6 days ago
'I had a sex life and it was fantastic': Latham defends sordid texts
Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham has defended the exchange of thousands of sordid texts with his ex-lover Nathalie May Matthews who has accused him of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
Ms Matthews, 37, claimed in a domestic violence application order that the abuse included emotional, psychological and financial manipulation, including pressuring her to have sex with other people and participate in depraved acts.
Mr Latham told Chris Smith on 2SM on July 16, "none" of the abuse allegations were true and accused the media of engaging in "slap happy journalism".
He said the text messages were inaccurate, had been poorly edited and lacked context, including a reference to Ms Matthews wearing a "tracker" and the MP trying to find a "f*** parlour".
Mr Latham said: "Just about all of the things she (Ms Matthews) is complaining about, she initiated in consensual arrangements".
He admitted to 'sexting' Ms Matthews while in the parliamentary chamber but defended his behaviour.
"If you are sitting there and listening to Penny Sharpe droning on and then a woman who looks like Nathalie Matthews sends you a message, which one would you pay attention to?" he said.
"If I am the only person in Australia in a work environment who has engaged in a bit of playful sex talk with a partner, I will buy everyone a lottery ticket.
"The big news is I had a private life. I had a sex life, and I've got to say it was fantastic."
Ms Matthews asserted in court documents that Mr Latham allegedly demanded she call him 'master', threw dinner plates at her, and even allegedly drove his car at her.
Neither Mr Latham nor Ms Matthews responded to requests by ACM for comment.
Mr Latham previously described the allegations on X on July 14 as "comically false" and "ridiculous".
"I have scores of documents to show that and will rely upon them to defend myself," he wrote.
"As the old saying goes, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Mr Latham frequently featured Ms Matthews on his social media.
The last post of the former lovers showed them cheerily smiling next to Santa Claus on December 24, 2024.
The caption read: "Merry Menangle Christmas Ho Ho Ho" with a series of emojis.
Ms Matthews owns e-commerce global logistics firm Skynet Global Logistics, according to her LinkedIn profile.
In her bio, she says she is "passionate about driving revenue growth and exploring new opportunities in the logistics industry".
READ MORE: House of horror: one of Australia's grizzliest crime scenes is on the market
Mr Latham served as the leader of the Labor Party and leader of the opposition from December 2003 to January 2005, famously losing the 2004 election to John Howard.
He left the ALP in 2017 and joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation party in 2018, gaining a seat in the NSW upper house at the 2019 election.
He has two sons with his second wife, Janine Lacy.
The pair separated in 2022.
Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham has defended the exchange of thousands of sordid texts with his ex-lover Nathalie May Matthews who has accused him of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
Ms Matthews, 37, claimed in a domestic violence application order that the abuse included emotional, psychological and financial manipulation, including pressuring her to have sex with other people and participate in depraved acts.
Mr Latham told Chris Smith on 2SM on July 16, "none" of the abuse allegations were true and accused the media of engaging in "slap happy journalism".
He said the text messages were inaccurate, had been poorly edited and lacked context, including a reference to Ms Matthews wearing a "tracker" and the MP trying to find a "f*** parlour".
Mr Latham said: "Just about all of the things she (Ms Matthews) is complaining about, she initiated in consensual arrangements".
He admitted to 'sexting' Ms Matthews while in the parliamentary chamber but defended his behaviour.
"If you are sitting there and listening to Penny Sharpe droning on and then a woman who looks like Nathalie Matthews sends you a message, which one would you pay attention to?" he said.
"If I am the only person in Australia in a work environment who has engaged in a bit of playful sex talk with a partner, I will buy everyone a lottery ticket.
"The big news is I had a private life. I had a sex life, and I've got to say it was fantastic."
Ms Matthews asserted in court documents that Mr Latham allegedly demanded she call him 'master', threw dinner plates at her, and even allegedly drove his car at her.
Neither Mr Latham nor Ms Matthews responded to requests by ACM for comment.
Mr Latham previously described the allegations on X on July 14 as "comically false" and "ridiculous".
"I have scores of documents to show that and will rely upon them to defend myself," he wrote.
"As the old saying goes, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Mr Latham frequently featured Ms Matthews on his social media.
The last post of the former lovers showed them cheerily smiling next to Santa Claus on December 24, 2024.
The caption read: "Merry Menangle Christmas Ho Ho Ho" with a series of emojis.
Ms Matthews owns e-commerce global logistics firm Skynet Global Logistics, according to her LinkedIn profile.
In her bio, she says she is "passionate about driving revenue growth and exploring new opportunities in the logistics industry".
READ MORE: House of horror: one of Australia's grizzliest crime scenes is on the market
Mr Latham served as the leader of the Labor Party and leader of the opposition from December 2003 to January 2005, famously losing the 2004 election to John Howard.
He left the ALP in 2017 and joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation party in 2018, gaining a seat in the NSW upper house at the 2019 election.
He has two sons with his second wife, Janine Lacy.
