Latham’s ex gets shirty in Dubai but dodges Liberal Party discipline

Mark Latham’s former partner Nathalie Matthews sparked uproar within the Liberal Party after donning a “Vote Carol Provan” T-shirt on a Dubai beach.

Mark Latham’s former girlfriend Nathalie Matthews, who is a member of the Liberal Party, broke one of the key rules for members – but no ­action was taken against her due to a push from party leader Mark Speakman.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Ms Matthews was let off the hook despite campaigning against the Liberal Party during the council elections last year in the Sutherland Shire.

Ms Matthews, who is still a Liberal Party member, campaigned for former Shire Liberals Carmelo Pesce and Carol Provan after they were sensationally dropped from the ­election ticket and ran as ­independents.

It came weeks after Mr Speakman asked party head office to allow Shire Liberal members to support candidates that had been dumped from the party.

Ms Matthews went as far as posing for a photo in Dubai wearing a shirt urging locals to “vote Carol Provan” in a since-deleted Facebook post.

Nathalie Matthew’s social media post of her posing for a photo in Dubai wearing a shirt urging locals to “Vote Carol Provan”. Picture: Supplied

“Even in Dubai beach people are asking if the liberals can’t manage themselves, how can they manage the shire,” the caption on the post read.

The dig came after the Liberals’ infamous council nominations bungle last August.

Although campaigning against the party is strictly against the party rules, the Telegraph understands Ms Matthews and a number of other local members flouted this because Mr Speakman had called for an exemption.

In a joint letter to party brass sent on August 7, Mr Speakman, Miranda MP Eleni Petinos and Holsworthy MP Tina Ayyad, said the rules relating to campaigning against the party should be waived.

Nathalie Matthews and Mark Latham. Picture: Instagram

The letter came after former Shire mayor Mr Pesce and deputy mayor Ms Provan were dropped from the Liberal ticket at the last minute by party bosses due to internal politics. Mr Speakman’s letter said the “sudden decision” went against party process and was made “by a minority of those on State Executive”.

“We ask for an immediate blanket dispensation … to allow any Liberal Party member to assist either or both in the course of the forthcoming election,” the letter said.

Leader of the NSW Opposition Mark Speakman. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Mr Speakman said yesterday the “dispensation” he sought was not granted and was not pursued. He said any response to Ms Matthews’ actions were a matter for the Liberal Party.

Despite the exemption not being granted, the Telegraph understands Ms Matthews and fellow Liberals took Mr Speakman’s public letter as a green-light. The party later wrote to Ms Matthews asking her to “explain” her Dubai-based campaigning and why she should not be expelled, but the action did not go any further.

Last night, Mr Pesce said: “She (Ms Matthews) did support Carol and I … the purpose of that was because Mr Speakman, Ms Petinos and Ms Ayyad wrote a statement to head office asking for an exemption for the Shire Liberals to support us.”

Nathalie Matthews, who is a member of the Liberal Party, broke one of the key rules for members.

Ms Matthews ran as a Liberal candidate for Sutherland Shire in 2021 and until last year held an unpaid position as ­secretary of Mr Speakman’s Cronulla branch for two years.

Ms Matthews was contacted for comment.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Ms Matthews got off the hook for campaigning against the Liberal Party during the council elections last year.

It came weeks after the Opposition leader asked party head office to let Shire liberals back dumped Liberal candidates instead of supporting the party ticket.

Ms Matthews, who is still a party member, campaigned for former Shire Liberals Carmelo Pesce and Carol Provan after they were sensationally dropped from the election ticket and ran as independents.

Ms Matthews went as far as posing for a photo in Dubai wearing a shirt urging locals to “vote Carol Provan” in a since-deleted Facebook post.

“Even in Dubai beach people are asking if the liberals can’t manage themselves, how can they manage the shire,” the caption read.

The dig came after the Liberal Party’s infamous council nomination bungle last August.

Although campaigning against the party is strictly against the rules, the Telegraph understands Ms Matthews and a number of other local members flouted this after MP Mark Speakman called for an exemption.

In a joint letter to party brass sent on August 7, Mr Speakman, Miranda MP Eleni Petinos, and Holsworthy MP Tina Ayyad, said the rules should be waived, after former Shire mayor and deputy mayor were dropped from the Liberal ticket at the last minute by party bosses.

Mr Speakman’s letter said the “sudden decision” went against party process and was made “by a minority of those on State Executive”.

“We ask for an immediate blanket dispensation … to allow any Liberal Party member to assist either or both in the course of the forthcoming election,” it said.

Mr Speakman said the “dispensation” he sought wasn’t granted and not pursued. He said any response to Ms Matthews actions were a matter for the Liberal Party.

Despite the exemption not being granted, The Daily Telegraph understands Ms Matthews and fellow Liberals took Mr Speakman’s public letter as a green-light.

The party later wrote to Ms Matthews asking her to “please explain” her Dubai-based campaigning and why she shouldn’t be expelled, but the action did not go any further.

“She did support Carol and I… the purpose of that was because Mr Speakman, Ms Petinos and Ms Ayyad (earlier) wrote a statement to head office asking for an exemption for the Shire Liberals to support us,” Mr Pesce said.

Ms Matthews ran as a Liberal candidate for Sutherland Shire in 2021, and until last year, held an unpaid position as secretary of Mr Speakman’s Cronulla branch for two years.

In a separate matter, the businesswoman allegedly made comments about other Liberal women in recently unearthed texts. But a Liberal Party spokesman would not comment on whether Ms Matthews broke any rules as the messages are before court.

Ms Matthews was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Latham’s ex gets shirty in Dubai but dodges Liberal Party discipline