Mark Latham surfaces at Royal Randwick after $500,000 legal loss to MP Alex Greenwich

Embattled NSW MP Mark Latham has popped up at the races this weekend after he was ordered to pay more than half a million in legal fees, while being investigated by racing officials for allegedly abusing a senior racing executive. Here’s the latest.

Embattled NSW MP Mark Latham has surfaced at the races, returning to the belly of the beast, after a rough week where he lost a $500,000 defamation battle while being investigated by racing officials for allegedly abusing a senior racing executive.

But Mr Latham appeared in good spirits as he tried his luck at the Royal Randwick on Saturday for day one of The Star Championships, this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

His appearance at the Champagne Bar sent ripples through the Australian Turf Club (ATC) members area as it may be his last – with racing officials set to make a decision on his membership within the next fortnight.

The Saturday Telegraph approached Mr Latham at the event and asked whether he would pay the six-figure legal loss, to which he scoffed and walked away.

It comes as Mr Latham is expected to cough up more than half a million dollars in legal costs after a federal judge ruled in Independent MP Alex Greenwich’s favour in their ongoing defamation battle.

Mark Latham (left) pictured during The Star Championship Day at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday. Picture – Daily Telegraph / Dylan Coker

On Friday, the Federal Court ordered Mr Latham pay the Sydney MP’s legal costs, six months after the courts previously ordered Mr Latham pay $140,000 in damages for defaming Mr Greenwich in a homophobic tweet.

Mr Greenwich launched the legal proceedings two years ago, claiming he had been bombarded with “hate-filled venom” following Mr Latham’s post to X, formerly known as Twitter, in March 2023.

NSW MP Mark Latham is expected to pay more than half a million dollars in legal costs. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr Latham resisted paying for Mr Greenwich’s legal costs, triggering a drawn-out legal fight between the two MPs.

Mr Latham has lodged an appeal against the original defamation ruling, and it is understood Mr Greenwich has filed a cross-appeal in response.

But in handing down his judgment on Friday, Justice David O’Callaghan ordered Mr Latham “pay the applicant’s costs of the proceeding, including reserved costs, on a party-party basis, to be taxed in the absence of agreement”, which covers roughly 70 per cent of his legal bills.

The Daily Telegraph understands the amount Mr Latham must pay has been estimated at more than half a million dollars.

Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said the court’s decision was a ‘relief’. Picture: Tamati Smith

Speaking to The Saturday Telegraph after the ruling, Mr Greenwich said the court’s decision was a “relief”.

“I tried to resolve this without bringing it to court,” he said.

“I have taken this action to stand up for myself, the LGBT+ community and appropriate political discourse.

“The court has ordered Mr Latham to pay my costs, this is very welcomed and a relief.”

Court documents state Mr Greenwich’s high-profile barrister, Dr Matt Collins KC, submitted that “Mr Greenwich’s costs should be paid on an indemnity basis, principally because Mr Latham unreasonably rejected an offer to settle the case” in April 2023.

Mr Greenwich with Dr Matt Collins AM KC (right), after winning his initial defamation case against Mr Latham. Picture: Tamati Smith

Despite declining the submission to award the costs on the indemnity basis, which would have covered a greater portion of the legal fees, Justice O’Callaghan noted Mr Latham now “has an obligation to pay a much larger sum of money (in costs and damages)”.

Mr Latham told The Saturday Telegraph on Friday he was appealing the decision “so the full bench (of the Federal Court) will rule ultimately”.

However, the legal blow for Mr Latham also comes amid the ongoing investigation into his alleged verbal abuse of a senior ATC executive at Rosehill Gardens.

Racing officials discussed whether Mr Latham should have his membership rights suspended until the board inquiry into his alleged outburst makes its findings.

However, the firebrand MP remained free to attend the races on Saturday, where he reportedly held a meeting in the members’ area to spruik his petition to save Rosehill Racecourse.

The rumoured petition comes as ATC members prepare to vote on the Minns government’s controversial offer to buy the racecourse for $5bn to turn the site into 25,000 homes.

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Originally published as Mark Latham surfaces at Royal Randwick after $500,000 legal loss to MP Alex Greenwich