The pair separated in 2022.
Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham has defended the exchange of thousands of sordid texts with his ex-lover Nathalie May Matthews who has accused him of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
Ms Matthews, 37, claimed in a domestic violence application order that the abuse included emotional, psychological and financial manipulation, including pressuring her to have sex with other people and participate in depraved acts.
Mr Latham told Chris Smith on 2SM on July 16, "none" of the abuse allegations were true and accused the media of engaging in "slap happy journalism".
He said the text messages were inaccurate, had been poorly edited and lacked context, including a reference to Ms Matthews wearing a "tracker" and the MP trying to find a "f*** parlour".
Mr Latham said: "Just about all of the things she (Ms Matthews) is complaining about, she initiated in consensual arrangements".
He admitted to 'sexting' Ms Matthews while in the parliamentary chamber but defended his behaviour.
"If you are sitting there and listening to Penny Sharpe droning on and then a woman who looks like Nathalie Matthews sends you a message, which one would you pay attention to?" he said.
"If I am the only person in Australia in a work environment who has engaged in a bit of playful sex talk with a partner, I will buy everyone a lottery ticket.
"The big news is I had a private life. I had a sex life, and I've got to say it was fantastic."
Ms Matthews asserted in court documents that Mr Latham allegedly demanded she call him 'master', threw dinner plates at her, and even allegedly drove his car at her.
Neither Mr Latham nor Ms Matthews responded to requests by ACM for comment.
Mr Latham previously described the allegations on X on July 14 as "comically false" and "ridiculous".
"I have scores of documents to show that and will rely upon them to defend myself," he wrote.
"As the old saying goes, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Mr Latham frequently featured Ms Matthews on his social media.
The last post of the former lovers showed them cheerily smiling next to Santa Claus on December 24, 2024.
The caption read: "Merry Menangle Christmas Ho Ho Ho" with a series of emojis.
Ms Matthews owns e-commerce global logistics firm Skynet Global Logistics, according to her LinkedIn profile.
In her bio, she says she is "passionate about driving revenue growth and exploring new opportunities in the logistics industry".
READ MORE: House of horror: one of Australia's grizzliest crime scenes is on the market
Mr Latham served as the leader of the Labor Party and leader of the opposition from December 2003 to January 2005, famously losing the 2004 election to John Howard.
He left the ALP in 2017 and joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation party in 2018, gaining a seat in the NSW upper house at the 2019 election.
He has two sons with his second wife, Janine Lacy.
The pair separated in 2022.
Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham has defended the exchange of thousands of sordid texts with his ex-lover Nathalie May Matthews who has accused him of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
Ms Matthews, 37, claimed in a domestic violence application order that the abuse included emotional, psychological and financial manipulation, including pressuring her to have sex with other people and participate in depraved acts.
Mr Latham told Chris Smith on 2SM on July 16, "none" of the abuse allegations were true and accused the media of engaging in "slap happy journalism".
He said the text messages were inaccurate, had been poorly edited and lacked context, including a reference to Ms Matthews wearing a "tracker" and the MP trying to find a "f*** parlour".
Mr Latham said: "Just about all of the things she (Ms Matthews) is complaining about, she initiated in consensual arrangements".
He admitted to 'sexting' Ms Matthews while in the parliamentary chamber but defended his behaviour.
"If you are sitting there and listening to Penny Sharpe droning on and then a woman who looks like Nathalie Matthews sends you a message, which one would you pay attention to?" he said.
"If I am the only person in Australia in a work environment who has engaged in a bit of playful sex talk with a partner, I will buy everyone a lottery ticket.
"The big news is I had a private life. I had a sex life, and I've got to say it was fantastic."
Ms Matthews asserted in court documents that Mr Latham allegedly demanded she call him 'master', threw dinner plates at her, and even allegedly drove his car at her.
Neither Mr Latham nor Ms Matthews responded to requests by ACM for comment.
Mr Latham previously described the allegations on X on July 14 as "comically false" and "ridiculous".
"I have scores of documents to show that and will rely upon them to defend myself," he wrote.
"As the old saying goes, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Mr Latham frequently featured Ms Matthews on his social media.
The last post of the former lovers showed them cheerily smiling next to Santa Claus on December 24, 2024.
The caption read: "Merry Menangle Christmas Ho Ho Ho" with a series of emojis.
Ms Matthews owns e-commerce global logistics firm Skynet Global Logistics, according to her LinkedIn profile.
In her bio, she says she is "passionate about driving revenue growth and exploring new opportunities in the logistics industry".
READ MORE: House of horror: one of Australia's grizzliest crime scenes is on the market
Mr Latham served as the leader of the Labor Party and leader of the opposition from December 2003 to January 2005, famously losing the 2004 election to John Howard.
He left the ALP in 2017 and joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation party in 2018, gaining a seat in the NSW upper house at the 2019 election.
He has two sons with his second wife, Janine Lacy.
The pair separated in 2022.
