More Latham diaries

1. The Latham Diaries: time for some media answers



By Stephen Mayne

When dealing with literally hundreds of revelations, it is very easy to hand-pick a few to try and undermine the credibility of Mark Latham. That's what the ALP and the Canberra media establishment are doing.

But it really is time that some of the journalists named by Latham offered up a response. For instance, did John Laws and Glenn Milne really tell Latham they were backing Costello? What does the Golden Tonsils tell John Howard's office next time he wants to interview the PM? Did Laws also try to get Latham to run with his own conspiracy theory in Parliament about Alan Jones claiming he forced John Howard to retain David Flint as the soft touch head of the old ABA?

Did Paul Armstrong, editor of The West Australian, really say the following to Latham: "I can make or break the West Australian Government, just as I can make or break the Opposition Leader, Colin Barnett, if I choose to." What a big-noting goose.

And what about the claim that The Age's political commentator Shaun Carney rang Latham when Shadow Treasurer and offered to "psycho-analyse" Peter Costello for Iron Mark based on the access he'd had when writing his book on the Treasurer. Surely that's crossing the line from commentator to player and, if true, Carney might have some explaining to do next time he wants some help from the Government.

Does 6PR morning presenter Paul Murray really base some of his political interviews on questions sent through by Liberal staffer Ian Hanke? Hmmm, is that appropriate? And did Sunday Telegraph editor Jeni O'Dowd really have a fling with Latham? Was that when Latham was an adviser to Bob Carr and Jeni was covering state politics for Rupert? We always knew that the Carr Government and Rupert have been close, but really...

The list goes on and on. Crikey will be contacting many of these media players over the coming weeks and asking for a response because so far we only seem to be getting bile against private citizen Latham the man, rather than attention on some of the extraordinary revelations he's making about others.



3. Is the tide turning for Latham?



By Stephen Mayne

I've been out all morning strongly defending Mark Latham's extraordinary whistle-blowing effort on ABC Brisbane, Sydney and Tasmania and talking up the fact that it makes an enormous contribution to the public's knowledge of politics and media in Australian. And the man himself, whilst sounding a little bit flat on his round of ABC interviews, is certainly talking up the reaction from people who have actually read the book.

Latham caught the train into the ABC studio at Ultimo this morning and told ABC Victoria's Jon Faine that the response from his fellow travellers was warm. He also claimed that loads of people are wanting him to sign their copy of the book and the feedback from people who have actually read it, rather than all those know-all reviewers who sledged it without digesting the full version, has been very positive.

Even some inside the Labor Party have been encouraging him, Latham claimed, although these presumably would be at a reasonably low level because people like ALP general secretary Mark Arbib are now threatening to sue.

After an interesting 45 minutes with Faine, the ABC Morning presenter told his listeners that he was getting flooded with SMS messages and most of them were supportive. "Thank you for telling us more about politics and the Labor Party than we've known for the last 100 years," was one message that Faine read out.

And that's the rub for the media establishment and the ALP insiders – the public doesn't trust either and Latham is hitting a bulls-eye with people who distrust big media and the cynicism of politics. There are literally hundreds of illuminating insights which is what happens when you breach huge amounts of confidence, as Latham has done.

Whilst the original media focus was on Labor's claims about the likes of Beazley and Kevin Rudd, Latham is now concentrating more on attacking the media, claiming he's "blown open the Canberra club." He's certainly done that and it's no wonder the press gallery and their bosses are collectively seething.

"The public has a right to know that Mark Reilly from Channel Seven once went through Helen Coonan's rubbish for a story," Latham told ABC Victoria this morning. Ouch!

Latham is certainly happier dealing with non-Canberra journalists and praised Faine for focusing on the serious issues in his book. "It has been excellent, thank you so much."

But he also ripped into "some media nutter" on another ABC station this morning who was putting him through the ringer on all the "sensational bits." Hmmm, who was that?




6. Filling in the gaps



By Stephen Mayne

One of the stranger things about The Latham Diaries is the way Iron Mark dobs in some people but hides others. His introduction explains the process:

My style was to take down notes as things happen and write up the diary in full later, usually within a week. For the publication of this book, I transcribed these hand-written entries into the computer. Some entries have since been modified to protect privacy and reputation of certain individuals. Otherwise, the original entries have been preserved.

So, why on earth would you retain the crude line about Ross Cameron's philandering - "Some quality box for Ross" - and then not name the Federal Minister who sent this glowing letter which was used to end the introduction:

Whilst there will always be some things you and I will disagree on, I admire the contribution that you have made to public life. At Liverpool Council you changed the Old Guard and put in place a dynamic infrastructure. In Federal Parliament you took risks that gave you opportunities to change the nation from Opposition. I admire that. Now is a time for you and your family. I genuinely wish you a good life ahead. Enjoy the time you have with family. In a number of ways you have made Australia better.

Peter Fitzsimons outed Joe Hockey for this letter in The Sun-Herald, but why didn't Latham just name him given that it could only be one of a couple of "senior ministers" who would have been across what happened in Liverpool. Presumably Latham didn't want to break a confidence as Hockey probably stressed that the letter was not for publication.

The Latham Diaries completely trash the notion of off the record conversations and private correspondence but some people have clearly been selectively protected.

So, which journalist passed Mark Latham the joint? Name names we say! They should be outed, as should various other people who Latham decided not to name. Who was the drunk ABC presenter who drove Latham the wrong way down the street in the 1980s?

Copyright © 2024 The Mayne Report. All rights reserved

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