From Mr L. Dimech

The disastrous result of the last Federal election held on 9 October left the Australian *Labor Party in a mess. Mark Latham’s 13-month leadership was always on the line. His sudden resignation on health grounds spared his caucus colleagues the unpleasant task of voting him out of office. The new generational change proved to be unsuccessful.

Out from the shadows emerged “old faithful” Kim Beazley, re-installed unopposed for the second time as leader. He is a two time loser having lost two elections in a row to Prime Minister John Howard in 1998 and again in 2001.

However, it appears that Labor finally has succumbed to a collective case of common sense – not a moment too soon. It is clear that Federal Labor’s fortunes are in a mess and the last thing needed was a protracted and destructive struggle over the leadership.

Is this a return to the past? Is Beazley genuine Prime Minister material? On being elected leader again he expresses confidence that, with him as leader, Labor could win the next election. It will be a huge task requiring a swing of more than seven per cent. Seats in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland that were marginal coalition are now safe. Labor has to win back seats in western Sydney that have been comfortably held since 1996.

The leader of the ALP has always had a tough job. There has always been a high risk of being removed by your own party. The Labor Party is the oldest political party in Australia and the oldest social democratic party in the world but it has a poor record of taking power. It has only done so at national lever for about one-third of the time since Federation in 1901.

ALP leaders know there is no guarantee they eventually become Prime Ministers. Herbert Evatt (1951–1960) Arthur Calwell (1960–1967), Bill Hayden (1978–1983) Kim Beazley (1996–2001) Simon Crean (2001–2003) Mark Latham (2003–2005) failed to occupy The Lodge (the official residence of the Prime Minister) in Canberra.

But the top political job in Australia is never safe. Only Robert Menzies (Liberal) retired of his own free will in his own time. All the rest met a sticky political end. Five were deposed by their own party. Five Prime Ministers resigned after losing an election, the most recent being Paul Keating in 1996.

Even the legendary Bob Hawke who won four elections in a row for Labor and was the longest serving Labor Prime Minister suffered the indignity of being dumped. It took the Labor Party in Australia 40 years from the time of Federation to prove it could provide stable federal government.

Perhaps the most successful Labor Prime Minister elected during the most dangerous era in Australian history was the Western Australian journalist, John Curtin (1941 to 1945). He had no ministerial experience, was a socialist and opposed conscription a very hot issue at the time, for which he briefly went to prison. He proved that the ALP could govern in a crisis and remain an effective and united party.

It is ironic perhaps that after his death in 1945, his Fremantle seat was taken by Kim Beazley Sr, the father of the recently re-instated leader of the ALP. Other leaders of note were Ben Chifley a self educated engine driver who took over from Curtin but died suddenly in 1951 and Edward Gough Whitlam who was sacked by the Governor-General in 1975.

It is Curtin famous phrase in 1949 that still echo in the corridors of power within the ALP. “The Labor Party had the objective of being the light on the hill – which we aim to reach by working for the betterment of mankind”.

Kim Beazley is the Australian Labor Party new lighthouse keeper facing perhaps another tsunami in the form of the formidable leader of the coalition and George W. Bush closest ally, John Winston Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia.

Lawrence Dimech

*Please note Labour is spelled Labor for political

purposes.