Latham portrait stays on the hook in Labor party room
Mr Latham is accused by his former partner Nathalie Matthews of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
Her allegations include he pressured her to take part in "degrading" sex acts.
Mr Latham strongly denies the untested claims made in a civil court apprehended violence order application by Ms Matthews, saying he has "broken no laws".
Calls have grown since the allegations were raised for his official portrait in Labor's federal party room to be removed.
But a Labor caucus meeting on Monday was told a "unanimous consensus position" had been reached where the photo would remain, but with a caption providing context.
The words will read: "In 2017 Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and fail to meet the standards we expect and demand."
Mr Latham sits as an independent in the NSW upper house and faces calls to resign over sexually explicit messages allegedly sent to his former partner while sitting in the chamber of parliament.
The decision to add context to Mr Latham's portrait was the right one, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said.
"It's finding the balance, you can't erase history, we can't pretend he wasn't our leader, he was and so there he sits in the leaders' timeline," she told reporters in Canberra."But it's a recognition ... his behaviour and attitudes don't reflect the modern Australian Labor Party."
Senator Gallagher said the wording allowed people to feel something had been done.
"It will exist there forever on our leaders wall," she said.
"It's a pretty strong statement."
Mr Latham lost his bid for the nation's top job at the 2004 federal election to former Liberal prime minister John Howard.
The campaign was marked by his aggressive handshake with Mr Howard outside the ABC's radio studios on election-eve.
The infamous episode was largely blamed for his election defeat and delivered the Howard government a fourth term.
The Federal Court in 2024 ordered Mr Latham pay independent NSW politician Alex Greenwich $140,000 in damages over a homophobic social media post.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
A picture of former Labor leader Mark Latham will keep hanging in the party's caucus room as he faces domestic violence allegations.
Mr Latham is accused by his former partner Nathalie Matthews of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
Her allegations include he pressured her to take part in "degrading" sex acts.
Mr Latham strongly denies the untested claims made in a civil court apprehended violence order application by Ms Matthews, saying he has "broken no laws".
Calls have grown since the allegations were raised for his official portrait in Labor's federal party room to be removed.
But a Labor caucus meeting on Monday was told a "unanimous consensus position" had been reached where the photo would remain, but with a caption providing context.
The words will read: "In 2017 Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and fail to meet the standards we expect and demand."
Mr Latham sits as an independent in the NSW upper house and faces calls to resign over sexually explicit messages allegedly sent to his former partner while sitting in the chamber of parliament.
The decision to add context to Mr Latham's portrait was the right one, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said.
"It's finding the balance, you can't erase history, we can't pretend he wasn't our leader, he was and so there he sits in the leaders' timeline," she told reporters in Canberra."But it's a recognition ... his behaviour and attitudes don't reflect the modern Australian Labor Party."
Senator Gallagher said the wording allowed people to feel something had been done.
"It will exist there forever on our leaders wall," she said.
"It's a pretty strong statement."
Mr Latham lost his bid for the nation's top job at the 2004 federal election to former Liberal prime minister John Howard.
The campaign was marked by his aggressive handshake with Mr Howard outside the ABC's radio studios on election-eve.
The infamous episode was largely blamed for his election defeat and delivered the Howard government a fourth term.
The Federal Court in 2024 ordered Mr Latham pay independent NSW politician Alex Greenwich $140,000 in damages over a homophobic social media post.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
A picture of former Labor leader Mark Latham will keep hanging in the party's caucus room as he faces domestic violence allegations.
Mr Latham is accused by his former partner Nathalie Matthews of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
Her allegations include he pressured her to take part in "degrading" sex acts.
Mr Latham strongly denies the untested claims made in a civil court apprehended violence order application by Ms Matthews, saying he has "broken no laws".
Calls have grown since the allegations were raised for his official portrait in Labor's federal party room to be removed.
But a Labor caucus meeting on Monday was told a "unanimous consensus position" had been reached where the photo would remain, but with a caption providing context.
