Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Mark Latham is nothing more than a weaker version of John Howard

By Greg Barns - posted Thursday, 8 January 2004


The 2004 federal election will be fought by two major political parties who are prepared to undermine human rights, persuade the electorate that terrorism is such a threat to Australia that it requires further erosion of liberty, and engage in a tax-cutting war to win over the middle class at the expense of decent public services.

Labor is confirming that today it is a party firmly on the right of the political spectrum. That’s where Mark Latham sits and Robert McClelland is happy to go along for the ride. For voters who believe that government has a constructive role to play in the welfare system, that respect for individual liberty must be paramount in any genuinely democratic society and that we must stop eroding our tax revenue base if we are to ensure greater access to education and health care in the future, Mark Latham’s ALP has nothing to offer.

Just as British Labour under Tony Blair is rightly regarded as an extension of Thatcherism, so too will a Latham Labor government be a slightly less extreme version of Howardism.

Advertisement

The voters have no real choice between the two major parties next year and that’s tragic for those who want a fairer Australia.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All

Article edited by Darian Clark.
If you'd like to be a volunteer editor too, click here.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Greg Barns is National President of the Australian Lawyers Alliance.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Greg Barns
Related Links
Australian Labor Party
Photo of Greg Barns
Article Tools
Comment Comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy