Latest news with #LiverpoolCouncil
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
From great Labor hope to party embarrassment: the real Mark Latham
For two decades, Labor voters have hidden their embarrassment over having vested their hopes in Mark Latham. Amid the latest Lathamisms – a term for a squalid little ooze of gall from the so-called 'upper house' – it is worth pausing to remember what he offered when he became federal opposition leader in 2003. Presenting as articulate and intelligent, Mark Latham had worked, in his 20s, for John Kerin, Gough Whitlam and Bob Carr and had been mayor of Liverpool Council at age 30. He has a Sydney University economics degree and played footie for the Liverpool Bulls. His book Civilising Global Capital, published when he was 27, described a crisis for the industrial working class as one of structural and technological change that could be addressed through education, upskilling and the 'ladder of opportunity'. By 2003, Latham argued that under the leadership of Kim Beazley the party had drifted from the reformist ambition of Whitlam, Hawke and Keating. Beazley, softened by years in government, had been too weak on the republic referendum and Tampa, too bipartisan over Australia's subservience to George W. Bush's fraudulent invasion of Iraq, too nice to take up the fight to John Howard and his 'conga line of suckholes' (another Lathamism). When he became leader, Latham was also, appealingly, an outsider, criticising the factional system that brought down Beazley's successor Simon Crean. Latham offered plainspoken independent thinking and genuine opposition to the Howard government. One of his mentors, Senator Stephen Loosley, said he had a gift for speaking past Canberra and straight into Australia's lounge rooms. Mungo McCallum wrote that Latham had 'many qualities that were not only desirable and attractive but are in short supply in today's ALP'. One of Latham's key internal supporters was Julia Gillard. Under his leadership, Labor recruited Peter Garrett and, in his first year, Latham was easily outpolling Howard. By the 2004 election, voters were looking past the ideals and the pedigree and sniffing the character. There were stories of a fistfight to settle a Liverpool council dispute, salacious rumours about his buck's night, then his first wife Gabrielle Gwyther 's claim that they broke up because he wanted an open marriage. Latham has variously denied these allegations. Then there was the Howard handshake, which still gets replayed as if it shows us what we should have seen from the beginning. At a radio studio the day before the 2004 election, Latham took his opponent's hand as if to put him in a 'Cumberland throw'. Swing voters had seen all they needed, and Latham became the first new federal Labor leader in 87 years to lose seats. Having styled himself as the charismatic outsider, the lone wolf, Latham attributed the result to colleagues leaving him with too much to do on his own. There were signs, beneath the Labor 'true belief', of a cruel streak. In his own words, Latham was 'a hater. Part of the tribalness of politics is to really dislike the other side with intensity. And the more I see of them the more I hate them … John Howard tries to appeal to suburban values when I know that he hasn't got any real answers to the problems and challenges we face. I hate the phoniness of that.' This might have expressed a widespread grievance, but where did it cross into the tribalness of an 'A-grade arsehole' (not my words but Latham's, to describe Labor premiers Carr, Peter Beattie and Geoff Gallop)? An answer came after Christmas in 2004. Latham, recuperating from the election loss, was silent after the tsunami that killed 228,000 people in 14 countries. After Howard committed $1 billion in relief and declared a national day of mourning, Latham called the disaster, dismissively, 'the Asian flood'. He 'couldn't reverse the waves'. Three weeks later, citing life-threatening cancer, Latham quit.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Once Labor's great white hope, Latham's now just a black Mark
For two decades, Labor voters have hidden their embarrassment over having vested their hopes in Mark Latham. Amid the latest Lathamisms – a term for a squalid little ooze of gall from the so-called 'upper house' – it is worth pausing to remember what he offered when he became federal opposition leader in 2003. Presenting as articulate and intelligent, Mark Latham had worked, in his 20s, for John Kerin, Gough Whitlam and Bob Carr and had been mayor of Liverpool Council at age 30. He has a Sydney University economics degree and played footie for the Liverpool Bulls. His book Civilising Global Capital, published when he was 27, described a crisis for the industrial working class as one of structural and technological change that could be addressed through education, upskilling and the 'ladder of opportunity'. By 2003, Latham argued that under the leadership of Kim Beazley the party had drifted from the reformist ambition of Whitlam, Hawke and Keating. Beazley, softened by years in government, had been too weak on the republic referendum and Tampa, too bipartisan over Australia's subservience to George W. Bush's fraudulent invasion of Iraq, too nice to take up the fight to John Howard and his 'conga line of suckholes' (another Lathamism). When