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| Down Under |
| Latham given 24 hours to go |
| 2005-01-18 |
| AILING federal Labor leader Mark Latham was expected to step down from his position possibly within the next 24 hours, NSW Premier Bob Carr said today. Hip hip - Hooray! And former ALP leader Kim Beazley was an interested and credible candidate for the top job, he said. Pressure is mounting on Mr Latham to end the speculation over the leadership, sparked by last week's announcement he was suffering from a second bout of pancreatitis. As the federal malaise threatened to disrupt Labor's dominance across state and territory governments, Mr Latham has been urged to draw a line in the sand over his leadership. "I think there's an expectation now as this concern has gathered pace over recent days that he will do that (step down)," Mr Carr told Sydney radio station 2UE. "(There's an) expectation that his silence means that he's reached a decision to move on. I would think the party would be expecting it and the party would welcome it, and we say that out of all concern for him and his family given the obviously serious health condition that the Lathams are now coping with." When asked if he believed it would be in the best interests of the party for Mr Latham to step down, Mr Carr said; "I not only believe it, I think that's the consensus that's emerged within the Labor Party. "Indeed I'd go a step further. I think there's an expectation that that is going to happen," he said. There was also an expectation Mr Latham should step aside sooner rather than later, he said. "Labor's on the canvass, I think we wanted after October 9 some evidence of a plan for federal Labor to reconstruct and to pull together," he said. "The vacuum that we're now experiencing delays that ..." Kim Beazley was a prime candidate for the top spot, Mr Carr said. "I don't think it's appropriate for state leaders ... to baptise people," he said. "I'd simply say at this stage Kim Beazley is off running, running strongly. That's the impression I've got. "Kim Beazley is undoubtedly interested and I think Kim returning to the leadership gives that stability we're all seeking. "I think Beazley's got a lot of credibility across the board." When asked if changes could be expected within 24 hours, Mr Carr replied: "I've got that instinct from talking to people that an announcement is sooner rather than later". |
| Posted by:God Save The World |