‘Completely unhinged’: NSW Premier’s Latham comments unearthed after vile tweet

Comments from Chris Minns about One Nation MLC Mark Latham from a 2010 book on that year’s federal election have resurfaced.

The new NSW Premier once described One Nation’s Mark Latham as “completely unhinged”.

Days after Chris Minns slammed Mr Latham for the NSW One Nation leader’s homophobic tweet about Independent MP Alex Greenwich, a passage from a book with a quote from the Premier regarding Mr Latham and his involvement in the 2010 federal election has resurfaced.

The book, Confessions of a Faceless Man by then head of the Australian Workers Union Paul Howes, chronicled the turbulent national poll when Mr Latham worked as a guest reporter for Nine’s 60 Minutes current affairs program.

A passage from page 142 of the book details a conversation between Mr Howes and Mr Minns, who was assistant NSW Labor secretary at the time.

“Chris Minns rings from downstairs to talk about a few issues…,” wrote Mr Howes.

“When we talk about Latham’s incursion (into the campaign) he mutters the line of the election so far.

‘“Mate,’ he says, ‘it wouldn’t surprise me if that guy is out there murdering backpackers on the weekend – he is completely unhinged’.”

Thanks everyone, I’m now on leave.
Back when we finally get a LC result.

— Real Mark Latham (@RealMarkLatham) April 2, 2023

The two politicians have traded barbs in previous days over Mr Latham’s homophobic social media post directed at Mr Greenwich, who is openly gay.

Mr Minns said he wouldn’t work with Mr Latham, 62, following outrage over the tweet, to which Mr Latham responded by calling the Premier a “fool”.

Mr Latham, the leader of the NSW branch of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party, has since announced he’s “on leave” following backlash over the Twitter reply.

Mr Latham took to Twitter on Monday night, announcing: “Thanks everyone, I’m now on leave. Back when we finally get a LC result.”

Chris Minns said Mark Latham was ‘completely unhinged’, according to a 2010 book. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The tweet referred to the ongoing ballot count for the Legislative Council in the NSW election held on March 25.

Mr Latham has been widely panned for his message to independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich.

The tweet to Mr Greenwich, posted on Thursday crudely described a sex act.

Mr Latham has since deleted the message but only out of concern children could read it.

He’s since doubled down, refusing to apologise for the tweet, continuing to target the LGBTQI+ community on social media, and telling The Saturday Telegraph in a statement: “Sometimes in public life when you throw out insults they come back at you harder and truer … So boo-hoo Alex Greenwich.”

One Nation’s Mark Latham is ‘on leave’ until an election result in the NSW upper house is announced. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe on Saturday said Mr Latham’s behaviour was “completely unacceptable,” and called on him to apologise to Mr Greenwich.

“There’s no place for it in NSW. There’s no place for it in NSW politics. There’s no place for it in our community.”

NCA NewsWire has contacted Mr Latham for comment.

Mr Latham retained his upper house seat in the March 25 election, but it seems increasingly unlikely One Nation will pick up a second seat.

Originally published as ‘Completely unhinged’: NSW Premier’s Latham comments unearthed after vile tweet