Fed: Latham says his purpose is to kick Howard out of office

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2003
Fed: Latham says his purpose is to kick Howard out of office

CANBERRA, Dec 3 AAP - The sole purpose of the Mark Latham-led federal Labor Party was
to kick the Howard government out of office, Mr Latham said today.

Mr Latham said while his party continued to share differences of opinion, MPs and senators
were determined to reconcile and focus on defeating Prime Minister John Howard at next
year's election.

"Our sole motivation is to get rid of the Howard government, that's our purpose in
life, that's our purpose in public life, to give this country a better government in the
national interest and that's what we're dedicated to," Mr Latham told ABC radio.

He said his party must be 100 per cent committed to Labor's values and there was no
room for disunity.

"We've got to be a party for the 100 per cent Labor Party; we're not a party of 51-49,
we've got to be a party that's there collectively," Mr Latham said.

"We believe in all these collective values and the collective role of government, we've
collectively got to believe in ourselves and the great strength of Labor solidarity."

He said he had spoken to all of his federal Labor colleagues over the past few days
as he lobbied them for their support during yesterday's leadership ballot and he was convinced
spirits within the party were high.

"People genuinely want a reconciliation," Mr Latham said.

AAP sm/was

KEYWORD: LABOR LATHAM GOAL

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