Albanese Slams Latham as Labor Marks a Controversial Chapter in Party History
So, there's been a lot of chatter recently about Mark Latham — and not for the right reasons. Formerly the federal leader of the Australian Labor Party, Latham has once again found himself at the centre of political controversy. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn't hold back in a recent interview, calling many of Latham’s views “repulsive” and expressing deep regret that Latham was ever elevated to party leadership. That’s a powerful condemnation, especially coming from a sitting Prime Minister, and it’s stirred up a lot of attention across the political landscape.
What triggered all this? Well, the Labor caucus has just voted to add a new, stark caption to Latham’s portrait at Parliament House. It now reminds everyone that he was expelled from the Labor Party in 2017 and banned for life. The added text says that his actions do not reflect Labor’s values or meet the standards they expect. It's a bold move — not erasing history, but contextualising it for the present.
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Albanese made it very clear during his 7.30 interview that his opposition to Latham dates back to 2003 when he supported Kim Beazley over Latham for the party leadership. He said, “I regret ever seeing him elected as leader,” and “I think history has proven that judgment to be correct.” And frankly, given the list of incidents Latham’s been involved in since leaving federal politics, it’s hard to argue with that sentiment.
From his defamation loss over homophobic remarks to disturbing allegations from a former partner involving emotional, physical, and financial abuse, the headlines surrounding Latham have been damning. These are not mere policy disagreements — we’re talking about serious concerns around character, integrity, and conduct.
Labor’s decision to keep the portrait but add context is interesting. As Finance Minister Katy Gallagher noted, “You can’t erase history... but we can be clear that his actions don’t align with who we are now.” It’s a reflection of a party trying to reconcile its past leadership choices with its present-day values — something that many institutions struggle with.
And in true Mark Latham style, he didn’t take the move quietly. He took to social media, comparing the update to Stalinist purges — calling on Labor to “go the full Stalin.” It’s a dramatic response, to say the least, and only adds to the ongoing spectacle.
It’s clear that this isn’t just about one man. It’s about what the Labor Party represents today, and how far it's willing to go to draw a line in the sand on unacceptable behaviour, even if it means turning a harsh light on one of its own former leaders. This moment is as much about integrity as it is about history.
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