NSW Premier Chris Minns blasts Mark Latham over homophobic tweet targeting Sydney MP Alex Greenwich

NSW Premier Chris Minns has given an “unambiguous and universal” condemnation of Mark Latham’s homophobic tweet against a fellow politician.

Newly-installed Premier Chris Minns has blasted NSW One Nation Leader Mark Latham as a “bigot” over a homophobic tweet targeted at NSW MP Alex Greenwich.

Mr Minns confirmed he had spoke to Mr Greenwich on Friday morning, and described him as “someone of character”.

When asked about Mr Latham’s comments, Mr Minns was blunt in his response.

“I think that they’re vile and shameful comments, and I think he’s revealed himself to be a bigot,” said Mr Minns speaking at Friday’s Lifeline International President’s Lunch.

“He’s an Independent who is extraordinarily effective, and manages to elevate the conversation and make major changes in the state.

“One of the things that can’t be forgotten is that comments like is even though in and of themselves, they’re terrible, they unleash ghouls on people and on a person like Alex.”

Premier Chris Minns unequivocally denounced the words of NSW One Nation Leader, Mark Latham. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard.

Mr Minns also acknowledged that members of the LGBTQ+ community are two-and-half-times more likely to seek urgent medical help as a result of a mental health condition, which also motivated to speak out against Mr Latham’s comments.

“They need support from the leadership of New South Wales and it should be an unambiguous and universal condemnation of these comments,” he said.

‘Recommitted to LGBTQI law reform’

Addressing the vile comment on Friday, the MP for Sydney said he had been reduced to tears by Latham’s tweet, but that it had motivated him to double down on achieving reform for the LGBTQIA+ community in NSW.

In 2012, Mr Greenwich was instrumental in passing federal marriage equality laws and will move to ban gay conversion therapy in NSW once parliament resumes in May.

“I had a bit of a cry late yesterday at the end of the day. After being in this gig for a decade and being re-elected, I didn’t think I would still be subjected to homophobic abuse,” he said.

“But I woke up refreshed and really recommitted to LGBTQI law reform with my colleagues, the majority of whom I know support the community.”

Independent MP Alex Greenwich will move to ban gay conversion therapy when parliament resumes in May. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Nikki Short

Mr Greenwich highlighted preventing LGBTQIA+ students and teachers from being expelled or fired because of their sexuality, outlawing conversion therapy practices and allowing transgender individuals to change their identity documents without the need for surgery as areas for reform that he would be targeting.

He said he did not expect the NSW Parliament to take action against Mr Latham over his tweets.

“I would fear that any action would give him any more of a soap box, would allow him to play the victim, where he is someone who victimises people on an ongoing basis,” he said.

Despite saying he does not expect an apology, Mr Greenwich said he hoped that Mr Latham was doing “okay” after the incident, with the One Nation MP not being heard from since putting out the tweets.

“At a very human level I hope that he’s okay, the comments he made are obviously not comments of a well person,” Mr Greenwich told reporters on Friday.

Earlier, Mr Greenwich said he didn’t want “to even begin to understand how Mark Latham’s mind works”.

“We’re talking about someone who is just as lazy as he is cruel,” he told Patricia Karvelas on ABC’s Radio National on Friday morning.

“I don’t want to engage with him, I don’t want to engage with his content of what was in his tweet. I’m focused on doing work that needs to be done in the LGBT community.”

Mark Latham has been condemned for his tweets about Mr Greenwich. Picture: Gaye Gerard/ NCA NewsWire

The NSW One Nation leader, who was reinstated into the upper house in Saturday’s election, has been condemned for the homophobic tweet he wrote on Thursday.

It was in response to a post from Mr Greenwich calling Mr Latham “an extremely hateful and dangerous individual” after Christian protesters targeted LGBTQIA+ activists outside a church where the One Nation leader gave a speech last week.

Mr Latham responded with a highly offensive tweet, which NCA NewsWire has chosen not to publish, that was deleted after three hours.

Speaking on ABC Radio National, Mr Greenwich said it was “extremely hurtful when there is a vile homophobic attack directed to you”, but he had a strong support network.

“This is not the first time this has happened to me. I’m lucky I’m someone who is supported by an amazing electorate, an amazing husband and family,” he said.

“That hurt, though, quickly turned into motivation to make sure we stamp out laws which allow my community to be discriminated against.”

For those wondering how I’m doing after Latham’s homophobic attacks today, I’m fine and I’m more motivated than ever to deliver long overdue LGBTIQA+ reforms… and I have the most handsome husband. pic.twitter.com/MRA8pI6xE5

— Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) March 30, 2023

Mr Latham’s homophobic comments have been criticised by people across the political spectrum.

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe tweeted: “So much to say but I’ll just say this. There is no place for homophobia in NSW. No person should be subjected to this type of abuse. Ever.”

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson called on Mr Latham to apologise and said she had called and texted him multiple times “to no avail”. As it stands, Mr Latham has not apologised for his comments.

“I want you to know that I don’t condone them and neither do my members of parliament or party associates, I think they are disgusting,” she said in a video shared to her own Twitter account.

So much to say but I'll just say this. There is no place for homophobia in NSW. No person should be subjected to this type of abuse. Ever. @AlexGreenwich deserves an apology. https://t.co/I96ix9R6Bw

— Penny Sharpe (@PennySharpemlc) March 30, 2023

Mr Greenwich responded to Ms Hanson’s comments, saying that he did not take much stock in them due to her track record on LGBTQIA+ laws.

“Pauline Hanson, Mark Latham, and One Nation, they are a group of people who will target minority groups one by one and don’t care about the harms they cause along the way,” he said.

“Pauline Hanson was probably disgusted and disturbed by the content of Mr Latham’s tweet, but the actions she has taken in the Senate have always been anti-LGBT so I don’t give her much credit at all for what I consider to be an empty statement.”