From PM hopeful to conservative firebrand: Who is Mark Latham, the politician accused of abusing ex
The former Labor leader and one-time NSW One Nation head was back in the spotlight this week over a series of allegations, many stemming from an apprehended violence order application by his ex-partner, Nathalie Matthews.
Mr Latham, whose term ends in 2031, has strenuously denied the allegations contained in Ms Matthews' AVO application that have not been tested in court, and he has not been charged by NSW Police with any criminal offence.
Who is Mark Latham?
Born in Sydney, Mr Latham shot to prominence in the Labor Party as a research assistant under former leaders Gough Whitlam and Bob Carr.
He first joined the Liverpool City Council in the city's southwest in 1987 and later served as mayor before entering the House of Representatives as the member for Werriwa.
Mr Latham went on to narrowly defeat Kim Beazley for the Labor Party leadership in 2003, the youngest leader of the party since 1901.
As leader of the opposition, he took the Labor Party to the 2004 federal election where he was defeated by the incumbent prime minister, John Howard.
The defeat was widely blamed on an aggressive handshake with the Liberal leader outside an ABC radio studio on election eve.
Mr Latham left politics the following year but returned in 2017 as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and later as NSW One Nation leader.
He successfully stood for One Nation in the upper house in the 2019 state election and again in 2023 but was removed from the party that year by Pauline Hanson.
He has since stood as an independent, serving on Legislative Council committees in the NSW parliament.
In the news
Mr Latham's departure from politics in 2005 marked a pivot to social commentary, including publishing a memoir and a stint hosting Sky News' Outsiders.
He was fired from the program in 2017 over comments he made about fellow presenter Kristina Keneally and the 15-year-old daughter of then RBA governor, Phillip Lowe.
Mr Latham has regularly voiced his opposition to so-called left wing policies, being critical of immigration, voting against same-sex marriage, and supporting a burqa ban.
He was taken to court in 2023 for defamation by Sydney MP Alex Greenwich over homophobic tweets crudely describing a sex act.
The Federal Court ordered Ms Latham pay Mr Greenwich $140,000 last year.
He was also accused of breaking a taxi driver's arm in a dispute in Sydney in 2001.
What is happening now?
The most recent controversy began earlier this week when The Australian published Ms Matthews' allegations.
The allegations include claims Mr Latham pressured Ms Matthews into 'degrading' sex acts and threw dinner plates at her.
Mr Latham described the allegations on X as 'comically false and ridiculous' and said police had not been in contact with him.
That was only the beginning for Mr Latham, with reports over the coming days alleging he sent sexually explicit messages to Ms Matthews while in parliament.
Mr Latham acknowledged sending the messages, stating the 'big news is I have a private life'.
'I had a sex life that I've got to say was fantastic,' he said.
Mr Latham was further alleged to have used his parliamentary office for 'sordid' sexual trysts captured on video and covertly photographed female colleagues in parliament.
He was also alleged on Friday in a report from The Daily Telegraph to have not disclosed tens of thousands of dollars given to him by Ms Matthews.
Mr Latham disparaged the report later that morning but did not deny receiving the gifts.
He described a reference to him throwing Ms Matthews' possessions in a dam in an invoice as being an 'in-joke'.
'Matthews used to joke if we ever broke up, I would throw her stuff in the dam on my property,' Mr Latham said on X.
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