Alex Greenwich says Latham defined him as ‘disgusting sex act’ in ongoing feud

Alex Greenwich tells the tribunal that Mark Latham’s conduct has fuelled hatred, harassment and public ridicule.

SYDNEY — New South Wales independent MP Alex Greenwich has accused former federal Labour leader Mark Latham of maintaining an “abusive obsession” with him that has sparked ongoing harassment and public ridicule.

Speaking before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Tuesday, Greenwich said the hostility began with a sexually explicit tweet from Latham in March 2023 — a post the Federal Court later ruled defamatory and for which Greenwich was awarded $140,000 in damages last year.

The tweet, sent days after the state election, described a sex act in graphic detail and came in response to Greenwich calling Latham a “disgusting human being.” Greenwich told the tribunal the message sought to define him as “a disgusting sexual act” and a threat to children.

“I have never been so diminished, demeaned, dehumanised by someone,” Greenwich said. “This was the first time in my political career I’d been so fundamentally attacked for who I am and my sexuality.”

He said the abuse intensified after the tweet, with his electorate office “inundated” by hateful messages. “I have, as an openly gay MP, of course at times received homophobic abuse — but I have never been defined by someone as a disgusting sex act,” he added.

The incident unfolded in the aftermath of violent protests outside a church in Sydney’s south-west, where Latham was delivering a pre-election speech. Around 250 mostly male counter-protesters clashed with police and assaulted 15 LGBTQI activists gathered outside.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Latham — now sitting as an independent in the NSW Parliament — repeatedly interjected from the public gallery, prompting a sharp rebuke from senior tribunal member Mandy Tibbey.

Greenwich’s lawyer, Prue Bindon, told the tribunal that more recent tweets from Latham had subjected her client to “further hatred and ridicule … from members of the public.” When Bindon sought to tender the tweets as evidence, Latham objected and dismissed the claim as “another whinge-athon from the European prince” — a jibe at Greenwich’s family links to Georgian nobility.

Latham, a former NSW One Nation leader, has been involved in multiple scandals, including taking photographs of female MPs without their consent, an act for which he has apologised. A recent move to censure him in Australia’s oldest parliamentary chamber failed after opposition parties and crossbench MPs voted to delay the motion until October.

Despite the tribunal proceedings, Latham live-tweeted throughout the hearing, defending his statements as factual. “No court or tribunal should be used for restricting the legal, authentic freedom of speech of an elected member of parliament,” he wrote.

The Federal Court case in 2024 centred solely on the March 2023 tweet, which the court found defamatory. Greenwich’s lawyers argued it formed part of a pattern of vilification based on sexuality and created a hostile work environment.

Tuesday’s hearing goes further, addressing alleged breaches of anti-discrimination law through homosexual vilification and workplace harassment. Greenwich insists the abuse has been personal, targeted, and sustained over years.

“He has an abusive obsession with me — it began with that tweet and it has not stopped,” Greenwich told the tribunal.

The matter will continue as the tribunal considers whether Latham’s conduct meets the legal threshold for vilification and harassment under NSW law. If found liable, the outcome could include further damages or orders restricting Latham’s conduct towards his parliamentary colleague.