He almost became PM, now Latham’s the rank outsider who can’t stop spewing bile

The one-time federal Labor leader Mark Latham – who has a history of defecting to political parties willing to take him – finished the 2024 parliamentary year in quintessential Latham style. Last week, the now independent MP used one of his final contributions to NSW parliament for the year to “recognise” the retirement of veteran broadcaster Ray Hadley.

As is Latham’s way, it was dripping in vitriol. He used parliamentary privilege to pursue one of his pet interests on the public purse. This has come to define the man who very nearly became Australia’s prime minister.

Mark Latham, now an independent NSW MP, almost became a Labor prime minister.Credit: Janie Barrett

In this case, it was his newfound dislike of Hadley, who will retire from radio next month after 43 years, because of the broadcaster’s support of Racing NSW. Hadley’s son, who works for Racing NSW, is also the focus of Latham’s attacks. Coincidentally, late last year, Hadley revealed on air that his decades-long friendship with former radio shock jock Alan Jones ended after an employee disclosed to him allegations of indecent assault against the veteran broadcaster.

Jones is now facing 26 charges, including nine counts of assault with an act of indecency, following forensic reporting by my Herald colleague Kate McClymont. Jones and Latham are close mates.

Latham has devoted much of his energy this year to pursuing the administration of Racing NSW, its chief executive Peter V’Landys and the proposal to sell Sydney’s Rosehill racecourse to make way for a new mini-city to ease the city’s housing crisis. That is his job as an elected member of parliament. Latham should indeed be prosecuting policy decisions and holding the government to account.

Latham with Alan Jones and former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2020.Credit: AAPIMAGE

The Rosehill plan, which V’Landys backs, was announced late last year by Premier Chris Minns but has attracted staunch opposition from leading horse trainers Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller. It will ultimately be decided by a vote from members of the Australian Turf Club, which owns the racetrack. Latham, a lover of horseracing, is an ATC member.

As part of his anti-Racing NSW crusade, Latham has been scathing of politicians and members of the media for accepting free hospitality, accusing them of “being bought off by freebies at Royal Randwick and Rosehill”. That’s a bit rich given Latham, himself, loves a corporate box at the races.

And racing is not his only interest. Latham accepted free tickets for Wimbledon last year, which he claimed on his parliamentary gift register were from former Australian tennis star Mark Philippoussis. (In a strange twist, Philippoussis has denied knowing Latham or giving him tickets.) The Daily Telegraph did the maths and discovered that the Wimbledon experience was one of more than 90 free tickets to sporting events and corporate boxes Latham has enjoyed since entering NSW parliament in 2019.

In 2002, Latham, the then federal opposition leader, delivered the Menzies Lecture at London’s King’s College. He was explaining the rise of Pauline Hanson. “I would argue that the political spectrum is best understood as a struggle between insiders and outsiders,” Latham said. His insiders were the “chattering class”, big business, those who hold political and cultural power. His outsiders were the so-called working-class battlers just trying to make a living.

After his 2004 federal election loss, Latham quit Labor and styled himself as an outsider. But power has a strong pull.

He was elected to the NSW upper house in 2019 and sits on the conservative crossbench. He has a good relationship with most of the Liberals. They need him and, in turn, he needs them. There is little love lost, however, between Latham and his former Labor mates.

After Latham tweeted a highly derogatory, homophobic and graphic post on X about Sydney MP Alex Greenwich last year, NSW Labor vowed not to work with him. It has largely stuck to that and did not give him any extra roles, such as committee chairs. Greenwich went on to win a defamation case against Latham over the tweet in September, and the former One Nation leader has been ordered to pay $140,000 in damages.

Latham uses his privileged role in society to attack his opponents or pursue his own interests. Unlike V’Landys or Hadley, many of his targets are without power or influence and no one is off-limits. Latham accused former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, whose son Luke was killed by his father, of being part of a feminist group using domestic violence for political gain and a campaign “against all Australian men”.

And yet, for a man who has rebuilt his career as the “outsider”, Latham – when he’s not abusing all and sundry – patently doesn’t mind being inside the tent.

Alexandra Smith is state political editor.