More good Mark Latham on ABC’s Lateline last night, talking about domestic policy. I really, really like the plain language, clear values, and basic honesty of this man. And, I love the way he talks about education as important infrastructure for the nation:

TONY JONES: Is it time for Labor to invest in some big infrastructure projects.

We know that Paul Keating, for example, has been pushing fast trains and north and south of Sydney, his idea being that both of the regional centres north and south of Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle would benefit from that and you take pressure off housing in the big city.

MARK LATHAM: It’s good to have big plans and our infrastructure investments are big.

We want to invest heavily in the education system.

The infrastructure of good schools, early childhood development and expanded university and TAFE system, getting the brain power of the modern economy right is the best investment we make in the future, so I know people talk about infrastructure like it’s the train or it’s the road, for me the best piece of infrastructure is that learning institution down the street that gives a child from a modest background the very best chance in life and to be the business leader, the successful consultant, successful part of the economy in the future, that for me is learning infrastructure that really matters and I’ve got to say that’s Labor’s top priority.

See the whole interview: transcript; real video, windows media.