the strength of the economy and keep interest rates low.

"Well it was meant to be about the future, but the very first policy promise on industrial relations would take us back into the past," he said.

"By abolishing workplace agreements, restoring the role of the IRC, and strengthening the role of unions that will strike at the very productivity that has underpinned a strong economy."

The Labor leader also outlined his core programs for his "rungs on the ladder of opportunity"' for Australians to achieve goals.

They include more childcare places, school education with a strongly-supported public school system, post-secondary education, the health of the nation and home ownership, aged care, and regional employment.

He has vowed to introduce paid maternity leave, and wants to find new solutions to the problems of loneliness, work stress and community breakdown with a new shadow ministry for community relationships.

He promised to hold several plebiscites on an Australian head of government and he's vowed to close down the so-called Pacific solution saving $500,000.

'New vision'

Senior Labor figures at the conference say the new Opposition leader has given Labor a new vision and spirit they believe voters will support.

Opposition health spokeswoman Julia Gillard says Mr Latham is emphasising how Labor is different from the Coalition.

"We believe in building things and they don't; we believe kids from ordinary homes ... from public schools, should be able to succeed in Australia by working hard," she said.

Western Australian Premier Dr Geoff Gallop says Mr Latham has made a good start.

"Mark Latham is right on the button, he knows what's going on in our community and he has a feel for what we need to do to improve it," Dr Gallop said.

New South Wales Premier Bob Carr welcomed Mr Latham's commitments on health spending, and says his plans for schools funding are a standout.

"That sends a real message that the ladder of opportunity makes sense," Mr Carr said.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says Mr Latham is a breath of fresh air for Labor.

"We haven't seen this for a while, and it's something which I think Australians are yearning for," Mr Bracks said.

Former leader Simon Crean says the new leader hit the core issues for families.

"Health, education, families - so I think it was a very well-constructed speech and certainly an extremely well received speech," Mr Crean said.

- http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1033760.htm

What are your thoughts on the Labor conference and Latham's ideas?
No one liners please
I will reply tonight, I'm a little tired right now to make a coherant post

Drummond

EDIT : Title was spelt incorrectly.

[Efrem Da King]

"All talk no action.

"You ask me the big difference in Australian politics?

No can't say I did.

They include more childcare places, school education with a strongly-supported public school system, post-secondary education, the health of the nation and home ownership, aged care, and regional employment.

Just how is he going to fund this? and what are his priorities?

"I don't believe in a dog-eat-dog industrial relations system - I want cooperation and productivity in Australian workplaces," Mr Latham said.

He wants to stop capatalism and make us socialist. I hope the gov picks up on this and attacks him for it..

"Well it was meant to be about the future, but the very first policy promise on industrial relations would take us back into the past," he said.

My bad he already has.

He has vowed to introduce paid maternity leave

This means death to small businesses.

[Bricktop]

“He wants to stop capatalism and make us socialist. I hope the gov picks up on this and attacks him for it..”

His comment was on the industrial relations system, not on how the industry produces goods. So, in all, he wants workplaces to be fairer, happier and more productive locations. This is strengthening Capitalism, not making the system Socialist. The way the current industrial relations system is set up is a joke that exploits those who put in the hard work, and let bosses make thousands if not millions and get away with the ‘slavery’. It does not defend the average John Citizen working his guts off.

“This means death to small businesses.”

Actually that’s far from the truth. The Government would subsidise businesses for the time mothers are absent from work. What kind of society would we live in when babies don’t even get enough interaction with their mothers? Single mothers are automatically worse off from the current system, where they get little benefits for taking leave off work to bring a new life into this world. Keeping our population at its current levels (actually we need to increase our current levels) is a good thing, and mothers should be rewarded for bringing us new Australians, the workers of the future, who will be paying for your pension when you are older, Efrem.

"By abolishing workplace agreements, restoring the role of the IRC, and strengthening the role of unions that will strike at the very productivity that has underpinned a strong economy."

