Posted on 07/12/2004 1:00:52 AM PDT by naturalman1975
FORMER Labor leader Kim Beazley is returning to the front bench to help his party win government and use his defence credentials to fight terrorism.
Opposition Leader Mark Latham today said Mr Beazley would return from the backbenches to become the party's new defence spokesman.
Mr Beazley will take over the role from Senator Chris Evans, who now becomes Opposition spokesman on defence procurement, science and personnel.
Mr Latham said Mr Beazley's defence credentials made him the best person for the job because of what he could offer to Australia's national security.
"I think this is beneficial for Australians across the board ... and for our capacity as the Labor Party to go forward with good policies and the best people in a key role such as this," Mr Latham said.
Mr Beazley served as defence minister between 1984 and 1990 and was deputy prime minister between 1995 and 1996.
He stepped down as Opposition leader after the 2001 election.
He contested the leadership in June last year but lost to Simon Crean.
Mr Beazley then entered a race for the Opposition leader's job last December but was beaten by Mr Latham 47 votes to 45.
Today he said he had accepted Mr Latham's invitation to help Labor win government at the next election and defeat terrorism.
"The reason why I have wanted to come back on to the front bench at this point in time is simply this – we are in a hard fight with fundamentalist terrorism, it demands the best efforts from absolutely all of us," Mr Beazley said.
"This will be a Latham Labor government devoted to protecting Australians against their enemies and that's why I want to come on board."
Mr Beazley said the Labor Party needed to dig deep to topple the Howard Government.
"This is a tight, tough fight this election, and there is an absolute obligation on all of those of us in the Labor Party with a contribution to make, that we make it," he said.
"For me I believe this is the best way I can do that."
Mr Latham denied he would have to watch his back over future leadership challenges.
"No, not at all, absolutely not," he said.
Mr Beazley also backed Mr Latham's policies on Iraq and defence.
He said he has used his time on the backbench to recover from an illness – Schaltenbrand's syndrome, a cerebrospinal fluid leak from around the brain – and assess Australia's position in relation to the world.
"It was a time for me to sort of ruminate on things, I've not been well, but I'm fine now," he said.
"We are not as effectively positioned now as we should be in the struggle against fundamentalist terrorism ... you can see inside the defence portfolio enormous confusion about the direction we should be going."
AAP
As there is, unfortunately, a realistic chance that Labor will take office at the next election, at least now, if it happens, there should be someone in office who actually understands the importance of defence. He'll have to back his leader, and if it comes to it, his Prime Minister, in public - but he will do the best he can behind the scenes, and may be able to modify many of Latham's worst excesses.
I hope Labor don't win - but this appointment means I'm slightly less horrified by the possibility.
Just stay away from Latham, his right hook and thugs are always swinging at something.
Latham can take a swing at me any time. He just wouldn't like what happens a couple of seconds later.
I don't start fights - but I'll finish one.
You'd make the news, thats for sure!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.