Philippoussis: I never gave Latham Wimbledon tickets

Mark Latham says he was given free Wimbledon tickets from Mark Philippoussis. The former Australian tennis star claims it never happened.

Former Australian tennis star Mark Philippoussis says he didn’t provide Mark Latham free entry to Wimbledon, despite the maverick MP making that claim on his official gift declarations.

Mr Latham said he received tickets to the tennis major from “M.Philippoussis” last year on July 7 and July 12.

However, a spokesperson for Mr Philippoussis told The Daily Telegraph “Mark doesn’t recall supplying Mark Latham with any tickets as he doesn’t know him on a personal level. He doesn’t have a relationship with Mr Latham at all.”

The Wimbledon experience is part of more than 90 free tickets to sporting events and corporate boxes Mr Latham has enjoyed since entering NSW parliament in 2019.

Mark Philippoussis said he can’t recall providing Mark Latham with tickets, despite the MP making that claim on his declarations.

He has recently been on a crusade against politicians and members of the media accepting free hospitality, accusing them of “being bought off by freebies at Royal Randwick and Rosehill.”

Mr Latham has accepted at least 28 hospitality tickets to horse racing and greyhound meetings alone since March 2019, including the luxury Winning Post restaurant at Rosehill, the Director’s Room at Royal Randwick and a box on Golden Slipper Day.

The Daily Telegraph has been told that a number of race tickets were personally requested by Mr Latham, including on Melbourne Cup Day at Randwick in November 2022.

Mark Latham at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, seemingly displeased with The Daily Telegraph attempting to take his photo. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Analysis of his MP declarations reveal Mr Latham pocketed 60 tickets to other sports including rugby league, cricket, A-League soccer, tennis and even rowing.

More than 20 of the tickets given to Mr Latham were to NRL games featuring St George Illawarra, his favourite rugby league team, including box seats provided by “The Icon Construction Group” and tickets to the Churchill Room at Accor Stadium.

Mark Latham at the 2023 Australian Open.

In response to Mr Latham’s freebies, one of his Upper House colleagues told this masthead “this bloke is the definition of a hypocrite. He’s raging against corporate hospitality every day… and it turns out he’s on the gravy train. He has shredded his credibility on this issue.”

Other “freebies” given to Mr Latham included “four tickets at four Sydney FC games” at Allianz Stadium and several tickets from Hancock Prospecting, including the Australian Open Tennis and the Henley Royal Regatta from Rowing Australia.

Mark Latham has accepted multiple free tickets to the SCG in both the Trust Suite and Sheridan Suite. Picture: Instagram

Aside from Philippoussis, there appear to be some other curious discrepancies in Mr Latham’s declarations.

He further claimed a free trip to the 2023 Magic Millions. According to his records, breeding empire Arrowfield Stud generously covered his accommodation and entry to the track. Arrowfield Stud is owned by John Messara, the powerful racing figure who has owned many horses with business partner, former broadcaster Alan Jones.

When approached for comment, Mr Messara told this masthead: “ I can advise that Arrowfield Stud has never given Mr Mark Latham or any other MP free trips or accommodation.”

Earlier this year, during a NSW parliamentary inquiry, Mr Latham was quoted praising Mr Messara’s operation, telling the house: “Arrowfield is a shining example of animal care.”

Mark Latham's declarations showing invites to Wimbledon and the Magic Millions. Source: NSW Parliament website,

pictured is one of Mark Latham's declarations

Another declaration by Mr Latham reveals that he was a guest at the cricket only weeks after personally intervening in a controversial state government proposal to ban car parking on the grass in the Moore Park precinct.

In public comments on the 17th of November, 2021, Mr Latham said: “I was inside the Minister’s office yesterday hammering this point. I think they can see the argument. I’m expecting that we’ll park there for many years to come, as we should.”

A few weeks later on the 6th of January, 2022, Mr Latham scored three tickets to the SCG’s Sheridan Suite during the Ashes Test.

Supplied images of Mark Latham enjoying a range of corporate hospitality. Picture: Instagram

He returned to the SCG the following year, accepting hospitality to both the prestigious Trust Suite and at the annual Cricket NSW lunch.

According to the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (ICAC) guidelines, public officials “should not solicit or accept any gifts, benefits or hospitality that could be perceived as intended to influence them…”

According to his register, Mr Latham received “four tickets at four Sydney FC games” between November 2022 and January 2023. Picture: Instagram

Mr Latham has launched a relentless campaign this year to block the sale of Rosehill Racecourse and to bring down the leadership of Racing NSW, devoting a whopping 30 parliamentary speeches and questions to the issue.

He recently accused Racing NSW of “buying influence from politicians and media through the Directors Room at Royal Randwick and other free hospitality.”

Mr Latham was approached for comment. In a message on X posted on Thursday afternoon, he said “how funny is the Daily Tele? They have gone back thru (sic) my disclosures since 2019 and say I’ve had 28 tickets, so 14 race meetings at the gallops, harness and greyhounds as an MLC. Nights at Menangle and Wenty Park are great, but not quite up there with Qantas business class.”

He has failed to explain why both Arrowfield Stud and Mark Philippoussis have indicated they did not in fact provide him tickets.

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