This shows Howard’s ignorance. He works on numbers and numbers alone. A strong economy does not automatically mean a better life for the nation’s citizens. Many people have been exploited by large corporations (Telstra, Ansett, the list goes on) where they are fired and have no say in what occurs. This must be stopped. It will be slowed down, and hopefully eventually stopped with the reintroduction of the IRC.

They include more childcare places, school education with a strongly-supported public school system, post-secondary education, the health of the nation and home ownership, aged care, and regional employment.

This is a good sign, because at the moment under the Howard Government, public schools are deteriating, because frankly, he cares little for anyone without large sums of money. Tertiary education (and the fees needed to attend) really need to be worked on. I believe Latham’s government will improve this area and make tertiary education fairer for all. The Howard government has practically ignored both aged care and regional areas. The bush is becoming a wasteland, its only through initiatives by Labor state governments (such as Steve Bracks’ Victorian Government) with the Provincial encouragements and so forth that are making anybody move there, and create businesses. Under the Howard government, multinational’s, such as Parmalat have bought out Australian dairy company Paul’s, and now Parmalat in Italy is folding. If it completely folds, rural Australia and the already shitted on Dairy Industry will just get worse.
Aged Care is abysmal on Liberal’s part. Veterans of War receive just enough to live on, and some don’t even get that much. I know quite a few Vet’s who should be retired but need to work cash in hand jobs just to make ends meet. Howard is a disgrace to the Australian people, and those who fought to protect our land.

Just how is he going to fund this? and what are his priorities?

Smaller funds to Private schools (which don’t need the funds for their 4th swimming pool) Larger funds to Public Schools, incentives for people to move to the country and set up businesses, and redistribute taxes (they do not need to be raised). Things such as the money wasted on Howard living in Sydney, and not Canberra (remember that argument?) and Politician’s excess rewards and tax payer holidays can be redistributed to accommodate the larger funds needed for health, public schools and so forth. It’s not that hard. Do the math.

Drummond

[Andrew]

Just how is he going to fund this? and what are his priorities?

Smaller funds to Private schools (which don’t need the funds for their 4th swimming pool) Larger funds to Public Schools, incentives for people to move to the country and set up businesses, and redistribute taxes (they do not need to be raised). Things such as the money wasted on Howard living in Sydney, and not Canberra (remember that argument?) and Politician’s excess rewards and tax payer holidays can be redistributed to accommodate the larger funds needed for health, public schools and so forth. It’s not that hard. Do the math.

Not to mention the $7 Billion Budget Surplus the Federal Government managed to make.

Andrew

[Maxim Litvinov]

Efrem's just adopting standard Liberal Party tactics

Here - I've written the guide for "How to React to a Labor Party Policy Announcement" just so Efrem can respond by thinking even less in future (if that's possible).

How to React to a Labor Party Policy Announcement
1. They haven't got it properly costed.
2. They're going to cut into the budget surplus and bleed us dry.
3. It's Orwellian.
4. They're being soft on people smugglers/security/dole bludgers/crime {delete as appropriate}.
5. Mr Latham should stick to what he's good at - breaking taxi drivers' arms.
6. If you look in Chapter 6 of this book that Latham wrote 10 years ago he said x was bad - and now he says it's good. He is just flip-flopping all over the place.
7. The best policy for Labor to have would be the Liberal policy on this position. Just look at it {discussion of Liberal policy}
8. Where does he think the money is coming from? What new tax will Mr Latham be introducing?
9. This will kill small business.
10. You know - it's obviously where this one is coming from - the ACTU. Mr Latham should stand up to them and say "we're not going to introduce bad industrial relations reform". This policy would cripple our economy.
11. Did I mention it hasn't been costed properly?
12. The Labor Party has no policies.

[Bricktop]

Good work Maxim! That pretty much covers most things ey!

Drummond

[Proctor]

Efrem, I was going to delete your post for its sheer immaturity, but then I realised just how much I wanted to slam the shit out of it. So I've made a compromise.

Efrem when he says "You ask me the big difference in Australian politics?" he doesn't mean you aksed him, he means Australians. But then, you knew that. And surely you don't mean to say that you don't care what Latham's policies are do you?

