Hear that chiming in the distance, valued reader? Could they be wedding bells celebrating the union of two lost souls made gloriously complete by the power of love and/or outspoken discomfort with multiculturalism?
Why yes, they could! For the invitations are printed, the table settings have been chosen, and Mark Latham – the man who at one point could have been our prime minister, can you imagine? – has said I Do to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
“This is a fight for our civilisational values. For free speech, for merit selection, resilience, love of country – all of them under siege from the left, and a lot of it is happening in state politics as much as federal,” Lathos told fellow paragon of quiet good sense Alan Jones on 2GB on Wednesday.
“I’m in a position and a stage in life where I just can’t stand on the sideline talking about it, I want to get stuck in and play a role as a legislator.”
And look, it’s not entirely a surprise. Indeed, this very site made that prediction back in September based on Latham robocalling for One Nation in the Longman by election, and also that Mark’s split with the Liberal Democrats meant that there were only limited options remaining for Latham’s increasingly reactionary brand of race-flavoured politics.
It’s confirmed that he won’t be running for the senate, and that his target instead is the NSW state parliament – which is also where his old pal turned adversary LibDem senator David Leyonhjelm is planning to run, having realised that there’s no way in hell he’ll keep his seat at the next election.
What are his chances of actually getting into the NSW upper house, though? According to Antony Green, ABC election analyst and genius numbers pixie from a better universe, it’s a lock.
4.55% is the quota. For the last seat 2.5% is enough and Animal Justice was elected from 1.78%. Latham will be easily elected.
— Antony Green (@AntonyGreenABC) November 6, 2018
Then again, Latham’s political and media career has been characterised by a certain chain of events: a flashy announcement followed by a bitter falling out and an explosive and controversial departure.
It’s what happened with Labor and the Liberal Democrats, and it’s what happened with the Spectator, the Australian Financial Review and finally Sky News.
And that proud legacy was echoed this morning when Lathos decided not to show for his second media call announcing his exciting new gig…
There is an empty chair on the panel next to @PaulineHansonOz this morning as Mark Latham pulled out at the last minute. #Studio10 pic.twitter.com/hJ2x9pxp62
— Studio 10 (@Studio10au) November 6, 2018
And as portents go, this no-show bodes well for a long and fruitful union between two of Australia’s political powerhouses.
Mazel tov!