he became leader, Latham was also, appealingly, an outsider, criticising the factional system that brought down Beazley's successor Simon Crean. Latham offered plainspoken independent thinking and genuine opposition to the Howard government. One of his mentors, Senator Stephen Loosley, said he had a gift for speaking past Canberra and straight into Australia's lounge rooms. Mungo McCallum wrote that Latham had 'many qualities that were not only desirable and attractive but are in short supply in today's ALP'. One of Latham's key internal supporters was Julia Gillard. Under his leadership, Labor recruited Peter Garrett and, in his first year, Latham was easily outpolling Howard. By the 2004 election, voters were looking past the ideals and the pedigree and sniffing the character. There were stories of a fistfight to settle a Liverpool council dispute, salacious rumours about his buck's night, then his first wife Gabrielle Gwyther 's claim that they broke up because he wanted an open marriage. Latham has variously denied these allegations. Then there was the Howard handshake, which still gets replayed as if it shows us what we should have seen from the beginning. At a radio studio the day before the 2004 election, Latham took his opponent's hand as if to put him in a 'Cumberland throw'. Swing voters had seen all they needed, and Latham became the first new federal Labor leader in 87 years to lose seats. Having styled himself as the charismatic outsider, the lone wolf, Latham attributed the result to colleagues leaving him with too much to do on his own. There were signs, beneath the Labor 'true belief', of a cruel streak. In his own words, Latham was 'a hater. Part of the tribalness of politics is to really dislike the other side with intensity. And the more I see of them the more I hate them … John Howard tries to appeal to suburban values when I know that he hasn't got any real answers to the problems and challenges we face. I hate the phoniness of that.' This might have expressed a widespread grievance, but where did it cross into the tribalness of an 'A-grade arsehole' (not my words but Latham's, to describe Labor premiers Carr, Peter Beattie and Geoff Gallop)? An answer came after Christmas in 2004. Latham, recuperating from the election loss, was silent after the tsunami that killed 228,000 people in 14 countries. After Howard committed $1 billion in relief and declared a national day of mourning, Latham called the disaster, dismissively, 'the Asian flood'. He 'couldn't reverse the waves'. Three weeks later, citing life-threatening cancer, Latham quit.
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
Once Labor's great white hope, Latham's now just a black Mark
For two decades, Labor voters have hidden their embarrassment over having vested their hopes in Mark Latham. Amid the latest Lathamisms – a term for a squalid little ooze of gall from the so-called 'upper house' – it is worth pausing to remember what he offered when he became federal opposition leader in 2003. Presenting as articulate and intelligent, Mark Latham had worked, in his 20s, for John Kerin, Gough Whitlam and Bob Carr and had been mayor of Liverpool Council at age 30. He has a Sydney University economics degree and played footie for the Liverpool Bulls. His book Civilising Global Capital, published when he was 27, described a crisis for the industrial working class as one of structural and technological change that could be addressed through education, upskilling and the 'ladder of opportunity'. By 2003, Latham argued that under the leadership of Kim Beazley the party had drifted from the reformist ambition of Whitlam, Hawke and Keating. Beazley, softened by years in government, had been too weak on the republic referendum and Tampa, too bipartisan over Australia's subservience to George W. Bush's fraudulent invasion of Iraq, too nice to take up the fight to John Howard and his 'conga line of suckholes' (another Lathamism). When he became leader, Latham was also, appealingly, an outsider, criticising the factional system that brought down Beazley's successor Simon Crean. Latham offered plainspoken independent thinking and genuine opposition to the Howard government. One of his mentors, Senator Stephen Loosley, said he had a gift for speaking past Canberra and straight into Australia's lounge rooms. Mungo McCallum wrote that Latham had 'many qualities that were not only desirable and attractive but are in short supply in today's ALP'. One of Latham's key internal supporters was Julia Gillard. Under his leadership, Labor recruited Peter Garrett and, in his first year, Latham was easily outpolling Howard. By the 2004 election, voters were looking past the ideals and the pedigree and sniffing the character. There were stories of a fistfight to settle a Liverpool council dispute, salacious rumours about his buck's night, then his first wife Gabrielle Gwyther 's claim that they broke up because he wanted an open marriage. Latham has variously denied these allegations. Then there was the Howard handshake, which still gets replayed as if it shows us what we should have seen from the beginning. At a radio studio the day before the 2004 election, Latham took his opponent's hand as if to put him in a 'Cumberland throw'. Swing voters had seen all they needed, and Latham became the first new federal Labor leader in 87 years to lose