The ladder of opportunity is a catchphrase coined by former Australian Opposition Leader Mark Latham to describe the process of social advancement or the elevation to higher social classes of Australian citizens. After defeating Kim Beazley for the role of Leader of the Opposition, Mark Latham coined the political slogan in his first press conference to describe what he stood for as Labor leader and alternative Prime Minister.[1]
The ladder of opportunity was a phase to inspire middle class 'aspirational' Australian voters.[2] [3] Mark Latham recognised that the primary concern of voters was personal economic advancement, and coined an easy-to-understand phrase to capture the minds of the traditional Labor voter.[citation needed]
The phrase would feature prominently in the 2004 federal election;[4][5] an election that Labor and Latham would go on to lose.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Speech to the Victorian Labor Party Conference: Melbourne: 6 December 2003". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ Manning, Haydon (4 July 2005). "'Aspirational Voters' and the 2004 Federal Election". Australian Review of Public Affairs.
- ^ Johnson, Carol (22 September 2010). "Mark Latham and the ideology of the ALP". Australian Journal of Political Science. 39 (3): 535–551. doi:10.1080/103614042000295138. ISSN 1036-1146.
- ^ "It's time for a change, Latham says". ABC News. 29 August 2004. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "Latham outlines vision for a Labor government". ABC News. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "Election Speeches · Mark Latham, 2004 · Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House". electionspeeches.moadoph.gov.au. Retrieved 15 May 2024.