‘Verbal abuse’: Mark Latham in alleged tirade against racing exec

Mark Latham is being investigated by the Australian Turf Club over an alleged expletive-ridden confrontation with a senior racing executive at Rosehill Gardens.

NSW Independent MP Mark Latham pictured in the owners yard at Randwick. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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NSW independent MP Mark Latham is being investigated by the Australian Turf Club over an alleged expletive-ridden confrontation with a senior racing executive at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday.

Mr Latham allegedly abused ATC government relations boss Steve McMahon in the members’ grandstand over the club’s proposed $5bn sale of the Rosehill racecourse to the state government to build 25,000 homes and a metro station.

The former Labor leader has been a fierce opponent of the sale – which is unpopular among some members – while Mr McMahon has been strongly pushing the ATC’s bid.

“The Australian Turf Club is investigating an incident of alleged unprovoked verbal abuse by an ATC member against a senior ATC official,” a club spokesman was reported as saying on Tuesday. “The incident was witnessed by several people and the investigation is continuing.”

A NSW parliamentary committee last year referred NSW Premier Chris Minns to the Independent Commission Against Corruption after the sale proposal was reportedly fast-tracked during a meeting with Mr McMahon, a long-time friend.

The corruption watchdog decided not to pursue the matter, with Mr Minns declaring the referral a “political stunt … not based on fact or evidence”.

Mr Minns said the sale proposal was a once-in-a-lifetime ­opportunity for NSW. “We’d be crazy just to walk away from a proposal that could see more housing for young people on a brand new public transport line for Sydney,” he said.

The proposal to sell the racecourse had been due to go to a vote of the ATC’s 11,000 members on Thursday but last week that was postponed until May 12 over “concerns” that the information provided by the club was insufficient to make a properly informed decision.

Some opponents of the sale saw the move as a delaying tactic by the ATC to allow more time to bolster support for their position.

After its December 2023 announcement, leading racing figures came out against the plan and the $5bn price tag estimated by the ATC for the site was called into question.

Racing NSW is supportive of the plans, including its influential chief Peter V’landys.

Last year, Mr Latham clashed with Mr V’landys, who accused the MP in a heated exchange of launching an unsubstantiated “smear campaign” against him over allegations of workplace bullying and favouritism.

Steve McMahon.

Mr Latham in the owners’ yard at Randwick Racecourse. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

On Monday Mr Latham tweeted: “If you see me at Rosehill tomorrow or Randwick Saturday and you’re a member of the ATC, please come and sign my petition to remove from the ATC board Peter McGauran (chair) and Ben Bayot (elected) and Save Rosehill. They have betrayed the membership and must go!!”

Mr McGauran has previously claimed the sale would set up the club for the future. “Many members love Rosehill Gardens and are reluctant to see it go, but the truth is it’s an outdated venue with declining crowds,” he said. “This proposal can rejuvenate and secure the racing industry for many generations to come.’’

Mr Latham did not respond to requests for comment.