seats. Having styled himself as the charismatic outsider, the lone wolf, Latham attributed the result to colleagues leaving him with too much to do on his own. There were signs, beneath the Labor 'true belief', of a cruel streak. In his own words, Latham was 'a hater. Part of the tribalness of politics is to really dislike the other side with intensity. And the more I see of them the more I hate them … John Howard tries to appeal to suburban values when I know that he hasn't got any real answers to the problems and challenges we face. I hate the phoniness of that.' This might have expressed a widespread grievance, but where did it cross into the tribalness of an 'A-grade arsehole' (not my words but Latham's, to describe Labor premiers Carr, Peter Beattie and Geoff Gallop)? An answer came after Christmas in 2004. Latham, recuperating from the election loss, was silent after the tsunami that killed 228,000 people in 14 countries. After Howard committed $1 billion in relief and declared a national day of mourning, Latham called the disaster, dismissively, 'the Asian flood'. He 'couldn't reverse the waves'. Three weeks later, citing life-threatening cancer, Latham quit.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plan to extend 185-year-old Greatie Market in £5m upgrade
A 185-year-old city market could be extended as part of a £5m upgrade that would see a new food and drink area and a large canopy, subject to planning Great Homer Street Market in north Liverpool, known as the Greatie Market, was earmarked for funding in March 2024 as part of a levelling-up package announced by the previous Council has now announced proposals for how the money will be spent and said the plans would be presented for approval by councillors on 15 July. The planned refurbishment will include upgrades to the existing market building, upgrades to lighting, flooring and customer facilities and new seating areas. Derelict industrial units on Rachel Street, Dryden Street and the Central Tin site near the market would also be demolished as part of the proposals, to improve access and to "unlock development opportunities", the council said. 'Thriving, inclusive future' Councillor Nick Small, cabinet member for growth and economy, said:" Ultimately, the ambition is to repopulate, reconnect, and regenerate the area through housing, transport, and public realm improvements – and the impact will go far and beyond the Liverpool City boundary."He said the new area would act as a "key landmark" between the city centre and Bootle in added: "This is about creating a thriving, inclusive future for north Liverpool – one that honours its heritage while unlocking its full potential for generations to come."The plans will go before the council's cabinet for a vote and, if approved, the authority will begin appointing consultants and council said it expected construction to begin in 2026. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Sky News AU
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Sky News AU
‘It's not even round': Today show host labels new western Sydney roundabout ‘Australia's worst' as councillor seeks investigation
A 'shocking' western Sydney roundabout has been dubbed 'Australia's worst roundabout' by a Today show host after it was revealed the new intersection is shaped like a diamond. The installation was part of a bid to improve traffic congestion across Austral, with a Liverpool Council petition receiving more than 2000 signatures calling for urgent upgrades, but footage suggests conditions have worsened in the area. The video, released by the Today show, shows multiple drivers struggling to navigate the oddly shaped roundabout, which connects Fifteenth Avenue and Twenty Eighth Avenue. One car can be seen doing a three-point turn, while another cuts across the intersection, narrowly avoiding colliding with a third car. Today show host Karl Stefanovic dubbed it 'Australia's worst roundabout.' The intersection has been further criticised by councillors, Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun declaring council will be 'putting the round back into roundabout.' 'The staff responsible have made some design changes that they intend on implementing as soon as possible,' he said. 'No one applied common sense.' Appearing on the Today show as he attends the Australian Local Government Conference in Canberra, councillor Peter Ristevski said he has had 'every single councillor that's here in Australia rip into me about our roundabout." 'It's quite embarrassing,' he said. 'I've asked for an investigation into this, and in particular what it's going to cost us to rectify this.' 'My inbox last night was bombarded with over 200 to 300 responses saying, 'what is going on, you guys can't even build a roundabout?.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns pledged $1 billlion in January to upgrade Fifteenth Avenue. It's understood no accidents have occurred at the roundabout, despite its dangerous appearance. Frustrated locals have taken to social media to express their disappointment. 'You would think that someone should have stopped for a second and thought 'that's a stupid roundabout, it's not even round',' one said. 'I can tell you with firsthand experience, it's shocking. Most people struggle with a normal roundabout, this just melts people's brains as they approach it,' said another.
