Mark Latham is like red wine: a stain that seems impossible to remove

Mark Latham’s surreal and ugly behaviour as a politician has long stained his reputation. Now his defamatory tweet about Sydney MP Alex Greenwich could cost him big money: more than $500,000 in legal costs and damages.

Latham’s latest problems began last year when the Federal Court awarded Greenwich $140,000 in damages over a highly graphic and offensive comment posted on Twitter, now X, in March 2023. Greenwich’s barrister, Dr Matt Collins, KC, told the court that the tweet, which described sexual activity in graphic and offensive terms that the Herald has chosen not to publish, was a “vile, homophobic attack” on the openly gay Greenwich.

Mark Latham (left) could be left with a half-million dollar debt as a result of a graphic sexual tweet aimed at member for Sydney Alex Greenwich.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Federal Court Justice David O’Callaghan on Friday ordered Latham to pay Greenwich’s legal costs of the defamation case on the ordinary basis, which results in the successful party recouping about 70 per cent of their bills. The independent Sydney MP’s costs have been estimated at more than $600,000.

Latham was the clever housing commission boy picked up by Gough Whitlam and escorted through Labor ranks and blooded for leadership: university, party research officer, local government councillor and then parachuted into his mentor’s old seat of Werriwa in 1994. Nine years later, he was opposition leader and failed to rise.

Even before John Howard did him down in the 2004 federal election, Latham’s trademark liking for taking risks and pugilism was evident. For example, he broke the arm of a taxi driver who had driven him home to Campbelltown in 2002. Little wonder he cost Labor votes.

Latham resigned from federal politics but he could not let go of his celebrity, writing books and articles and making television appearances that dripped with vengeance and abuse. He habitually verbally abused women, including former Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty (whose son, Luke, was murdered by her former partner), Nine presenter Sarah Abo, and a transgender military officer, Cate McGregor (whom Latham had described derisively as “he/she”).

He crawled back to politics on Pauline Hanson’s coattail, winning an NSW upper house seat, fought with her and was dumped. Latham stood as an independent in the 2023 NSW election, and, when madness, badness, abuse and celebrity pass for politics for the few, won.

Last week’s defamation loss was another setback in a career full of them. But he can probably afford it. Latham is entitled to two parliamentary superannuation schemes, including the extraordinarily lucrative super plan he helped scupper in 2004 but remained a beneficiary of. Together, the schemes are very generous, although some payments are curbed while he remains in state parliament.

He could linger in the upper house for another six years, an indelible stain on the red leather and on NSW politics. Latham thrives on confrontation, but over the years he has proven so self-destructive and brutally insensitive we have come to learn that all we can expect is more abuse and expletives. At 64, surely it is time for him to do the right thing and resign and put the people of NSW out of our collective pain.

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