Latham quits
Mark Latham has announced he is resigning from the Labor leadership and from Parliament, saying he is too unwell to continue in the job.
"Public office can take it out of people and after 17 years and two serious life-threatening illnesses, the time has come to put my family and my health first," Mr Latham said.
The move puts an end to several weeks of speculation over his leadership, which began after he became ill with a second bout of pancreatitis around Christmas.
Mr Latham says he had planned to reassess his future when he returned from annual leave next week but ongoing speculation was damaging the party.
"In recent days, I have been able to get away, rest and recover and talk to my family about our priorities for the future," he told a media conference in Sydney.
"Our conclusion is that I should look after my health and pursue a normal life outside of politics. Therefore, I have decided to resign both as Labor leader and Member for Werriwa."
Mr Latham says his pancreatitis "and the uncertain timing of the attacks are incompatible with the demands and stresses of a parliamentary life".
"I want to thank the Labor Party for the opportunity of leading it to the last election and trying to form a Labor government," he added. "I hope they achieve this vital goal in the future and I wish them well."
The announcement ends Mr Latham's time as Opposition Leader just more than 12 months after he took on the job.
He had come under severe criticism for failing to make a statement immediately after the Boxing Day tsunami, and senior Labor figures had increased pressure for him to resign.
But Mr Latham says he is proud of his achievements over the past 12 months.
"I'm proud that even from Opposition, we achieved some important reforms in 2004 such as the reform of parliamentary superannuation, changes to the US trade agreement, improved childhood immunisation, the baby-care payment and placing the importance of early childhood development on the national agenda," Mr Latham said.
"I did my bit to lead a genuinely progressive Australian Labor Party.
"I wish to thank the people of Werriwa for giving me the opportunity of representing them since 1994 and putting something back into our local community.
"I also thank the local Labor Party members and particularly my staff who've worked so hard both in the electorate and in Parliament House.
"I again thank the Labor supporters and members who backed our cause in the last campaign and gave me so much encouragement as Labor leader. Thank you all very much," Mr Latham concluded before refusing to answer reporters' questions.