beazley deflects latham barrage

Beazley deflects Latham barrage
June 27, 2005
From: AAP
LABOR leader Kim Beazley has rejected a scathing attack by Mark Latham, saying the party is not a "spent force" and is poised to do great good for the country.

In a book to be launched this week, Mr Latham - who spent just 14 months in the party's top job before leading it to defeat at the election last year - describes Labor as a spent force and says Mr Beazley is unworthy to be leader.
Mr Beazley today rejected the criticism by his predecessor, drawing attention to Labor's success in the states.

"Every state Government is Labor," he said.

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"Really, that is not a spent force, that is a force poised to do a great lot of good for this country than it's been able to do even so far.

"And where I'm concerned, as federal Labor leader, is how to turn that good performance into a federal victory at the next election."

Labor was focused on "the right things", Mr Beazley said, and was anxious to hold the Government accountable.

"I don't think we've done a bad job of that," he said.