NSW Liberals at odds over ties with Mark Latham

Mark Latham’s bad behaviour in parliament has exposed a rift in the Liberal Party, while Premier Chris Minns and other senior Labor figures are putting pressure on the Opposition to cut ties.

Mark Latham’s bad behaviour in parliament has exposed a rift in the Liberal Party, after senior Opposition frontbencher Kellie Sloane said the Coalition should stop working “closely” with the rogue independent MP.

Ms Sloane’s comments put her at odds with her leader Mark Speakman, who declared less than 24 hours earlier that the Opposition would continue to “deal with him like we deal with every other MP”.

Premier Chris Minns and other senior Labor figures have been publicly pressuring the Liberal Opposition to cut ties with Mr Latham after The Daily Telegraph revealed the MP had been sexting in the chamber and taking photos of female MPs without their knowledge.

The Coalition is set to support Mr Latham in redefining sexual harassment in the workplace for the purposes of workers compensation claims when parliament resumes.

Under the amendments, someone would need to know – or ought to know – that their behaviour was “unwelcome” for it to be deemed harassment.

Liberal Health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane appeared at odds with her leader Mark Speakman over the Coalition’s ties to Mark Latham. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

While accusing Mr Latham of “deplorable” behaviour on Tuesday, Mr Speakman said the Coalition MP still needed to work with the independent MP.

“He has been duly elected, and we have to deal with him like we deal with every other MP in the lower house and the upper house,” he said.

“Sometimes you’ve got to hold your nose … but that’s the outcome of the democratic process.”

The NSW Liberals are set to support Mark Latham’s push to redefine sexual harassment at work for the purposes of workers compensation. Picture: NewsWire/ Jeremy Piper.

Yet Ms Sloane, appearing on ABC Radio, said that should not be happening.

“I don’t think we should be working closely with Mark Latham at all,” she said.

Speaking to DTTV, Ms Sloane downplayed the differences between her and her leader.

Mark Latham’s former partner Nathalie Matthews has accused the MP of a “sustained” pattern of abuse, which he denies. Picture: Instagram/@nathaliemaymatthews

She said the Coalition is “forced” to work with Mr Latham because he cannot be removed from parliament.

“We cannot sack members of parliament, only the people of NSW can do that.

“In the meantime, the unfortunate, uncomfortable and unpalatable situation we’re in is that we’re going to have to deal with him on some legislation,” she said.

While the Coalition is working hand-in-glove with Mr Latham on amendments to workers compensation legislation, the Labor government has also sought the crossbencher’s support on parliamentary votes.

The Daily Telegraph revealed Mr Latham had been sexting Ms Matthews in the parliamentary chamber. Picture: Supplied

Mr Latham last week admitted to sending explicit messages to his then-partner Nathalie Matthews while in the parliamentary chamber, after Ms Matthews accused him of “sustained” abuse including forcing her to engage in depraved sex acts.

Mr Latham has called those allegations “comically false and ridiculous”. Mr Latham is not accused of any criminal wrongdoing.

However, the independent MP did apologise after the Telegraph revealed he had taken covert photos of female MPs and shared them with Ms Matthews, to comment on their physical appearance.

Originally published as NSW Liberals at odds over ties with Mark Latham