Much of the controversy revolved around Latham's candid and scathing criticisms of the ALP, as well as highly personal and occasionally ribald comments regarding some individuals.

The book is an abridgement of Latham's personal diary, from his election to the Australian House of Representatives in 1994 until his retirement in 2005.

[citation needed] Latham frequently refers to his belief that in the 10 years between the ALP losing office in 1996 and publication of the Diaries, Labor failed to respond to major changes in Australian society, wrought by globalisation and the policies of the Keating and the Howard governments.

Latham claims that under the leadership of both Kim Beazley and Simon Crean, the party has failed to develop new and innovative policies and has either looked backwards and inwards for ideas or taken a purely-negative position with government initiatives.

He alleged that as both party leader and an ordinary MP, Beazley failed to offer Latham and other Labor MPs the support and loyalty that they were due.