Fed: Latham to mend fences wtih Beazley backers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2003
Fed: Latham to mend fences wtih Beazley backers

CANBERRA, Dec 4 AAP - New Labor leader Mark Latham is set to mend fences within the
party when he fronts his first caucus meeting today.

Mr Latham is tipped to bring former health spokesman and Kim Beazley supporter Stephen
Smith back to the frontbench.

Mr Smith, a key backer of Mr Beazley in this year's leadership challenges, was labelled
a rooster by Mr Latham back in June.

But in a bid to heal some of the rifts that have hurt the party over the past 12 months,
Mr Smith is believed to have accepted the offer.

Mr Latham will also find a position for former leader Simon Crean, who resigned last
week after being told he had lost a majority of support in the caucus.

It is understood Mr Latham is going to expand the frontbench by one so that he can
accommodate Mr Crean and Mr Smith.

The government is continuing to attack Mr Latham over past comments, particularly his
description of United States President George W Bush as incompetent and dangerous in the
lead-up to the war against Iraq.

Prime Minister John Howard, who has headed to Nigeria for the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting, said Mr Latham's comments were putting the alliance with America in
jeopardy.

Mr Latham will continue to hit the nation's radiowaves today as he attempts to lift
his profile with the electorate.

AAP sw/cbs/br

KEYWORD: LABOR DAYLEAD

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