Obviously, he is going to fund his changes with increased taxes for the rich. But you knew that as well.

How the hell is bumping up the welfare system 'stopping capitalism'. Seeing you have such faith in the system, surely you would know that such a small measure is hardly going to kill it off. What Latham is proposing is something known as 'social democracy'. You may have heard of it. Considering this is a political website and all.

How in fuck's name can someone who is not in power 'take us back into the past'? Do tell me. Unless of course it was Howard who took us back into the past, but we wouldn't want to question our Dear Leader would we?

And many industrialised nations have paid maternity leave. Believe it or not, they still have small businesses.

Perhaps you would like to explain your one-liners in future.


Drummond, is Latham considered isolationist?

[unbalanced zealot]

I a pretty much agree with Proctors stance on these things
coz what is really needed is an outline of the Coalition policy
position - and how and why it is different. A short bland
generic comment - just stops things short.

It's also reeks of 'we are the party currently in power -
so therefore we rule ok !' kind of logic.

My comment on Latham is that his factional disposition is sus ...
but if the economy stagnates due mainly to property related
issues ... then Latham not only has the ability to run straight
over Howard/Anderson ... with so many marginals held
by so little between them ... but he has a good chance
to well and truly taint Howards legacy.

As on the AFL commercials of a year or so ago ...
I'd like to see that ! (Efrem ... you probably don't know of
AFL up there ... you put down Melbourne a bit ... but in
my book AFL is a billion times better than League ...
but that's another argument.)

[Bricktop]

Drummond, is Latham considered isolationist?

Well, personally i do not believe he is isolationist. I think he DOES want to strengthen trading ties with the US but not as they are, so more..protectionist (to an extent) and i believe he would work with Asia - co-operation and so forth with closest nations such as Indonesia moreso than Howard has, and strengthen co-operation between nations.

IMHO, Latham wants to strengthen ties with both our closer allies (USA, New Zealand, Japan etc) and also our other Asian neighbours, and not become isolationist. That would be a disaster if he wanted to become like that (more a Hanson stand point IMO) I wouldnt vote for him if he was.

Drummond

[Proctor]

Okay. There were a couple of bits in the article that led me to believe he might be, or could be in future. They are all just semi-subtle hints, but I like to read between the lines. In case you're interested, here they are:

"The Labor leader says in this election year he will campaign on issues that matter to the Australian people.

"Mr Latham also attacked the Coalition over its relationship with the United States, declaring Australia is nobody's deputy.

"He promised to hold several plebiscites on an Australian head of government and he's vowed to close down the so-called Pacific solution saving $500,000."

[Bricktop]

The Labor leader says in this election year he will campaign on issues that matter to the Australian people.

I take from this that Latham wants to have policies relevant to the Australian populace. Howard has shown he is out of touch in recent years. The latest comment on the Public Education system a week or two ago.

Mr Latham also attacked the Coalition over its relationship with the United States, declaring Australia is nobody's deputy.

Latham wants an Australia that is not dependent on the USA. Why should we as a nation do their dirty work in the Pacific for them? I think he wants to strengthen ties with Asian nations, and right now, our strong alliance with the US is getting in the way.

"He promised to hold several plebiscites on an Australian head of government and he's vowed to close down the so-called Pacific solution saving $500,000."

Well its well known that Australians want an Australian as the head of state, but Howard is a staunch monarchist, and the way the last vote went on this issue didnt allow for any options except for ONE for those who wanted a republic. This made everybody vote NO to becoming a republic (simplified answer yes but meh - im kinda busy)
Right now, our bullying of our Pacific neighbours, especcially Nauru, is horrific. If the Pacific solution was cancelled, it would both save tax payers money and let us deal with our own problems, instead of pushing them onto nations that obviously cannot deal with such things, as housing hundreds of asylum seekers. This would then lead to friendlier attitudes between our nations.

Sorry Proc, but i do not see his statements as Isolationism at all. ..

Drummond

[Proctor]

Fair enough. I just thought you might want to know why I asked.

[Bricktop]

Thats cool
I was actually interested in those comments myself

Drummond