Sydney MP Alex Greenwich threatens Mark Latham with defamation after homophobic tweet
The One Nation NSW leader has been given a deadline to apologise for his homophobic tweet or face defamation proceedings.
Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has threatened to launch legal action against NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham for a homophobic and vulgar tweet shared in March, giving him until May 17 to issue an apology.
On Monday, Mr Greenwich, who is openly gay, confirmed that his legal team had sent Mr Latham a notice on April 19; however, the One Nation leader continued to talk about Mr Greenwich’s sexuality, referencing an online radio with Chris Smith on Thursday.
Mr Latham will now have until May 17 to issue a public apology or Mr Greenwich’s legal team will file a defamation suit to the Federal Court.
“Obviously, he made a very sexualised, targeted attack at me on Twitter and seeked (sic) to impugn my reputation amongst colleagues,” Mr Greenwich said.
“He has continued to target me based on my sexuality, my role in this parliament and that does a great deal of damage and harm towards me and I will as a result be proceeding with defamation.”
In addition to the looming defamation suit, the matter is also being investigated by the NSW Police and an anti-discrimination body.
The Sydney MP’s lawyer, Nicholas Stewart from Dowson Turco Lawyers, invited the former Labor leader to come to an agreement with his client.
“It could be resolved with an apology. It can be resolved through payment of damages to Mr Greenwich, and it can be resolved through the undertaking of Mr Latham to not to continue persecuting the LGBT community,” he said.
Mr Greenwich said Mr Latham’s original comments, which crudely described a sexual act, “crossed a line”.
“I am used to robust and at times aggressive attacks, what Mr Latham has said has crossed a line, a line I’m not prepared to put up with,” he said.
“This is about Mr Latham crossing a line of defamation, of vilification and the use of his platform, including Twitter to humiliate.”
Mr Greenwich has also made a complaint of homosexual vilification to the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW, plus a police complaint against Mr Latham for using a carriage service to menace/harass/offend.
If filed to the federal court, the offence carries a maximum penalty of a three-year jail term.
“Enough is enough. I’ve been openly gay in public life for 15 years and in NSW parliament for over 10 years and never have I experienced such a homophobic, sexualised attack that exposed me to contempt, ridicule and extreme abuse based on my sexuality,” Mr Greenwich said in a statement.
NSW Police also confirmed that it is investigating the alleged act of online harassment.
“Officers attached to Surry Hills Police Area Command have commenced an investigation after receiving reports of online harassment directed at a 42-year-old man,” it said in a statement.
“Inquiries are continuing.”
Mr Greenwich said he wanted to call out harassment and take legal action on behalf of LGBTQIA+ people who were regularly subjected to abuse.
His legal team, which includes Dowson Turco Lawyers and Dr Matt Collins AM KC, will be instructed to approach Twitter “with respect to its provision of a platform that freely allows extreme homophobia, transphobia, racism and religious bigotry”.
“It’s 2023 and LGBTQIA+ Australians shouldn’t have to put up with abuse that targets our sexuality, character, or ability to do our jobs,” Mr Greenwich said.
Equality Australia’s Legal Director, Ghassan Kassisieh called on Mr Latham to apologise.
“Mr Latham’s appalling comments are blatantly homophobic and unbecoming of anyone, let alone an elected official,” he said.
“It should not require legal action for a person to do the right thing, acknowledge the harm they have done and apologise. No-one should be targeted because of their sexuality or gender identity, and this kind of behaviour has no place in Australian society today.”
Mr Latham has been contacted for comment.
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