The words will read: "In 2017 Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and fail to meet the standards we expect and demand."
Mr Latham sits as an independent in the NSW upper house and faces calls to resign over sexually explicit messages allegedly sent to his former partner while sitting in the chamber of parliament.
The decision to add context to Mr Latham's portrait was the right one, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said.
"It's finding the balance, you can't erase history, we can't pretend he wasn't our leader, he was and so there he sits in the leaders' timeline," she told reporters in Canberra."But it's a recognition ... his behaviour and attitudes don't reflect the modern Australian Labor Party."
Senator Gallagher said the wording allowed people to feel something had been done.
"It will exist there forever on our leaders wall," she said.
"It's a pretty strong statement."
Mr Latham lost his bid for the nation's top job at the 2004 federal election to former Liberal prime minister John Howard.
The campaign was marked by his aggressive handshake with Mr Howard outside the ABC's radio studios on election-eve.
The infamous episode was largely blamed for his election defeat and delivered the Howard government a fourth term.
The Federal Court in 2024 ordered Mr Latham pay independent NSW politician Alex Greenwich $140,000 in damages over a homophobic social media post.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
A picture of former Labor leader Mark Latham will keep hanging in the party's caucus room as he faces domestic violence allegations.
Mr Latham is accused by his former partner Nathalie Matthews of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
Her allegations include he pressured her to take part in "degrading" sex acts.
Mr Latham strongly denies the untested claims made in a civil court apprehended violence order application by Ms Matthews, saying he has "broken no laws".
Calls have grown since the allegations were raised for his official portrait in Labor's federal party room to be removed.
But a Labor caucus meeting on Monday was told a "unanimous consensus position" had been reached where the photo would remain, but with a caption providing context.
The words will read: "In 2017 Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and fail to meet the standards we expect and demand."
Mr Latham sits as an independent in the NSW upper house and faces calls to resign over sexually explicit messages allegedly sent to his former partner while sitting in the chamber of parliament.
The decision to add context to Mr Latham's portrait was the right one, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said.
"It's finding the balance, you can't erase history, we can't pretend he wasn't our leader, he was and so there he sits in the leaders' timeline," she told reporters in Canberra."But it's a recognition ... his behaviour and attitudes don't reflect the modern Australian Labor Party."
Senator Gallagher said the wording allowed people to feel something had been done.
"It will exist there forever on our leaders wall," she said.
"It's a pretty strong statement."
Mr Latham lost his bid for the nation's top job at the 2004 federal election to former Liberal prime minister John Howard.
The campaign was marked by his aggressive handshake with Mr Howard outside the ABC's radio studios on election-eve.
The infamous episode was largely blamed for his election defeat and delivered the Howard government a fourth term.
The Federal Court in 2024 ordered Mr Latham pay independent NSW politician Alex Greenwich $140,000 in damages over a homophobic social media post.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
22 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Allegra Spender reveals plan to overhaul Australia's tax system
Shaking up the tax system can have environmental benefits, help equalise the generational wealth divide and rev up the Australian economy, independent MP Allegra Spender says. Speaking ahead of a roundtable meeting on the topic in Canberra later on Friday, Ms Spender says she's been putting a slightly embarrassing spin on the topic of tax. 'We're actually doing livestreaming on YouTube. I've been doing some slightly cringeworthy Instagram videos on tax reform recently, just trying to bring more people into this conversation,' she told ABC's Radio National on Friday. 'Because tax matters to all people, it influences our country, but it's sometimes pretty hard to get your head round and I do want people to be able to get informed.' The independent MP for Wentworth has organised a meeting of tax experts, economists, business and community voices on Friday to discuss what 'meaningful reform should look like'. This meeting will be a precursor to broader roundtable meetings organised by Treasurer Jim Chalmers next month. 'The Treasurer has now opened the door to tax reform,' Ms Spender said on Friday. 'I feel that tax reform has the opportunity to help Australia solve some of its biggest problems like sluggish productivity growth, like the fact that young people can't get ahead, like the fact that we need to make this climate transition as cheap as possible. 