Labor discusses removing Latham’s portrait from caucus room

Senior Labor minister Tanya Plibersek says her party is discussing removing rogue MP Mark Latham’s portrait from their wall of former leaders, and revealed she “cried” when he won the job in 2003.

Labor is being forced to grapple with the reality of its past after Latham, once a federal opposition leader who ran against John Howard, was accused by his former partner Nathalie Matthews of a “sustained pattern” of abuse – claims he strongly denies.

The portrait of former leader Mark Latham in Labor’s caucus room, as photographed in 2017.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Plibersek told the ABC that aside from the recent allegations, given Latham’s conduct in recent years, including attacks on domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty, she was “baffled” that his portrait still hung on the wall of Labor’s caucus room.

“Over the last couple of decades, looking at that photo on that wall, I’ve scratched my head at times thinking this guy doesn’t represent the Labor Party; he doesn’t represent what we stand for; I don’t think he represents mainstream Australia,” she said.

“Do you know I’ve been a member of parliament for a long time, and the only time I remember going home and having a little cry after work was the day that Mark Latham was elected as leader of the Australian Labor Party.”

Latham was elected as a Labor MP in 1994, and rose to party leader before he was defeated by Howard in the 2004 election.

Mark Latham returns to his property on Friday.Credit: Wolter Peeters

While not speaking to the most recent claims of abuse against him, Plibersek said she had always had doubts about Latham as a political figure, and his behaviour since leaving federal politics in 2005 “has become worse and more extreme”.

Matthews has applied for an apprehended violence order against Latham, who will defend the accusation in a local court on July 30. The Herald does not suggest the claims are true, just that they have been made.

Latham on Thursday apologised to Liberal MP Susan Carter after revelations he took secret photographs of her and other women in the NSW parliament’s upper house, and sent them to Matthews with disparaging remarks.

When asked to respond to reporting in The Daily Telegraph that billionaire Richard White would be subpoenaed by Latham’s legal team as part of the court case, Matthews’ lawyer and fellow Liberal Sarah McMahon said in a general statement that her client had been subjected to “character assassination, reputation damage and trial by media”.

“Domestic violence is a serious issue in our society. Any individual in genuine fear should have the right to seek protection without vilification,” McMahon said.

Matthews, a former OnlyFans creator who according to LinkedIn runs an e-commerce global logistics firm, claims Latham pressured her into depraved acts and drove his car at her, with his side mirror hitting her and “causing a bruise”.

Latham previously dismissed the abuse allegations as “comically false”, described his relationship with Matthews as a “situationship”.

The pair’s relationship ended on May 27, the same day Latham was involved in a vote by Australian Turf Club members to stop the sale of Rosehill racecourse.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.