Former Labor leader Mark Latham likely to make at least $1m before term ends despite controversy

News.com.au

5 days ago

Embattled former Labor leader Mark Latham will likely cost taxpayers upwards of $1m before his term ends in 2031.
The one-time NSW One Nation leader has come under fire in recent weeks over a string of high-profile scandals and allegations he abused his ex-partner.
Mr Latham has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any criminal offence.
The controversies have sparked discussions about the conduct of elected members, with Labor and the Liberals trading barbs over their relationship with Mr Latham.
According to parliamentary documents, Mr Latham stands to make a base salary of $172,576 per annum as a member of the Legislative Council, the NSW upper house.
Mr Latham stood with One Nation and was elected in March 2023 to the upper house for an eight-year term, though he was dumped by Pauline Hanson later that year.
He is not up for re-election until the NSW state election in 2031, meaning he stands to make a base salary of at least another $1.035m.
Additionally, Mr Latham is serving on several committees, including the Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety and the Selection of Bills Committee.
For 2025-26, Mr Latham stands to make at least an additional $21,572, according to parliamentary salaries and allowances as of July 1, 2024.
That's not all.
When Mr Latham stepped away from federal politics in 2005, he did so with a base annual pension of about $66,000 per year.
That was effectively put on hold when he rejoined NSW parliament in 2019.
As a member of the Legislative Council, Mr Latham will also have been paying into the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Fund.
Upon leaving parliament, members are entitled to receive a pension from the fund. The only way a member could lose that entitlement is if they are convicted of a serious offence.
The base rate for a member of the upper house in NSW has steadily increased over the past few decades.
In 2009, an MLC received a base rate of $126,560.
Last month, it was revealed the state government had submitted to the Parliamentary Remunerations Tribunal that pay packets for state MPs and senior bureaucrats be raised by 3.5 per cent, including superannuation benefits.
The wage increase is in line with the base pay offer made to the public sector workforce in the latest NSW budget.
The tribunal is yet to issue its determination.
It comes after a bruising few weeks for Mr Latham.
He has denied former partner Nathalie Matthews' accusations of abuse, including degrading sex acts, in a private apprehended violence order application submitted to court.
In the weeks since, Mr Latham has separately been accused of filming sex acts in his office, sending sexually explicit messages from the chamber, and covertly photographing female colleagues.
In a press conference last weekend, Mr Latham denied Ms Matthews' allegations, stating that the relationship was an 'entirely consensual arrangement between two adults'.
Premier Chris Minns previously lashed Mr Latham as 'Australia's biggest bigot' during a spray in parliament prior to the allegations airing.
Upper house leader Penny Sharpe said last week she would introduce two motions against Mr Latham when parliament resumed in August.
One will refer Mr Latham to the privileges committee, if it is passed, while the other is a more general motion in regard to his behaviour.