'But to be honest tax hasn't really been on the table until now.' The large mandate given to the government set Australia up for meaningful change, she said. 'When I look back at history, you look at the Hawke-Keating reforms, you look at the Howard-Costello reforms, and I think most Australians would say those reforms, they were difficult but they set the country up for the long term,' Ms Spender said. 'And I think we do have an opportunity, in this term of parliament and into the next election, to potentially make the sort of significant reforms that can set up our community for the decades to come.' Originally published as 'Decades to come': Major economic meetings begin with precursor roundtable
Sky News AU
22 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Senator Jane Hume questions safety of US beef imports
Even a slim chance of a biosecurity threat entering Australia by way of US beef is a major concern, the federal opposition says. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed on Thursday that Australia would remove the ban on American beef from cattle originating in Canada and Mexico after a decade-long review. Defending the move, the Albanese government has denied the timing has anything to do with drawn-out tariff exemption talks with the US. 'There is no second chance when it comes to protecting Australia's livestock from biosecurity threats,' former Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume said on Sunrise on Friday. 'If it's 99.9 per cent safe that means that there is a one-in-1000 chance it isn't safe. It's not unreasonable to ask what it is that's changed and to understand what the decision has been based upon, to see those documents.' Senator Hume kept up the attack on the government over the timing of the concession. 'What is it that Australia is gaining out of this decision? Is it because we want to secure that tariff exemption with Donald Trump? If that's the case, be explicit about it,' she said. Appearing opposite Senator Hume, Health Minster Mark Butler said Australia's biosecurity officials who assessed the US system were not making political decisions. 'I'm surprised that the same officials who have been serving governments of both political persuasions, very high-grade biosecurity officials, are being questioned by the National Party in this way,' he said. The Nationals have called for a review of the decision. 'This was a biosecurity decision, made by the same officials who made the same decision in relation to US cattle under the former government. It was not a trade decision,' Mr Butler said. The major concern about US beef coming into Australia is animals born in Canada and Mexico; countries with looser biosecurity rules. 'The American systems were assessed by our independent officials over the last several months and found to be up to scratch,' Mr Butler said. Originally published as 'No second chance': Opposition questions safety of US beef imports
News.com.au
43 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Decades to come': Major economic meetings begin with precursor roundtable
Shaking up the tax system can have environmental benefits, help equalise the generational wealth divide and rev up the Australian economy, independent MP Allegra Spender says. Speaking ahead of a roundtable meeting on the topic in Canberra later on Friday, Ms Spender says she's been putting a slightly embarrassing spin on the topic of tax. 'We're actually doing livestreaming on YouTube. I've been doing some slightly cringeworthy Instagram videos on tax reform recently, just trying to bring more people into this conversation,' she told ABC's Radio National on Friday. 'Because tax matters to all people, it influences our country, but it's sometimes pretty hard to get your head round and I do want people to be able to get informed.' The independent MP for Wentworth has organised a meeting of tax experts, economists, business and community voices on Friday to discuss what 'meaningful reform should look like'. This meeting will be a precursor to broader roundtable meetings organised by Treasurer Jim Chalmers next month. 'The Treasurer has now opened the door to tax reform,' Ms Spender said on Friday. 'I feel that tax reform has the opportunity to help Australia solve some of its biggest problems like sluggish productivity growth, like the fact that young people can't get ahead, like the fact that we need to make this climate transition as cheap as possible. 'But to be honest tax hasn't really been on the table until now.' The large mandate given to the government set Australia up for meaningful change, she said. 'When I look back at history, you look at the Hawke-Keating reforms, you look at the Howard-Costello reforms, and I think most Australians would say those reforms, they were difficult but they set the country up for the long term,' Ms Spender said. 'And I think we do have an opportunity, in this term of parliament and into the next election, to potentially make the sort of significant reforms that can set up our community for the decades to come.'
