Latham brings dogs to parliament as he fights ex-partner’s claims

In one of his strangest public appearances to date, beleaguered MP Mark Latham fronted media in parliament with his two dogs to accuse his ex-girlfriend of “weaponising” the court system against him. WATCH the video

Mark Latham, pictured with his French bulldogs, has accused his former partner of “weaponising” the court system against him. Picture: NewsWire/ Jeremy Piper

In one of his strangest public appearances to date, beleaguered MP Mark Latham has fronted media inside parliament accompanied by his two dogs to accuse his former girlfriend of “weaponising” the court system against him.

Mr Latham strolled into NSW parliament on Friday afternoon with his French bulldogs, Digby and Leela, to hold a snap press conference about the workers compensation bill and “other matters of the day”.

The MP had previously announced he would be answering questions with his dogs to mark the parliament’s annual Pets Day.

But the conference was chaos from the outset with Mr Latham’s dogs wandering through the press pack before one bulldog started hyperventilating loudly, interrupting the MP as he lashed out at his former partner, Nathalie Matthews.

When asked if Mr Latham would fight or agree to the apprehended violence order Ms Matthews has pursued against him for allegations of domestic abuse, the embattled politician accused his former partner of AVO “misuse”.

Mark Latham walking his French Bulldogs in The Domain before his press conference at NSW Parliament House. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Have you read the AVO application? The basis of it is that if I go near her, I’ll want to rekindle the relationship. I’ve said to my eldest son, if that was ever true, invoke the euthanasia laws on me immediately. Your old man has lost it completely,” Mr Latham said.

“That’s just unthinkable, ridiculous, but she’s used it as a way of weaponising other allegations against me that are completely false and have got nothing to do with her safety.

Mark Latham’s French Bulldogs leading the way. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“On the suggestion that I want to go near her, I have spent every day since (the break up) wanting to have no contact with her whatsoever. I think that’s very obvious to any sane person with a little bit of common sense.”

Mr Latham’s dog then started to wheeze loudly, interrupting his rant.

“Frenchies do this, they have different breathing patterns, I’m not saying it’s a reflection on our friend at the (The Daily Telegraph) here,” Mr Latham said.

“It’ll pass, I’ve seen (the dog) do this hundreds of times, actually.”

At one point in the press conference, Mark Latham’s answers were drowned out by the loud breathing of one of his dogs. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Once he calmed down the dog, Mr Latham was asked if he would use parliamentary privilege when sitting resumes next month to air more details about his personal matters.

Mr Latham admitted he had built a reputation from using the tactic to “fight” in parliament for whistleblowers and other MPs but would refuse to say whether he would use the tactic regarding his matters with Ms Matthews.
“Watch this space,” he said.
Mr Lathm is not charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

Originally published as Latham brings dogs to parliament as he fights ex-partner’s claims