Controversial former Labor leader Mark Latham has joined the Liberal Democrats, sparking speculation a return to politics might be on the cards.
Mr Latham, who led Labor from 2003 until 2005, says he wants to play a role in fighting for national values, based on personal freedom, responsibility and meritocracy.
"The fight for free speech in Australia has become critical," Mr Latham told Sky News while attacking the lefty "sneering, censorious lynch mobs" that were trying to shut down debates if they didn't like particular arguments.
"You don't know how bad it is to lose your freedom of speech until it happens to you."
Asked if he would return to politics Mr Latham said: "I'm up for the fight to save our (western) civilisation."
He ridiculed the "outrage industry" and "confected offenderati" which he says have taken over the Labor party.
Mr Latham said the current Labor leadership had gone "cuckoo" and he vowed to continue to speak the truth and his mind without "some galah pulling the plug out of the microphone".
Mr Latham was sacked as a commentator on Sky News Australia in March.
He had been under fire over comments he made on-air about the sexuality of a Sydney schoolboy who appeared in a video for International Women's Day.
He's also been criticised for remarks about fellow Sky News commentator Kristina Keneally and ABC radio presenter Wendy Harmer.
Mr Latham resigned as a columnist at the Australian Financial Review in 2015 following pressure over remarks he made about women, including anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty.
Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm said a potential return to politics was "like getting married a second time - it's a triumph of hope over experience".
"(Mark Latham) said he had already done that - gotten married a second time - and he's much better at it," Senator Leyonhjelm told AAP.
"I think there's a thought in the back of his mind, that he might like to get back into politics but he hasn't raised that with the party."
Senator Leyonhjelm said he doesn't worry about the past comments of people when they join the party only when they became political candidates.
Senator Leyonhjelm acknowledged Mr Latham came with some baggage.
"We've got a fair bit in common, but I've never broken a taxi driver's arm that's for sure. I don't get into blues if I can avoid it," he said.
Senator Leyonhjelm insisted Mr Latham's controversial views on women had suffered a degree of "misinterpretation".
During Labor's caucus meeting on Monday one MP asked Opposition Leader Bill Shorten if the photos of Mr Latham and Billy Hughes could be removed from the wall of the room.
WWI prime minister Hughes quit the Labor Party in 1916 after walking out of a caucus meeting over conscription. He formed the National-Labor Party and governed with the support of the Liberal opposition.
Mr Shorten replied there was no process, the pictures are there as a reminder.
NSW Labor on Monday backed a motion to ban Mr Latham for life.
