Encourage ex leaders to rejoin ALP: Howes

Union leader Paul Howes says the Australia Labor Party (ALP) should consider persuading former leaders such as Mark Latham and Bill Hayden to rejoin the party.

Mr Howes said while he had disagreed with their views on the ALP, the party should become more tolerant and embrace diverging opinions.

Both former leaders have criticised the ALP since leaving the party.

“My view is if Mark Latham wanted to rejoin the Labor Party we should let him,” he told ABC Television on Tuesday.

“If Bill Hayden wanted to rejoin the Labor Party, we should let him.”

The Australian Workers Union national secretary said the ALP was always at its strongest when it encompassed broad views, while having plenty of disagreements to decide the party’s policies.

“It is not about about having a big peace-loving mung bean circle, all singing Kumbayah around the bushfire,” Mr Howes said.

“It is about battling it out inside and ensuring we have those fierce battles and we have those fierce fights internally.”

Polling for the ALP over the past year would lead to a thumping loss at the next federal election, which must be held by late 2013.

Mr Howes acknowledged the Labor government had some major issues.

“We have some massive problems with our ability to tie together all these amazing initiatives the government has put together, and sell that clear message, and have that clear conversation with the Australian people about where things are going,” he said.

AAP el/alm/jf

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